What substance is formed through ossification?

Ossification: Growing Bones - dummies Ossification: Growing Bones Ossification: Growing Bones Ossification: Growing Bones If it weren’t for ossification, you’d be a soft mound of blood, water, and flesh. The process of creating and growing bones is complicated, interesting, and chock-full of vocabulary that you need to know to get through an anatomy or physiology class. Compact bone is a dense layer made up of structural units, or lacunae, arranged in concentric circles called Haversian systems (or osteons), each of which has a central, microscopic Haversian canal. A perpendicular system of Volkmann’s canals penetrate and cross between the Haversian systems, ensuring circulation into even the hardest bone structure. The bulbous ends of each long bone, known as the epiphyses (or singularly as an epiphysis), are made up of spongy, or cancellous, bone tissue covered by a thin layer of compact bone. The diaphysis, or shaft, contains the medullary cavity and blood cell–producing marrow. A membrane called the periosteum covers the outer bone to provide nutrients and oxygen, remove waste, and connect with ligaments and tendons. Bones grow through the cellular activities of osteoblasts on the surface of the bone, which produce layers of mature bone cells called osteocytes. Osteoclasts are cells that function in the developing fetus to absorb cartilage as ossification occurs and in adult bone to break down and remove spent bone tissue. There are two types of ossification. Both types rely on the thyroid hormone calcitonin, which regulates metabolism of calcium. The two types of ossification are Endochondral or intracartilaginous ossification: Occurs when mineral salts calcify along the scaffolding of cartilage formed in the developing fetus beginning about the fifth week after conception. This process, known as calcification, takes place in the presence of vitamin D and a hormone from the parathyroid gland. The absence of any one of these substances causes a child to have soft bone, resulting in a disorder called rickets. Next, the blood supply entering the cartilage brings osteoblasts that attach themselves to the cartilage. As the primary center of ossification, the diaphysis of the long bone is the first to form spongy bone tissue along the cartilage, followed by the epiphyses, which form the secondary centers of ossification and are separated from the diaphysis by a layer of uncalcified cartilage called the epiphyseal plate, where all growth in bone length occurs. Compact bone tissue covering the bone’s surface is produced by osteoblasts in the inner layer of the periosteum, producing growth in diameter. Intramembranous ossification: Occurs along a template of membrane, as the name implies, primarily in compact flat bones of the skull that don’t have Haversian systems. The skull and mandible (lower jaw) of the fetus are first laid down as a membrane. Osteoblasts attach to the membrane, ossifying from the center of the bone outward. The edges of the skull’s bones don’t completely ossify to allow for molding of the head during birth. Instead, six soft spots, or fontanels, are formed: one frontal, two sphenoidal, two mastoidal, and one occipital.


What Asian city hosted the Olympic Games in 1988?

Sport and Politics on the Korean Peninsula - North Korea and the 1988 Seoul Olympics | Wilson Center Sport and Politics on the Korean Peninsula - North Korea and the 1988 Seoul Olympics Sport and Politics on the Korean Peninsula - North Korea and the 1988 Seoul Olympics Dec 12, 2011 [Click to Skip to Document List Below] On September 30, 1981, members of the International Olympic Committee, meeting in Baden-Baden, Germany, to select the host city of the 1988 Summer Olympics, unexpectedly voted (52 to 27) to award the Games to Seoul, upsetting the only other candidate, Nagoya. Plagued for some years by various problems, ranging from insolvency (Montreal, 1976) to boycott (Montreal, 1976 and Moscow, 1980), the Games were at the low ebb of their international popularity, which was one reason why the Baden-Baden decision drew only cursory attention of the international media. While socialist countries protested, few others, with the exception of South Korea, where the vote set off jubilant celebrations took notice—except perhaps for those who read as far as the H-section (World News) of The Washington Post, which cautiously commented on October 4: “South Korea's successful bid to host the 1988 summer Olympics in Seoul appears to have moved the country's leadership a step closer to goals of enhancing its image internationally and consolidating political power at home.” [2] In retrospect, the Washington Post piece was mildly put. But who could have made a better prediction? In 1981 South Korea suffered from economic woes and political instability. Less than two years earlier, General Chun Doo-hwan had seized power in a coup d’état, and soon presided over a massacre of student demonstrators in Gwangju and the imprisonment of the opposition activist Kim Dae-jung. South Korea, by then far more prosperous than its Communist nemesis in the north, was not a member of the United Nations, and had no diplomatic relations with the socialist bloc. It existed in a state of a permanent war-scare: armed yet insecure, menaced by the militant North and by restive domestic opponents of the undemocratic regime. Under these circumstances, it was anyone’s guess how the Games would turn out; after all, in 1981, the Olympics were still seven years away, and seven years was an eternity in a place as unsettled as the Korean Peninsula.  The issue came to the fore only after the Los Angeles Olympics of 1984, which were boycotted by the USSR and a number of socialist countries in revenge for the earlier Western boycott of the Soviet Olympics in 1980. With the Seoul Games up next, the North Korean leadership had to come up with a viable policy to make the best out of what could potentially turn out to be a public relations coup for South Korea. Soviet support was essential in this endeavor, because Moscow’s boycott (and, as a bonus, a boycott by most other socialist countries) would go a long way towards delegitimizing the Games. If the boycott was also supported by a number of Third World countries—not impossible, given that North Korea pulled weight in the Third World—and if the radical sections of the South Korean populace could be mobilized to stage disruptive protests, Pyongyang could yet turn the tables on the South and win from the ruin of the Games. We do not know if this was how North Korean leader Kim Il Sung assessed the situation. If it was, it helps to explain why in 1983-84 Kim began to a rapprochement with the Soviets after keeping his distance from the USSR for more than a decade. However, instead of calling for the outright boycott of the Seoul Games, the North Koreans developed a more sophisticated policy. By 1985 they were proposing to share the Games between North and South Korea, with 50 percent held in Seoul, and 50 percent in Pyongyang. This plan was met with enthusiastic support in Cuba. Indeed, Cuba was more consistent than any other country in backing Pyongyang’s proposals. Documents in this collection help to understand why. Fidel Castro felt cheated out of the right to host the Pan-American Games in 1987 in place of Ecuador (I


What disease is caused by the Yersinia Pestis bacteria?

Plague (Yersinia Pestis) Guide: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment Options Plague (Yersinia Pestis) What Is It? Plague is caused by Yersinia pestis bacteria. It can be a life threatening infection if not treated promptly. Plague has caused several major epidemics in Europe and Asia over the last 2,000 years. Plague has most famously been called "the Black Death" because it can cause skin sores that form black scabs. A plague epidemic in the 14th century killed more than one-third of the population of Europe within a few years. In some cities, up to 75% of the population died within days, with fever and swollen skin sores. Worldwide, up to 3,000 cases of plague are reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) each year, mostly in Africa, Asia and South America. Plague is primarily an infection of animals including many species of rodents (including mice, rats, ground squirrels, prairie dogs, chipmunks and rabbits). In the United States, it is most commonly transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected rat flea (Xenopsylla species). People are most at risk of infection when they are in areas where these rodents and their fleas are plentiful. Less commonly, humans can become infected in other ways: When Y. pestis bacteria enter the body through a break in the skin after direct contact with the meat or blood of an infected animal (could happen, for example, when a hunter skins a carcass) By breathing in droplets of Y. pestis bacteria if a person is in close contact with a human or animal with plague infection of the lungs (pneumonic plague) From scratches or bites by infected domestic cats People who are most likely to be infected include hunters, veterinarians, and those who camp or hike in areas where animals are infected with plague. Domestic cats or dogs also can spread the disease to their owners by bringing infected fleas into the home. Symptoms Plague occurs in different forms: bubonic, septicemic and pneumonic are the most common. Bubonic plague. This form of plague is the most common of all (more than 80% of all cases). It takes its name from the infected lymph nodes called "buboes." Buboes are very painful, red and swollen lymph nodes that develop very quickly near the area of the flea bite. If the bite was on the leg, a bubo would probably appear in the groin. If the flea bite was on the arm, buboes might appear in the underarm or in the neck. About 2 to 6 days after the flea bite, a person with bubonic plague develops a high fever, chills, muscle aches, headache and extreme weakness and within another 24 hours, 1 or more buboes appear. With prompt treatment of appropriate antibiotics, over 90% of people will survive. Without proper treatment, the Y. pestis bacteria could spread through the bloodstream and a person could develop septicemic plague. Septicemic plague. This form of plague is the second most common. It can develop when Y. pestis bacteria spread through the bloodstream and cause a blood infection called septicemia. It can also happen if Y. pestis spreads from a bubo or from the lungs into the bloodstream. It can also happen if the Y. pestis bacteria get into the bloodstream after a person has direct contact with the meat or blood of an infected animal. The first symptoms of septicemic plague can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain. The person can also develop severe bleeding problems, including sudden bleeding under the skin, scattered bruises, blood in the urine and abnormal bleeding from the mouth, nose and rectum. The bleeding problems can be followed by signs of shock (severe drop in blood pressure, rapid pulse, unconsciousness), kidney failure, severe breathing difficulties and even death. With appropriate treatment, however, 75% to 80% of people survive. Pneumonic plague. This form of plague is currently very rare. It happens when Y. pestis bacteria infect the lungs and cause pneumonia. It can develop when a person breathes in droplets of Y. pestis from an animal or person who has plague infection in the lungs. People who have bubonic or septicemic plague can also develop Y. p


"What 1978 film featured the songs ""You're the One That I Want"" and ""Born to Hand Jive""?"

Grease (1978) - Born to hand-jive dance scene - YouTube Grease (1978) - Born to hand-jive dance scene Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Apr 26, 2013 Category


What Japanese beverage is made by fermenting rice?

Japanese Sake | alcoholic beverage made from fermented rice Friday, August 30, 2013 Japanese Sake Sake, now well known to the world like sushi, is an alcoholic beverage made from fermented rice. In the Japanese language Sake means all alcoholic beverage but in English it means Nihonshu, Japanese liquor. Sake is sometimes referred to rice wine. Not like wine alcohol is produced by fermenting sugar that is naturally present in fruits. The origin of Sake is unknown. Sake is mentioned several times in Kojiki, Japan’s first written history book, which was compiled in 712 A.D.. After Meiji era Western products have been introduced to Japan consumption of Sake has been declining specially among young generation wine and beer are more preferable, ironically people living in other countries are having more Sake recently. Popular Post


During which sea battle was Horatio Nelson killed?

Horatio Nelson - Timeline - History's HEROES from E2BN Horatio Nelson - Timeline See the key facts • 1758 September 29th - Horatio (Horace) Nelson is born in Burnham Thorpe, Norfolk. His father, Edmund, is the local vicar. He is the sixth of 11 children. • 1767 24th December - His mother, Catherine Nelson (nee Suckling), dies, and his grandmother, Ann Suckling, dies on January 5th, just 11 days later. • 1768 Horatio is sent with his brother, William, to King Edward VI’s Grammar School in Norwich, boarding there during term time. • 1769 Horatio is transferred to Sir William Paston’s School, in neighbouring North Walsham, along with his brother William, returning to Burnham Thorpe during school holidays. • 1770 After the Spanish violently take possession of the Falkland Islands, Nelson's uncle, Captain Maurice Suckling, obtains command of the Raisonnable, one of the commissioned ships. Christmas - Nelson asks his brother to write to his father (then staying in Bath) to inform him that Horatio would like to join his uncle in the Navy. • 1771 March or April - Nelson leaves school and travels with his father to his uncle William Suckling’s home in Kentish Town, London. April 24th - Nelson is sent to Sheerness, Kent, where he joins HMS Raisonnable. May 21st - The crew of the HMS Raisonnable are paid off as Britain’s dispute with Spain over the Falkland Islands does not lead to war. May 22nd - Nelson joins his uncle’s next ship, HMS Triumph at Chatham as a captain’s servant. The ship provides no likelihood of active service. July 25th - Nelson starts his first voyage to sea, a 14-month journey to the West Indies. It is not for the Navy but on the Mary Anne, the merchant ship of Captain Rathbone. He works as a midshipman. • 1772 July 7th - Nelson returns to England having gained valuable experience at sea. July 18th - Nelson rejoins his uncle on HMS Triumph, in dock at Chatham, as midshipman. Over the next year he takes command of HMS Triumph’s boats sailing from Chatham down the Thames. • 1773 June 4th - Nelson sails aboard a converted whaler, HMS Carcass, as coxswain, one of two ships on an expedition to survey the Arctic. He nearly gets killed hunting a polar bear. Late July - The ships nearly get trapped in the ice flows. Plans are made to abandon the ships and escape in boats. Nelson volunteers to have charge of a cutter. The men have to saw through ice 12 feet thick to make a passage. The ice breaks in August and they escape. October 28th - Nelson transfers to HMS Seahorse (a 20 gunner) one of two ships about to sail for the East Indies - the furthest Royal naval base from Britain at the time. The ship sets sail on November 19th. • 1775 February 19th - Nelson has his first taste of battle when his ship is attacked by boats belonging to a hostile Indian prince called Hyder Ali. April 12th - Nelson’s uncle, Captain Maurice Suckling, becomes Comptroller of the Navy (the Navy Board’s leading official). April 19th - American War of Independence begins. • 1776 March 14th - Nelson is transferred to the Dolphin on its way to England as he had contracted malaria. He is saved by the care of Captain James Piggot, but will suffer from recurring fevers throughout his life. October 1st - Nelson, aged 17, joins HMS Worcester (a 64 gun ship) on convoy duty in the Channel. Under his uncle's influence, he has been appointed as acting fourth lieutenant. • 1777 April 9th - Nelson passes his degree as Master of Arts (his lieutenant's exam) in London. He joins HMS Lowestoffe, as a full officer, (second lieutenant). The ship is tasked with blockade duties in the West Indies. November 27th - Nelson experiences capturing his first prize, an American brig, the Revolution. Nelson participates despite there being such heavy seas that some other officers refuse. Nelson is given temporary command of the 'Little Lucy'. In this ship between January and April 1778 Nelson independently captures his first prize ships. He also studies a recently discovered bird: the white-necked Jacobin. • 1778 September 5th - Nelson is transferred from HMS Lowestoffe to


What is the Capital of Romania? - Capital-of.com The Capital City of Romania is the city of Bucharest. The population of Bucharest was . Romania is a romanian speaking country on the coasts of the Black Sea. Additional Information


How many centimeters are in a kilometer?

Kilometers to Centimeters - How many centimeters in a kilometer ? Kilometers To Centimeters Conversion How many centimeters in a kilometer ? Kilometers to centimeters (km to cm) conversion table shows the most common values for the quick reference. Alternatively, you may use the converter below to convert any other values. 1 Kilometer = 100 000 Centimeters Kilometer is a metric unit and equals to 1000 meters. It is a commonly used unit of length in most of the countries to measure the distance between two geographical locations. The abbreviation is "km". Centimeter is a metric unit and equals to one hundredth of a meter which is base metric length unit. Commonly spelled as centimetre in europe. The abbreviation is "cm". For centimeters to km conversion table and converter, please go to Centimeters to Kilometers For other units of length conversion, please go to Length Conversion Converter


"Who most famously painted ""The Last Supper""?"

The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci – Facts about the Painting View Complete Works The Last Supper, by Leonardo da Vinci, is one of the most famous works of art in the world. It is a large fresco style painting on the wall of Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milan, Italy. It is not a true fresco because it was painted on a dry wall, instead of wet plaster. Unfortunately, because of the medium used, the work began to deteriorate fairly soon after it was painted, and so over the years numerous restoration attempts have been made to restore and preserve it. Although it took over three years to complete, da Vinci did not actually work on it continuously. No one knows the exact date of commencement due to lost and unreliable record-keeping. The Artist Leonardo da Vinci was arguably one of the greatest men to have ever lived. He was an artist, scientist, architect, author, engineer, inventor, and humanist. In essence, he was a Renaissance man. Da Vinci explored and delved into things which were many centuries ahead of him. He was born in 1452 near Vinci in Italy, and died in Amboise, near Tours France in 1519. As one of the early Renaissance men, he was largely underappreciated in Florence, birth place of the Renaissance, and lived out his days under the appreciative arm of French King Francois I. His most famous painting, the Mona Lisa stands proud amongst the collection of the Louvre, along with many of his other works. The Last Supper The Last Supper is among his most famous works. It is a giant fresco like painting on the side of a wall in a dining hall of a monastery. The painting was commissioned by Sforza and is the perfect subject for a dining hall in a monastery. Da Vinci’s Last Supper is depicted in this ritual meal as a religious ceremony. Christ is very much the focal point of the entire piece and we have a sense of asymmetrical symmetry as he is flanked by his disciples. There are thirteen people in all (including Christ) and we can see, presumably the figure of Judas Escariot to the right of Christ, as he was still present at the meal. Some have theorized that Mary Magdalene was sitting to the left of Christ in the painting, but this is a contradiction since there had to be twelve disciples, and she was not one of them. It is interesting to note, that with Christ as the center piece, how he is in fact well framed by the doorway. This provides contrast between his figure and the outside, as well as bringing out eye to the most important figure on the piece. His arms, head and body form a triangle, as well as the space on the left hand side between him and the figure to his left. The disciples are also nicely arranged into groups of three along the length of the table. One interesting fact is that there are lines of perspective that radiate from Christ’s head, indicating that he is the focal point of the painting. These perspective lines blend in with the ceiling and walls. The painting also makes us feel as if we too are a part of it. This formula has been copied and become the standard for symbolic paintings from then on. The Story The Last Supper is the final meal Christ had with his disciples before he was arrested which ultimately crucified. The scene we are shown is when Christ tells his followers that he is to be betrayed and that he will be leaving them very soon. In the groups of three, we see the reactions from the apostles to the news. From the far left, we have the first group who all look surprised. No doubt, all would be thinking that they would never betray the Messiah. The next group, it is likely that Judas is the one holding what appears to be a bag (perhaps of silver?). Behind him is likely Peter, Jesus’ number one disciple who appears angry at the news. And the other person is likely one of the younger apostles, as he appears to swoon. Many have suggested that this is Mary Magdalene, perhaps inspired by the famous Da Vinci Code book. To the right of Christ, the next group of apostles appears to perhaps be questioning Christ as to the suggestion of betrayal, while the group on the far right is likely


"What is the name of Simba's uncle in ""The Lion King"""

Lion King Characters — My Lion King Simba Meaning: lion (Swahili) Simba, the prince of the Pride Lands and son of King Mufasa and Queen Sarabi, grows into a fairly wild and carefree adult after living a rambunctious and arrogant cubhood. All of that changes when he meets Rafiki. Simba begins to realize his responsibilities and returns home to challenge his evil uncle Scar for the kingship of the Pride Lands. Nala Meaning: gift (Swahili) Nala, daughter of Sarafina and mate of Simba, was just as wild of a cub as Simba was. She would often accompany him on many adventures. When Simba is exiled, Nala grows up thinking that he is dead. When the two meet, they find out that their cubhood bonds turn into something more. They fall in love and together they retake the Pride Lands. Mufasa Mufasa is the king of the Pride Lands, brother of Scar, mate of Sarabi and father of Simba. He is portrayed as a very proud, majestic and knowledgeable king. Although his time in the film is short, he teaches Simba important lessons and prepares his son for being king some day. Sarabi Meaning: mirage (Swahili) Sarabi is the loving mother of Simba and mate of Mufasa. After Mufasa's death, she plays the role of a headstrong individual and stands her ground against the tyranny of Scar. Kiara Meaning: small, dark thing (Swahili) Kiara just wants to go on adventures, but her over-protective father, Simba, won't let her! When she grows up to be a headstrong adolescent and meets Kovu, she begins to challenge her father and ultimately unites the Pridelanders and the Outlanders. Kovu Meaning: scar (Swahili) Kovu, raised in a hostile environment by his hateful mother, Zira, grows up to be a vicious warrior. When he meets Kiara as an adolescent, his entire view on the Pride Lands changes and in the end he chooses Kiara over his mother's plans for him. Simba Meaning: lion (Swahili) The over-protective Simba tries to shield his daughter from the world, especially the Outlands! In the end, his daughter points out his mistakes and ends the feud between the Pridelanders and the Outlanders. Nala Meaning: gift (Swahili) Nala doesn't play much of a role in The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, but when we do get the chance to see her, she is a caring, loving mother of Kiara and respectable mate of Simba. Zira Meaning: hate (Swahili) Zira, who had an unexplained relationship with Scar, will stop at nothing to get revenge on Simba and the Pridelanders. She trains Kovu to take over the Pride Lands, but in the end Kovu sides with Kiara, his love. Timon Meaning: respect (Swahili) Timon is causing troubles in his meerkat burrow. He leaves his home and finds Pumbaa, then they find a lion named Simba. The three live with no worries as Simba grows into an adolescent. Pumbaa Meaning: dull-witted, stunned (Swahili) Pumbaa is good spirited and a great friend of Timon & Simba. Before meeting Timon, he traveled alone because the other animals couldn't stand his flatulent tendencies. Simba Meaning: lion (Swahili) Simba as a teen is rambunctious and independent. As Simba grows into an adult lion, he begins to question Hakuna Matata. When he finds his true self, he returns to the Pride Lands and challenges his uncle Scar. Nala Meaning: gift (Swahili) Nala helps Simba find his true self. When they meet, they realize their friendship quickly turns to love.


What is a baby kangaroo called? | Reference.com What is a baby kangaroo called? A: Quick Answer A baby kangaroo is called a joey. The adult male kangaroos are called bucks, boomers or jacks. Adult females are known as does, flyers or jills. Full Answer According to Live Science, kangaroos are marsupials, meaning they give birth to young who are not fully developed. A newborn joey is often barely bigger than a grain of rice. The joey continues to grow inside the mother's pouch where it gains nourishment from milk and where it is sheltered and kept warm and protected for 120 to 400 days. A kangaroo grows to a height of 3 to 8 feet. Kangaroos travel together in a "mob" that ranges from 10 to over 100 kangaroos. If there is more than one male in a mob, they compete for dominance by boxing. Kangaroos are native to Australia, but they are adaptable to other climates.


What TV show featured characters named Tinky-Winky and Laa-Laa?

Characters | Teletubbies Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Share Ad blocker interference detected! Wikia is a free-to-use site that makes money from advertising. We have a modified experience for viewers using ad blockers Wikia is not accessible if you’ve made further modifications. Remove the custom ad blocker rule(s) and the page will load as expected. Characters Tinky Winky (played by Dave Thompson , Mark Heenehan , and Simon Shelton ) is the first Teletubby. He is the largest of the Teletubbies, is covered in bright purple terrycloth, and has a triangular antenna on his head. He is notable for the red luggage (described by the show as a "magic bag", but often described by other media as a handbag) he always carries. His character has caused controversy due to allegations that his character's behavior, bag and body colour have homosexual qualities ( see below ). Dipsy (played by John Simmit ) is the second Teletubby. He is lime green and is named "Dipsy" because his antenna resembles a dipstick . He likes his black and white furry top hat , which he once lost. Laa-Laa found it, but instead of simply returning Dipsy's hat to the stricken Dipsy, she ran around it for about ten minutes shouting "Dipsy Hat! Dipsy Hat!". He is the most stubborn of the Teletubbies, and will sometimes refuse to go along with the other Teletubbies' group opinion. His face is also notably darker than the rest of the Teletubbies, and the creators have stated that he is Black . [9 ] Laa-Laa (played by Nikky Smedley ) is the third Teletubby. She is sunflower yellow, and has a curly antenna. She likes to sing and dance, and is often seen to look out for the other Teletubbies. Her favourite thing is a bouncy, orange ball, which is almost as big as she is. Po (played by Pui Fan Lee ,  Pui Fan Lee ) is the fourth and last Teletubby. She is the smallest and youngest of the Teletubbies, is rosy red, and has an antenna shaped like a stick used for blowing soap bubbles . Her favourite object is her scooter , which she calls "scoota" (she also calls it "coota", or just "cooter"). Po can sometimes be mischievous and naughty, as when she disobeys the commands of the "Voice Trumpets". She has been stated by the show's creators to be Cantonese , [9 ] and as such, she is bilingual, speaking both English and Cantonese. Although many are unsure of Po's gender, or consider her to be male (possibly because of her scarlet colour and tomboyish antics), she is clearly referred to as female in several episodes, such as "Dad's Portrait" (Episode 216, first broadcast 1998) and "Numbers: 2" (Episode 30). Many refer to her as "he" even though it is "she" (the same happens with Laa-Laa). Noo-Noo (played by Dean Mark Dean ) seems to be both the Teletubbies' guardian and housekeeper, due to its resemblance to a vacuum cleaner , which is its principal purpose in the house. Noo-Noo hardly ventures outside, instead remaining indoors and constantly cleaning with its sucker-like nose. It does not speak like the other characters, instead communicating through a series of slurping and sucking noises. At times, Noo-Noo gets annoyed with the Teletubbies' antics and can vacuum their food or toys. This usually prompts the Teletubbies to scold Noo-Noo through a cry of "Naughty Noo-Noo!". Usually after this, Noo-Noo flees and the Teletubbies pursue it comically around the house until they grow tired, are distracted by something, or forgive Noo-Noo. This sequence ends with them hugging it, or with it shooting out their absorbed objects. The Bear with Brown Fuzzy Hair(played by Penelope Keith ) is a bear who is one of the characters in the infamous The Lion And Bear sketch , where she plays hide and seek. She is a mechanical thing on a red skateboard looking thing with green eyes, big ears, big eyebrows, a big round nose and a mechanical mouth with a red tongue inside, as well as brown fur, long arms and legs and white claws. Her personality is silly, immature and also eerie. She has a sense of humour by doing a 'joke' where she sticks her tongue out with her eyes rolling in circles, before p


3 Things You Should Know about Uluru's Aboriginal Name Uluru-Ayers Rock: What’s in a Name? Many people ask us what is the Aboriginal name for Ayers Rock means. So we’ve written this page to not only help you to learn what the original name for Ayers Rock is, but also to dispel some of the myths about Ayers Rock’s original name. We often see information written on the internet about Ayers Rock that simply isn’t true. For example, I’ve seen websites stating that Ayers Rock is the heart chakra of the world! Until recently, Wikipedia’s entry claiming that Uluru means ‘island mountain’. I’ve even heard one ignorant tour guide at Uluru’s base spreading this ‘island mountain’ meaning to tourists. Not only is this untrue, it’s also offensive to Aboriginal people who have their own spiritual traditions associated with the Rock. So we want to make sure that you have the real facts about Uluru – and especially about the Aboriginal name for Ayers Rock. On this page, I (Amanda) will share my knowledge as an anthropologist and tell you the real story behind Ayers Rock’s original name. 1. Uluru: The Original Name The Aboriginal name for Ayers Rock is Uluru. Uluru is a Yankunytjatjara word. Yankunytjatjara is the name of the Aboriginal people whose land Ayers Rock is located on. Uluru is not just the name of Ayers Rock itself, but also of the country around Ayers Rock. Uluru is in fact the name of a large tract of land where a particular sub-group of Yankunytjatjara people (anthropologists call this an ‘estate group’) live. 2. What Does Uluru Mean? Uluru is first and foremost a place name. It does not have any specific meaning, although it may have some connection to the Yankunytjatjara words for ‘crying’ and ‘shadows’. As I really wanted to know what the word meant, I asked Senior Traditional owners, Reggie and Cassidy Uluru and well known Alice Springs historian, Richard (Dick) Kimber, about the meaning of Uluru. After a few ignorant comments on this post, I then asked several Yankunytjatjara people who are highly skilled language interpreters about the meaning as well. They all told me that Uluru was the name of the place, and that it had no specific meaning. I also read through the writings of Charles Mountford, one of the first anthropologists to live and work with Yankunytjatjara and Luritja people, and the books of Bill Harney (the first ranger at Ayers Rock). I consulted the anthropological work of Robert Lawton, who worked on land claims in the area during the 1970s. Mountford worked with Aboriginal people at Ayers Rock in the 1930s and 1940s. He records that Uluru is both the name of a Dreaming ancestor, a snake, AND the name of a rockhole that is a Men’s Sacred site located on top of the Rock. Traditionally, only initiated senior men could climb the Rock and visit this special site (this fact is often hidden from public knowledge, but is there in historical and anthropological records for anyone to discover.) Bill Harney arrived at Uluru in the late 1950s. He was told by the Aboriginal custodians of Uluru that it was a place name. Robert Lawton was the anthropologist who interviewed all of the old people for the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park Land Claim. He also established that Uluru was a place name. After doing this research and asking expert people, the evidence suggested that the Aboriginal name for Ayers Rock, Uluru, is indeed a place name with no specific meaning. Aboriginal people felt that the connection to ‘crying’ or ‘wailing’ was actually associated with ‘Yulara’, which is the name of the township where Ayers Rock Resort is located. There are several named places on the south western side of the Rock (near the Park HQ) which refer to shade or shadows. (The ‘ul-‘ sound refers to shade or shadow in several Central Australian Aboriginal languages ). There may be some connection of the word ‘Uluru’ to shadows or shade, however, the Aboriginal men I spoke with did not suggest this. So we can conclude that just as Niagara Falls is the name of a place, or London or the Amazon River, so too is Uluru. It does not mean ‘Ear


What do you call the traditional Japanese art of folding paper?

Paper | Robert J. Lang Origami Robert J. Lang Origami paper I am often asked what kind of paper to use for origami. There is no single answer; it depends on what you're folding. On this page, I'll talk a little bit about the most common types of paper for origami and my own experiences with them. Traditional Papers Found Paper One of the things that first attracted me to origami as a child was that the tools were all around me; all I needed were my hands and a sheet of paper, and I could find paper anywhere! For many years, I used pads of obsolete business forms from my Dad's business, cut to square. Nowadays, the equivalent paper would be copy paper—used or unused. And all it needs is to be cut (or torn) to square, and you're ready to fold. For simple folds, copy paper works very well. It takes a crease nicely and doesn't easily wrinkle. And you can find it almost everywhere. But as the world of origami has progressed over the last few decades, the complexity of origami designs has grown, and for many designs—and almost everything I compose these days—copy paper is just too thick. You'll need to look for other sources. Magazine and Newsprint Even more ubiquitous than copy paper is magazine paper and newsprint. Both are tempting, particularly because they are generally much thinner than copy paper. But if you try them out, you'll find that magazine paper and newsprint are really lousy papers for origami. They have two big weaknesses: they are weak (and so tear easily), and even worse, they don't hold creases very well at all. Second Sheet, Manifold, and Airmail Paper For many years, my paper of choice was a type called "second sheet" or "manifold." These names came from the days before copy machines, when business forms came in packets of several sheets with carbon paper between the layers, so that when you filled out the form you were making multiple copies. Manifold paper was quite thin (9 lb., using the American system of paper weights; see here for conversions ), but unlike newsprint and magazine paper, it was crisp and took creases nicely. Alas, multicarbon forms seem to be a casualty of the commercial photocopier. Although I'm still working on the first 1000-sheet ream of manifold that I ever bought, it's been a long time since I've seen it in stationery stores. But airmail paper is very similar—thin, crisp, and strong—and email has yet to kill it off. Traditional Origami Paper I regularly get asked, "do you have to use that special Japanese origami paper that comes in the little square packages?" It's true, there is paper made especially for origami, and most art or craft stores carry it. It's relatively thin, brightly colored (most packages contain an assortment of colors), and, conveniently, it is already cut to square. (Or nearly so; more on that in a minute.) It seems like this paper must be the ideal paper for origami, possibly made by hand according to ancient tradition and used for origami for perhaps hundreds of years! The truth is somewhat less inspiring. What we think of as traditional origami paper—generally called kami—was actually developed in the early 20th century for use in schools, using inexpensive, western-style machine-made paper. It was colored on one side, because that's cheaper. The paper is not archival, and the dyes are unstable, so it degrades over a period of years. And while it is fairly thin (thus using less material, making it cheaper per sheet), it is not very strong, as generations of folders attempting to use it to fold insects, can attest! And it is not always square, to boot. This is not necessarily due to imprecision in manufacturing, though. Kami, like all machine-made papers, has a definite grain, which comes from the manufacturing process. It is made on a continous belt moving through a paper pulp slurry, and the motion of the belt tends to align the paper fibers along a given direction. (You can easily see the effect of this alignment by trying to tear a sheet of newspaper; it will tear much more cleanly in one direction (with the grain) than the other (across the grain).) P


What Middle Eastern country is scheduled to host the World Cup in 2022?

BBC Sport - Football - Russia & Qatar will host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups Russia & Qatar will host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups Advertisement The moment Russia won 2018 World Cup bid Russia and Qatar have been chosen to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cup finals respectively after a secret ballot of Fifa's 22 executive members in Zurich. Russia was selected ahead of co-bidders Spain-Portugal and Holland-Belgium and England, which won only two votes. Qatar defeated bids from South Korea, Japan, Australia and the United States. "You have entrusted us with the Fifa World Cup for 2018 and I can promise you will never regret it," said Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov. Russia received nine votes in the first round of voting and an outright majority of 13 in the second round, while Qatar obtained an outright majority of 14 in the fourth round of voting for 2022. It is the first time that either Russia or Qatar has been chosen as host nation for the World Cup. "Let us make history together," Shuvalov added. Russia's selection comes despite the absence of Prime Minister Valdimir Putin from the vote in Switzerland. Qatar win right to host 2022 World Cup The 58-year-old had been expected to be a prominent figurehead for the Russian bid in the final days of campaigning but instead remained in Moscow. He is now expected to fly to Zurich to thank Fifa for what he described as "a sign of trust" for his country. "Russia loves football, Russia knows what football is and in our country we have everything to conduct the 2018 World Cup on a very worthy level," said Putin in a televised interview. "The decision corresponds with Fifa's philosophy for developing football, especially in those regions of the world where that development is needed." Qatar's Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani was in attendance in Zurich, and he thanked Fifa for "believing in change". "We have worked very hard over past two years to get to this point," Al-Thani continued. "Today we celebrate, but tomorrow, the work begins. "We acknowledge there is a lot of work for us to do, but we also stand by our promise that we will deliver." 2018 VOTING 1st round: England 2 (eliminated), Netherlands-Belgium 4; Spain-Portugal 7; Russia 9 2nd round: Netherlands-Belgium 2; Spain-Portugal 7; Russia 13 (Russia obtain absolute majority) The Spain-Portugal 2018 bid gained seven votes and its managing director Miguel Angel Lopez commented: "Fifa thought it was better to promote football in other latitudes and there we are. The decision is focused on taking football to regions which have never held a World Cup." The Belgium-Netherlands bid picked up four votes in the first round and two in the second. Former Belgian star Marc Wilmots thought the decision was a negative one for football. "Russia is a political choice and Qatar is an economic choice," Wilmots reflected. "You can say that to some extent the sport has been the loser with the decision for these two World Cups." US President Barack Obama said he felt Fifa had made "the wrong decision" in awarding the 2022 tournament to Qatar. The US reached the fourth round of voting before being beaten by Qatar, and US 2022 bid chairman Sunil Gulati stated: "We're disappointed. No way to get around that. We worked very hard. "The country has been behind us in a way we haven't seen. We know it came down to two. Which automatically means it was very close. "But there's a lot of countries in the world that want to host these events. "People have figured out a way to do it and not lose a lot of money, especially if you don't have infrastructure issues. "Certainly in the two winners today there are going to be a lot of infrastructure needs and commitments have been made by the governments." Despite losing out in the first round of voting for 2022, Australia's Football Federation chief executive Ben Buckley thought the Australian bid had strengthened his country's reputation. "We are obviously disappointed at the outcome in Zurich, however we are proud of the efforts we made in trying to secure a World Cup in Australia," Buckley ad


What is the name of Adele's first album?

Everything You Need to Know About Adele's New Album Everything You Need to Know About Adele's New Album Jason Merritt/Getty Is the wait finally over? For fans of Adele , it’s been a long three years since her last record was released. But given a new Internet report, have the details of her new album and tour been confirmed? The soul diva set off the speculation herself in May when, a day before her 26th birthday, she Tweeted : “Bye bye 25 … See you again later in the year.” The last portion was taken as her hint that her next effort would drop by the end of 2015. On Tuesday, the frenzy started again when the Twitter account for the World Music Awards apparently announced the name of the album and a tour: “#adele confirms 2015 Tour After The Release Of Her New Album 25!” The Tweet has since been deleted. However, Martin Mills – chairman of Beggars Group, the parent company of Adele’s XL Recordings – told Billboard there is “no truth” to the Tweet. (The potential name would have been in keeping with her first two albums: 2008’s 19 and 2011’s 21, which were both nods to her age at the time.) So what can we expect on the private singer’s ultra-secret next album? Possibly plenty of interesting collaborations! Phil Collins told Rolling Stone that he’s been in the studio with Adele, and OneRepublic rocker-megaproducer Ryan Tedder confirmed to MSN Music that he’s returned to work with her again.


Who is the son of British royals William and Kate?

A name for the royal baby: William and Kate's big decision | Fox News A name for the royal baby: William and Kate's big decision Published        July 23, 2013 Facebook 0 Twitter 0 Email Print Journalists discuss the odds for the royal baby's name outside St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, central London on July 22, 2013. Prince William and his wife Kate have yet to announce a name for their new newborn son -- but bookmakers have tipped George and James as likely contenders for Britain's new third in line to the throne.  (AFP) Prince William and his wife Kate arrive at Westminster Abbey in London on June 4, 2013. William and Kate have yet to announce a name for their new newborn son -- but bookmakers have tipped George and James as likely contenders for Britain's new third in line to the throne.  (AFP/File) Previous Next LONDON (AFP) –  Prince William and his wife Kate have yet to announce a name for their new newborn son -- but bookmakers have tipped George and James as likely contenders for Britain's new third in line to the throne. Choosing a name can be agonising for any new parents, but the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are burdened with the added knowledge that their child's name is headed for the history books. Experts say the couple are guaranteed to plunder William's illustrious family tree in picking a name for the little prince, but will settle on one that is in keeping with their image as "modern" royals. "I do think that Prince William is quite a traditionalist -- that's my feeling," said Charles Kidd, editor of the Debrett's genealogical guide to the British aristocracy. "I wouldn't be surprised if they use a name that is already familiar in the royal family -- something that has royal associations." But royal-watchers may have a while to wait for the big announcement. William's name was not revealed until a week after his birth in 1982 -- and when Charles was born in 1948, the wait lasted an entire month. There was "no news on names" on Tuesday, a royal official said. "The royal family quite like to do things slowly," said Kidd. "It's quite dignified to have a bit of breathing space between the birth and the announcement of the name." But he added: "The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge seem very organised. I would be surprised if it took them longer than a week." The royal family tree is full of boys' names still popular among British parents today, including George, James, William and Richard -- but there are also plenty that have gone out of fashion, such as Ethelred or Athelstan. Bookmakers have been doing a roaring trade in bets on the baby's name. The majority of punters will now be cursing after putting money on a girl's name -- Irish bookmakers Paddy Power said around 60 percent of gamblers had guessed the baby would be female. But there is still time to win back their losses if they pick the lucky boy's name. George is now the Paddy Power favourite at 6/4 followed by James (11/4), Alexander (7/2) and Louis (8/1). But James, the name of Kate's brother, is the "red-hot" favourite with Ladbrokes, although the odds on Henry -- the formal name of William's brother Prince Harry -- have been slashed from 50/1 to 5/1. At the other end of the spectrum, Wayne is trading at 250/1 -- although a bet was earlier placed on Kai, the name of footballer Wayne Rooney's son, at 1000/1. There have been six British king Georges, including the current queen's father George VI, whose story was brought to life in the Oscar-winning 2010 film "The King's Speech". Royal experts say the name emphasises the continuity of the monarchy, while it also seems modern -- it was the 9th most popular choice for baby boys born in 2011, according to the Office for National Statistics. James is more problematic. There have been two British kings with the name, the second of whom was deposed in 1688 after he sparked a constitutional crisis with his pro-Catholic policies. Other names also have unlucky royal connotations -- there was the so-called "bad" king John who ruled from 1199 to 1216, while William's father Charles, heir to the thro


What is the name of the flag of the United Kingdom?

Difference Between the UK, Great Britain, and England By Matt Rosenberg Updated February 19, 2016. While many people use the terms United Kingdom, Great Britain, and England interchangeably, there is a difference between them -- one is a country, the second is an island, and the third is a part of an island. The United Kingdom The  United Kingdom  is an independent country off the northwestern coast of Europe. It consists of the entire island of Great Britain and a northern part of the island of Ireland. In fact, the official name of the country is the "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland." The capital city of the United Kingdom is London and the head of state is currently Queen Elizabeth II. The United Kingdom is one of the founding members of the United Nations and sits on the United Nations Security Council. The creation of the United Kingdom heralds back to 1801 when there was a unification between the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland, creating the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. In the 1920s, southern Ireland gained independence and the name of the modern country of the United Kingdom became the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. continue reading below our video Test Your General Science Knowledge   Great Britain Great Britain is the name of the island northwest of France and east of Ireland. Much of the United Kingdom consists of the island of Great Britain. On the large island of Great Britain there are three somewhat autonomous regions: England, Wales, and Scotland. Great Britain is the ninth largest island on Earth and has an area of 80,823 square miles (209,331 square kilometers). England occupies the southeast portion of the island of Great Britain, Wales is in the southwest, and Scotland is in the north. Scotland and Wales are not independent countries but do have some autonomy from the United Kingdom with respect to internal governance. England England is located in the southern part of the island of Great Britain, which is part of the country of the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom includes the administrative regions of England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Each region varies in its level of autonomy, but they are all part of the United Kingdom. While England has traditionally been thought of as the hearth of the United Kingdom, some use the term "England" to refer to the entire country, but this is not correct. Although common to hear or see London, England, though that is technically correct, it does imply that the independent country is named England, but that is not so.  Ireland A final note on Ireland. The northern one-sixth of the island of Ireland is the administrative region of the United Kingdom known as Northern Ireland. The remaining southern five-sixths of the island of Ireland is the independent country known as the  Republic of Ireland (Eire) . Using the Right Term It is inappropriate to refer to the United Kingdom as Great Britain or England; one should be specific about toponyms (place names) and utilize the correct nomenclature. Remember, United Kingdom (or U.K.) is the country, Great Britain is the island, and England is one of the U.K.'s four administrative regions. Since unification, the Union Jack flag has combined elements of England, Scotland, and Ireland to represent the unification of constituent parts of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (although Wales is left out).


What city is the seat of the Netherlands' government?

The Hague | national seat of government, Netherlands | Britannica.com national seat of government, Netherlands Written By: Alternative Titles: Den Haag, La Haye, ’s-Gravenhage Spotlight / Society Learn more about this topic 1 Learn about the seat of the court The Hague, Dutch ’s-Gravenhage or Den Haag, French La Haye, seat of government of the Netherlands . It is situated on a coastal plain, with the city centre just inland from the North Sea . The Hague is the administrative capital of the country and the home of the court and government, though Amsterdam is the official capital. The Hague, Neth. Andrew Ward—Life File/Getty Images The city’s name recalls the hunting lodge of the counts of Holland, which was located in a woodland area called Haghe, or “hedge” (whence ’s-Gravenhage, “the counts’ private enclosure”). Count William II built a castle there in 1248, around which several buildings—including the Knights’ Hall (1280)—came to be clustered, and these became the principal residence of the counts of Holland. These buildings now form the Binnenhof (“Inner Courtyard”) in the old quarter of the city. About 1350 an artificial lake, the Hofvijver, was dug just to the north of the Binnenhof and still forms one of the many attractions of the city. A commercial district grew up around the Binnenhof in the 13th and 14th centuries. In the 16th century Holland became the chief centre of Dutch resistance to Spanish Habsburg rule, and in 1559 William I , stadtholder of the Netherlands, made The Hague his capital. About 1585 the States-General, along with other bodies of the Dutch Republic’s central government, established themselves in the Binnenhof. William’s son, Prince Maurice of Orange, soon took up residence in The Hague, and at his initiative in 1616 a web of canals was constructed around the city that continued to define its borders to the mid-19th century. In the 17th century, when the Dutch Republic played a leading role in Europe, The Hague became a centre of diplomatic negotiation. From 1795 to 1808 The Hague served as the capital of the French-controlled republic of Holland, and with liberation from the French the city alternated with Brussels as the meeting place of the States-General of the enlarged Kingdom of the Netherlands from 1815 to 1830. After 1850, when the revenues from the Dutch East Indies started to pour in, the city prospered. As a result of the international conferences ( Hague Convention ) held there in 1899 and 1907, The Hague became a permanent centre of international law. After a long sojourn in Amsterdam, the Dutch central government returned to The Hague in 1913. The city grew rapidly in the 20th century, and new districts linked it with the popular sea resort of Scheveningen, Rijswijk , Voorburg, and other adjoining municipalities. Related Topics William II There is little heavy industry in The Hague, which is basically a centre of government and corporate administration. The States-General (Parliament) meets in the Knights’ Hall, and government departments and foreign embassies occupy other buildings in the old quarter of the city. Most of the city’s business firms are engaged in trade, banking, insurance, or other services. Several large oil companies also have their international headquarters in the city. The Hague is also a leading centre for international conferences. The city’s industries include printing and publishing, electronics, food processing, and the production of ceramics, furniture, glass, and various luxury consumer items. European Patent Office in The Hague. Metatron The Binnenhof is surrounded by buildings dating from the 15th to the 18th century. Among these historical landmarks are the Great Church of St. Jacob (Jacobskerk; 1399), which has the largest carillon in the Netherlands; the Protestant New Church (1654); the royal palace on the Noordeinde (16th century); the royal palace known as the House in the Wood (Huis ten Bosch; 1645–47); and the old Renaissance-style town hall (1564), which was subsequently enlarged several times. To the north, the United Nations’ Internat


What is the smallest country in the world? - Ask History Ask History July 17, 2013 By Mariel Synan Share Did you know the Vatican is the smallest nation-state in the world? Get all the facts and figures. Share this: What is the smallest country in the world? Author What is the smallest country in the world? URL Google It may be difficult to imagine, but there is a country in the world smaller than New York City’s Central Park and one with a population smaller than a typical high-school class. Based on landmass, Vatican City is the smallest country in the world, measuring just 0.2 square miles, almost 120 times smaller than the island of Manhattan. Situated on the western bank of the Tiber River, Vatican City’s 2-mile border is landlocked by Italy. The official seat of the pope of the Catholic Church since 1377, Vatican City was not declared an independent state until the Lateran Treaty of 1929. After years of power struggles between popes and the political leaders of Italy over who could claim supreme authority in the region, Benito Mussolini and Pope Pius XI agreed to the Lateran Pacts on February 11, 1929, which created the independent state of Vatican City for the Catholic Church in exchange for the pope’s recognition of the Kingdom of Italy. Today, nearly 75 percent of the Vatican’s citizens are members of the clergy. In comparing countries by population, however, Vatican City loses out to the Pitcairn Islands for the title of smallest country. Compared to the 800-850 residents who live in Vatican City, the population of the Pitcairn Islands has fluctuated between 40 and 60 inhabitants over recent years. This British territory, located in the Pacific Ocean halfway between Peru and New Zealand, is composed of four islands, but Pitcairn is the only one that is inhabited. Pitcairn’s tiny population is also noteworthy due to its peoples’ heritage: They are descended from Tahitians and the mutineers on the Bounty. Fletcher Christian and eight other mutineers fled to Tahiti after their revolt at sea, but when hostilities arose with their new neighbors and they began to fear arrest, they escaped to the deserted island of Pitcairn to hide from British authorities, bringing a handful of Tahitians with them. The British rediscovered the islands in 1791 during a search for the mutineers, and they were named a British colony in 1838. Though the population has swelled since then to a whopping 223 just before World War II, the current population stands at about 50. Considering the 50 smallest countries by landmass are each less than one-quarter of the size of Rhode Island and the 50 smallest countries by population are each about one-sixth the size of Washington, D.C., it really is a small world after all. Tags


What country uses the Dong as its currency?

9 foreign countries where you can use U.S. dollars FacebookEmail Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Pinterest 9 foreign countries where you can use U.S. dollars There are many great pleasures of the globe-trotting life, but dealing with pesky Travelex lines is not one of them. Sick of exchange rates, transaction fees, and coming home with pockets filled with useless Post to Facebook 9 foreign countries where you can use U.S. dollars There are many great pleasures of the globe-trotting life, but dealing with pesky Travelex lines is not one of them. Sick of exchange rates, transaction fees, and coming home with pockets filled with useless Check out this story on USATODAY.com: http://usat.ly/163nxA7 CancelSend A link has been sent to your friend's email address. Posted! A link has been posted to your Facebook feed. 61 To find out more about Facebook commenting please read the Conversation Guidelines and FAQs 9 foreign countries where you can use U.S. dollars Dara Continenza, SmarterTravel.com Published 5:00 a.m. ET July 3, 2013 | Updated 7:48 a.m. ET July 3, 2013 Though many Belizean businesses accept U.S. bills, prices may be quoted in the official currency or in USD. It's wise to ask your shopkeeper about their pricing method before you whip out your wallet—especially since the two dollars share the same symbol, $. (Photo: Creatas Getty Images/Creatas RF) 480 CONNECT TWEET 8 LINKEDIN 61 COMMENTEMAILMORE There are many great pleasures of the globe-trotting life, but dealing with pesky Travelex lines is not one of them. Sick of exchange rates, transaction fees, and coming home with pockets filled with useless coins? Here are foreign destinations where you can pay with U.S. dollars, from the sunny and subtropical to the still-undiscovered. British Virgin Islands Much like neighboring U.S.V.I., the British Virgin Islands employ the U.S. dollar as their official currency. This connection makes travel between the two island groups especially seamless—and gives the B.V.I. its reputation as a well-established tax haven. Don't have millions in corporate profits to shore up? You can still find a haven of sorts at the Baths on Virgin Gorda; this unusual rock formation is one of our favorite secret Caribbean attractions (and, aside from the swaying palms, it's a lot less shady). Ecuador Ecuador's currency has a long history filled with House of Cards-style political intrigue: First, Ecuador employed the peso, then enjoyed a brief dalliance with the franco, then went back to the peso, and finally adopted the sucre, whose value nosedived in the late 1990s during a near economic collapse. In 2000, in order to stabilize the economy, the Ecuadorian government voted to adopt the U.S. dollar as the official currency. The controversial vote led to the ouster of then-President Jamil Mahuad, but the result was inevitable: U.S. travelers to Ecuador can now use the very same dollars they would at home (although Ecuador produces its own nifty centavo coins). Panama What's better than one official currency? Two, of course. In addition to its Panamanian balboa, Panama accepts the U.S. dollar "at par" (a rate of 1:1). This means that travelers don't have to worry about exchanging money in foreign airports or dealing with fluctuating exchange rates—making Panama an economical destination, at least for now. In 2014, the nation's large-scale canal expansion will come to an end, opening Panama's pristine beaches to large cruise ships and a surge of value-seeking tourists. So, savvy travelers would be wise to grab a fistful of dollars and head down there sooner rather than later. MORE: Travelers fume over credit-card currency-conversion fees Bahamas Like the Panamanian balboa, the Bahamian dollar enjoys a fixed 1:1 exchange rate with the USD (and the two currencies share a name and a familiar symbol, $). Despite the equitable rate, it may not get you far in this popular (and oft-expensive) tropical destination. Accommodations can be pricey, but they are abundant, from superluxe ocean clubs to the family-friendly Atlantis. Plus, the added convenience of businesses


What is the oldest university in England?

What is the oldest university in Britain? | Reference.com What is the oldest university in Britain? A: Quick Answer The University of Oxford is the oldest university in Britain. While there is no precise date for its founding, the university has existed in some form since 1096. Full Answer The University of Oxford grew out of a tradition of famous teachers travelling to the area to give lectures. Students would travel to Oxford to hear the lectures and meet with other students. The University received a boost in 1167 after King Henry II banned his subjects from studying overseas in France. All students were required to return home and many ended up in Oxford. The first Chancellor, Robert Grosseteste, was appointed in 1214.


What tropical island chain was famously visited by Charles Darwin?

AboutDarwin.com - Beagle Voyage At the Galapagos Darwin the Explorer At          some time over the next few weeks Darwin learned that Capt.          FitzRoy had been promoted by the Admiralty. The          Beagle left the ruined town of Concepcion on April 17th, examined          the town of Coliumo near the Maule River on the 20th, then sailed          north surveying the coast. They          arrived at Valparaiso three days later where Darwin came on          board and told FitzRoy about the promotion he had received.          Darwin returned to shore on April 24th and traveled north to          the town of Coquimbo. The          next day the Beagle headed to Horcon Bay, then sailed the next          day to Papudo. What          follows is Darwin's third and last Andes expedition. Once again,          I have decided to describe it with a day-by-day outline of events,          along with maps (available soon) to make the trek more clear          to the reader. Keep in mind that the names of places Darwin          visited are spelled with many variations in his journal and          also on various maps of the time, so it is unknown if all places          are spelled accurately. April          27, 1835 - Started out from Valparaiso with a guide named Mariano          Gonzales, four horses and a mule, and traveled as far as Vino          del Mar. April 28 - Arrived at Limache then through Umiri and on to the          foot of Bell Mountain where he did poorly at a geological survey          of the area. Arrived at Quillota that evening. April 30 - Arrived at Cerro de Chilicauquen then proceeded to          Plazilla and on to the Coquimbo main road. May 01 - Now at Catapilco, the proceeded along the Valley of          Longotomo just off the coast. May 02 - Traveled to the town of Quilimar on the coast. May 03 - Went from Quilimar to Conchalee. May 04 - Conchalee to Illapel where he finally became bored          with coastal region and set out inland to Illapel. May 05 - Spent the day in Illapel which was at the time was          a copper mining town. May 06 - Stopped at Los Hornos, another major mining town. May 07 - Stayed in Los Hornos to explore the geology of the          area. May 08 - Arrived at Combarbala at foot of Cordilleras. May 09 - Went to the copper and gold mining town of Punitague. May 10 - Arrived at Ovalle on the River Limari. May 11 - Traveled to Panuncillo, yet another mining town. May 12 - Stayed in Panuncillo all day to explore the mines. May 13 - Traveled from Panuncillo to Tambillos to examine their          copper mines. May 14 - Darwin crossed to the Port of Coquimbo where the Beagle          was being refitted, and stayed the night with the crew camped          out on the beach. May 15 - Darwin stayed on the Beagle all day. May 16/18 - Darwin and FitzRoy traveled along the coast and          stayed in Coquimbo 11 miles away. May 19 - Darwin walked a little ways up the valley where he          examined a series of stepped hillsides with sea shells embedded          in them. May 21 - Took a short trip with Don Jose Maria Edwards to the          famous silver mines of Arqueros, then on to the Coquimbo Valley.          Darwin had a very restful nights sleep, due mainly to the lack          of fleas which were very troubling in Coquimbo. May 22 - Darwin examined the silver mines owned by Mr. Edwards,          then headed back to Coquimbo. May 23 - Spent the day traveling up the valley and studied the          geology. Spent the evening at a hacienda own by a cousin of          Mr. Edwards. May 25 - Darwin left the company of Mr. Edwards today. He was          now where the River Claro meets Elque. He


Mr. Bean (character) | Mr. Bean Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Mr. Bean (full name Rowan Julian Bean) is the titular protagonist in the comedy series of the same title. He is a slow-witted, sometimes ingenious, selfish, and generally likable buffoon who brings various unusual schemes and connivances to everyday tasks. Contents [ show ] Background Mr. Bean lives alone in his small flat in Highbury, North London, he was born the youngest of four brothers, and he's almost always seen in his trademark tweed jacket and skinny red tie. Mr. Bean rarely speaks, and when he does, it's generally only a few mumbled words, which are in a comically low-pitched voice. He's been shown in the first episode to have a strong knowledge of trigonometry. His ingenuity often leads him to finding ridiculous and impractical solutions to these problems (such as painting a room by putting fireworks into a paint can). Bean will often get confused at the world, not understanding what's going on. He's also quite selfish — if someone is doing something he doesn't like, he gets very agitated. He also doesn't like people taking his things. Mr. Bean often seems unaware of basic aspects of the way the world works, and the program usually features his attempts at what would normally be considered simple tasks, such as going swimming, redecorating, or going to church. The humor largely comes from his original (and often absurd) solutions to problems and his total disregard for others when solving them, his pettiness, and occasional malevolence. He acts silly sometimes. Mr. Bean in the animated version of the show The original TV show At the beginning of episode 2 onwards, Bean falls from the sky in a beam of light, accompanied by a choir singing Ecce homo qui est faba (Behold the man who is a Bean). These opening sequences were initially in episodes 2 and 3, and they were intended by the producers to show his status as an "outcast cast into the spotlight". But later episodes showed Mr. Bean dropping from the night sky in a deserted London street against the backdrop of St. Paul's Cathedral. Rowan Atkinson himself has acknowledged that Bean "has a slightly outcast aspect to him".  Personality Mr. Bean is often portrayed as a buffoon. He is obnoxious, crazy and sometimes seems stupid. Mr. Bean rarely speaks and when he does, only a mumbling voice comes out. He doesn't show much care to his girlfriend which was proven in many episodes (live-action and animated). Mr. Bean often pretends his teddy is real but he doesn't always treat Teddy nicely. Mr. Bean is also a pain to the Reliant Regal in loads of episodes becoming a running gag in the series. In a few occasions, Mr. Bean had been a bit kind but he rarely shows it. He also tends to hate Irma kissing him. Clothing Mr. Bean is mostly seen wearing a tweed suit, a white shirt, a thin red tie, trousers, and shoes. Occasionally, he'll change his outfit (often to suit the scene that he's in). He's sometimes seen holding a suitcase. Quotes NO!!!!! (When all of his neighbors were noisy in Neighborly Bean) I'll be right back! (Every time Mr. Bean leaves Teddy to do something) Oh no! (Every time Mr. Bean commits mistakes or fails to accomplish his task) Trivia His first name (he names himself Bean to others) and profession, if any, are never mentioned. Rowan Atkinson has said at the time of the first movie's release that he imagines Bean's first name to be Julian, thus making Julian Bean a reference to famous guitarist and lutenist Julien Bream. In the first film adaption, the 'name' "Mr." appears on his passport in the "first name" field, and he is shown employed as a guard at London's National. In Mr. Bean's Holiday, however, his name is listed on his passport as "Rowan".) He is known to have a criminal record due to the acts he has committed. These include:  (Accidentally) headbutting the Queen. Vandalizing hotel property and wandering around the corridors naked. Blowing up a car, littering and destroying a lady's shopping whilst trying to get back a golf ball. However, he has not been cautioned or arrested over a


Whose twelve labors included slaying a hydra and cleaning stables?

Hercules' Fifth Labor: the Augean Stables The Augean Stables Hercules Cleans Up For the fifth labor, Eurystheus ordered Hercules to clean up King Augeas' stables. Hercules knew this job would mean getting dirty and smelly, but sometimes even a hero has to do these things. Then Eurystheus made Hercules' task even harder: he had to clean up after the cattle of Augeas in a single day. Now King Augeas owned more cattle than anyone in Greece. Some say that he was a son of one of the great gods, and others that he was a son of a mortal; whosever son he was, Augeas was very rich, and he had many herds of cows, bulls, goats, sheep and horses. An aerial view of Olympia in Elis, where Augeas ruled his kingdom. Photograph by Raymond V. Schoder, S.J., courtesy of Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers Every night the cowherds, goatherds and shepherds drove the thousands of animals to the stables. Boston 13.195, Attic red figure lekythos, c. 530-500 B.C. People leading cows. From Caskey & Beazley, plate IV. With permission of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Hercules went to King Augeas, and without telling anything about Eurystheus, said that he would clean out the stables in one day, if Augeas would give him a tenth of his fine cattle. Munich 2412, Attic red figure stamnos, c. 440-430 B.C. A bull drinking water from a basin. From Furtwängler & Reichhold, pl. 19 Augeas couldn't believe his ears, but promised. Hercules brought Augeas's son along to watch. First the hero tore a big opening in the wall of the cattle-yard where the stables were. Then he made another opening in the wall on the opposite side of the yard. Next, he dug wide trenches to two rivers which flowed nearby. He turned the course of the rivers into the yard. The rivers rushed through the stables, flushing them out, and all the mess flowed out the hole in the wall on other side of the yard. Mount Holyoke 1925.BS.II.3, Attic black figure skyphos, c. 500 B.C. Hercules takes a break. The goddess Athena pours him a cup of wine. Photograph by Maria Daniels, courtesy of the Mount Holyoke College Art Museum When Augeas learned that Eurystheus was behind all this, he would not pay Hercules his reward. Not only that, he denied that he had even promised to pay a reward. Augeas said that if Hercules didn't like it, he could take the matter to a judge to decide. The judge took his seat. Hercules called the son of Augeas to testify. The boy swore that his father had agreed to give Hercules a reward. The judge ruled that Hercules would have to be paid. In a rage, Augeas ordered both his own son and Hercules to leave his kingdom at once. So the boy went to the north country to live with his aunts, and Hercules headed back to Mycenae. But Eurystheus said that this labour didn't count, because Hercules was paid for having done the work. (wpm)


"In what city would you find ""The Shard""?"

The Shard - A Quick Guide. All the info you need on The Shard ShardLDN | May 20, 2015 | Shard Info , The Shard | No Comments This quick guide to The Shard should provide you with all the information you need if you are curious about the building and want to visit. Be sure to follow the links for more detailed information about the attractions inside The Shard. The Shard is a 310 metre high skyscraper located in the London borough of Southwark. It is the tallest building in the UK and Western Europe and was designed by world-renowned architect Renzo Piano. The Shard is open to visitors and features 3 restaurants, multiple bars, a hotel and a viewing platform on the top floor. The closest station to The Shard is London Bridge Station, which is literally next door. Want to visit the Shard? Several businesses have opened inside the Shard and are welcoming customers. Within The Shard you’ll find  3 restaurant , a  viewing gallery  and a  hotel . If you are looking for the best view in London, The View from The Shard viewing gallery is perfect for any visitor who wants to see one of the greatest sights London has to offer. Located on floors 68-72,  The View from The Shard viewing gallery offers unparalleled views of the city and is the highest observation point in the Western Europe. You will be taken to the top of the building on one of the fastest lifts in the world, once there you will experience a 360 degree view of the London skyline with all of London’s world-famous landmarks visible in one view. This is one of London’s hottest new attraction and a dream for sightseers or photographers. If you are interested in visiting the Shard, click the button below to find the cheapest tickets currently available for The View from The Shard viewing gallery and book your tickets online. See more: Shard Ticket Options Bars and Restaurants. The Shard now hosts a range of Bars and restaurants that are available for anyone to book. The three main restaurants are Oblix, Hutong and Aqua, all of which are located half way up The Shard. Please see the dedicated  restaurants page on this website for more information on each restaurant. Each of these restaurants also has a bar which is open to the public at any time. You do not require a booking to visit the bars however you will need to abide by the dress code which is smart casual.   Hotel Shangri La, one of the worlds most renowned luxury hotel brands, has opened a hotel within the Shard offering the most luxurious and opulent hotel experiences in the country. Featuring a luxury health suite, London’s highest bar, rooms with panoramic views, this is the hotel to beat when it comes to luxury. More information can be found on the Shard  hotel page. More info on The Shard The Floor plan of the Shard is as follows:   68-72 – The View from The Shard 75-87 – Spire   According to Renzo Piano, the shape and design of the Shard is influenced by a structure that had dominated the London skyline for hundreds of years, the church spire. The clear blue glass that makes up the Shards cladding is extremely high quality. It is designed to reflect the sky, clouds and sunlight so that on a sunny day, the building will ‘shimmer on the London skyline like a Shard of glass’. If you would like to read more about the Shard from its architect Renzo Piano, you can purchase a book he has written dedicated to the Shard. This book includes exclusive sketches, diagrams, plans and a ‘behind the scenes’ story of how the building came to be. Purchase Renzo Piano’s book here: The Shard: London Bridge Tower (Renzo Piano Monographs) . You can also view the Wikipedia page on The Shard for further information.


"How do you say ""Merry Christmas"" in Spanish?"

Merry Christmas in Spanish. How do you say it? - and the Song Lyrics How do you say (or sing) Merry Christmas in Spanish? Custom Search and say a Happy New Year ... of course Merry Christmas in Spanish is Feliz Navidad! and Happy New Year is Próspero Año Nuevo, (prosperous New Year). It is not entirely necessary to add the word 'new' with the expression Happy New Year when saying it in Spanish. Latinos often just say "próspero año" meaning 'prosperous year'. The 'new' is implicitly understood. Learning the lyrics to songs such as these, and singing them is a terrific way to learn, improve, consolidate and keep progressing with your spoken Spanish. Buy some Spanish music tapes, you can search for the lyrics online, download them, print them off and practise your language skills with lots of songs of all genres. Do it in the car, on the train, in the bus. Learn the way to say Merry Christmas in Spanish - and a Happy New Year and you will have those tools ready for the appropriate Yuletide greetings when you meet your Latino friends. Lyrics to the Merry Christmas song in Spanish - Feliz Navidad! Here are the lyrics to the popular Christmas carol, the equivalent to 'We Wish You a Merry Christmas' in Spanish. Feliz Navidad, Properous (New) Year and felicitations (greetings). Latino singer José's Feliciano's lyrics added this bit on to the song in English. I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas, I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas, I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas, From the bottom of my heart. Speedy ways to learn and remember words like Feliz Navidad! Happy Christmas in Spanish To increase your vocab learning speed, cartoon Memory Triggers are a highly effective way to do so. Here is a sample from the 200 Words a Day! system. They use a words association link that helps you remember the word and the word's gender. So to remember the Spanish word for Christmas, la navidad, imagine that a little girl looks at a Santa Claus Christmas suit and asks, "Is that what they wear in the NAVY DAD?" Copyright exceltra 200 Words a Day! The little girl serves more than one purpose. In the 200 Words a Day! system a female main character serves to remind the learner (for a long time) that the gender of the word is feminine. This helps overcome the age-old problem of remembering genders in European languages like Spanish.


What language was invented in 1887 and has over 100,000 fluent speakers?

Esperanto: The Universal Second Language | Great Ideas and Inventions Great Ideas and Inventions Posted on January 21, 2013 by bgr5040 For my first passion blog of the new semester, I am going to write about an invention that probably most people have thought of or discussed at some point, but do not know that it is actually already in the progress of being developed. This idea is the one of a world-wide common language. We’ve all taken a foreign language in middle and high school, usually Spanish, French, or German. So we know how difficult and frustrating it can be to learn one—but, speaking from experience, having to learn a language is not nearly as frustrating as not being able to communicate with someone because you didn’t learn it. And then, even after learning another language, it’s only one more. With the thousands of languages out there, you aren’t really that much better off. So, the concept of a universal second language arose. This language is called Esperanto. The majority of Esperanto roots are based on Latin, though some vocabulary is taken from modern Romance languages, and from English, German, Polish and Russian. This makes it easy to learn for anyone already speaking any of those languages—and the bits of middle school Spanish and French help too. Esperanto was invented in 1887, in Poland, and has continued growing over the past century. There are approximately 1,000 native speakers of Esperanto, 10,000 people can speak Esperanto fluently, 100,000 can use it actively, 1 million understand a lot of Esperanto, and about 10 million have studied it to some extent. I fall under the last category, having studied Esperanto for two weeks in my high school Theory of Knowledge course. Unfortunately I wasn’t motivated enough to continue studying it outside of that unit in class, but I know some of my peers that did, and can now read, write, and have near fluent conversations in Esperanto. There exists a plethora of websites that can be used to teach yourself Esperanto, and many more advocating for it to be taught in schools. Esperanto is not intended to replace all other languages; languages are a fundamental and defining part of every culture. So Esperanto seeks just to be the language everyone understands, the language of diplomacy and international interactions. If it works, Esperanto would be revolutionary. Uniting everyone in the world under a common language would be huge. However, the path to complete success in spreading the language is long, daunting, and nearly impossible. Spreading the language among technologically advanced and developed countries has been easy enough, but how to get it to reach undeveloped countries? How to make it a priority when there are so many other pressing problems? These barriers facing Esperanto will make it difficult, but it is a cause and an idea that will grow until maybe someday it will achieve its goal of becoming the universal second language. Although Esperanto is further in the process of development than any other idea I’ve written about, it will also take much longer to be successful since it depends on the active participation and involvement of people all over the world, not just a technological breakthrough. So, Fantasy Factor: 3 This entry was posted in Uncategorized . Bookmark the permalink .


To which city do Muslims face when they pray?

Why do Muslims face east in their prayers? - Muslim Debate Initiative Why do Muslims face east in their prayers? Published on Monday, 03 February 2014 03:23 Written by MDI Share   Muslims pray their 5 daily prayers towards the east, towards the city of Makkah, and more specifically, towards the Kaaba. The Kaaba is a small cubical structure, which is called the sacred house (bayt al-haram) and also refered to as the sacred mosque (masjid al-haram). The prayer direction towards the kaaba, is known as the Qibla, which basically means the prayer direction of the Muslims. So why do Muslims pray east and towards the kaaba? There are some notable misconceptions from non-Muslims concerning the prayer direction. For example some believe that Muslims are in fact directly praying to the kaaba, the cubical structure. This is not the case, while Muslims pray towards the kaaba, they are not praying to the kaaba. Another misconception is that Muslims believe that Allah literally dwells-lives inside the kaaba, and this again is not the case, Muslims do not believe that Allah lives inside the structure. In regards to the kaaba, as Muslims we believe it was the first house of worship, built by the Prophet Adam (pbuh), after then we believe the worship site was restored by the prophets Abraham and his son Ishmael (peace be upon them both). In Islam the sanctuary of the kaaba in the city if Makkah, is considered to be the holiest site in Islam, and it’s because of these reasons that it is considered to be holy, not because we believe that Allah lives in the kaaba or because we pray to the kaaba. So why does God command the Muslims to all face towards the kaaba when praying? The reason behind this is down to unity, in sharing the same focal point of prayer, it is meant to show a major unity amongst the Muslims. Indeed, when one thinks of it, it is a very impressive feature that you have more than 1 billion Muslims, no matter where they are, all praying in the same direction. Something that should also be clarified, is that it is only in the Muslim prayers that Muslims are to face towards the east, for example if a Muslim simply wants to supplicate to God, known as ‘dua’ in Islam, he/she doesn’t have to be facing towards the east for that.


What is the the only US state whose name contains only one syllable?

How Many US States Have One Syllable? How Many US States Have One Syllable? Tweet Only one U.S. state has one syllable — Maine. It's also the only state to border only one other state — New Hampshire. No one is really sure where Maine's name came from. Some surmise that it was named after an ancient French province — the Province of Maine; others believe it was a derivation of the world "mainland." The word "Maine" was first officially used in 1665 in a request by the King's Commissioners that "The Province of Maine" be used in official documents. More Syllabic Facts: Only five countries in the world have one syllable: Chad, France, Spain, Greece, Laos, though Wales might make six depending on how you pronounce it (Way-als). The most syllables in a state's name is five. Three states share this trait: Louisiana, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Three states have only four letters in their name: Ohio, Iowa and Utah. Screeched and strengths are the longest one-syllable words in the English language. Follow wiseGEEK:


What is the colloquial name for a myocardial infarction?

Other Names for a Heart Attack - NHLBI, NIH Other Names for a Heart Attack Explore Heart Attack Share this page from the NHLBI on Blogger. Share this page from the NHLBI on Buzz. Share this page from the NHLBI on Delicious. Share this page from the NHLBI on Digg. Share this page from the NHLBI on Facebook. Add this link to the NHLBI to my browser. Email this page with Gmail. Bookmark this page with Google. Share this page from the NHLBI on LinkedIn. Share this page from the NHLBI on Messenger. Share this page from the NHLBI on MySpace. Share this page from         the NHLBI on Reddit. Share this page from the NHLBI on Stumble. Share this page from the NHLBI on Tumblr. Share this page from the NHLBI on Twitter. Other Names for a Heart Attack Myocardial infarction (MI) What is a heart attack? 05/22/2014 Describes how a heart attack happens and that most heart attacks occur as a result of coronary heart disease. Shows what happens inside the heart during a heart attack. Describes symptoms of a heart attack and tells you what to do if symptoms occur. All of Our Stories Are Red: Jennifer's Story 02/06/2014 Heart disease wasn't even on Jennifer's radar. And when this television news reporter suffered a heart attack at age 36, it stopped her "dead in her tracks." Jennifer reminds us how heart disease takes too many of our moms, sisters, and friends from us every day. The more we share our stories, the faster we turn the page on heart disease. The Heart Truth is a national campaign for women about heart disease and is sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The NHLBI "Grand Opportunity" Exome Sequencing Project 05/16/2012 This video—presented by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health—discusses the NHLBI's Exome Sequencing Project. Made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, this project provided six awards at five academic institutions to identify genetic connections to heart, lung, and blood diseases. Individual studies will address critical health issues, such as heart attack, stroke, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, overweight and obesity, and others. Heart Attack Warning Symptoms 10/20/2011 This video—presented by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health—discusses the warning symptoms of a heart attack. It presents one woman's real-life experience with heart attack symptoms, which started during her pregnancy. The video also explains how a heart attack occurs and encourages women to seek care right away for heart attack symptoms.


What country used the Drachma as its currency, before switching to the Euro in 2001?

5 steps for Greece to return to the drachma - Jul. 7, 2015 5 steps for Greece to return to the drachma by Alanna Petroff   @AlannaPetroff July 7, 2015: 12:08 PM ET Greece's pension problem The Greek economy has nearly run out of cash and experts say the country could soon be forced to print its own currency. Many predict the country will have to re-introduce drachmas, which would see it go back to the old currency it used before switching to the euro. Here's a step-by-step guide to how this might work: 1. Start printing IOUs If the government and banks run out of euros, it's possible the government may begin printing IOUs to pay state employees and pensioners. Wolfango Piccoli, managing director at Teneo Intelligence, predicts that Greece may have to issue around 500 million euros worth of IOUs next week to pay public sector salaries, if Greece is unable to secure more financing from European creditors. These IOUs could be used as an alternate form of cash, though they wouldn't be as easy to use. 2. Introduce new digital drachmas The government and banks could work together to convert all bank deposits from euros into drachmas, either overnight or over a set period of time. Practically speaking, this would mean a person with 100 euros in their bank account on Tuesday could find that they instead have 100 drachmas in their account on Wednesday. There wouldn't be any physical drachmas available yet, but the money would exist digitally. The government would set an initial exchange rate, but then individuals and businesses would have to decide the value of the new currency. An immediate, sharp devaluation of the drachma would likely ensue. "The real value of the so-called new currency will be determined by whether people will be willing to accept it," said Ludek Niedermayer, who previously worked as the head of the risk management department at the Czech central bank when the country introduced its new currency in the early 1990s. "Definitely, people will prefer to use euros because the new currency, whatever it is, will not be credible," he said. Jacob Kirkegaard, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, told CNNMoney that there isn't any historical precedent for this hypothetical Greek currency switch because other countries dissolved their old currency in favor of a new one. But in this case, the euro will stay in circulation. Many experts worry that Greece may soon have to start printing new drachma coins and banknotes. 3. Make the drachma credible To give drachmas credibility and encourage people to use them, Kirkegaard said Greece could demand that all future taxes be paid in the currency. On top of that, the government could guarantee the safety of all drachma-denominated bank deposits, but not euro accounts. But the best way for the government to encourage drachma use would be to commit to responsible economic policies and balanced budgets. Kirkegaard maintains that Greece's government is not inspiring confidence. 4. Print drachma banknotes and coins If the Greek government resolves to push ahead with its drachma currency, it would eventually have to print banknotes and coins. The process of designing and printing new banknotes would take at least a year, according to Bernd Kuemmerle, who is head of the banknote business division at German-based Giesecke & Devrient, a leading global banknote producer. Printing new banknotes requires months of work that involves analyzing how many new banknotes a country will need and designing the new currency. Anti-fraud elements will have to be incorporated into the notes and the physical printing requires many steps, said Kuemmerle. And it's not cheap. Kuemmerle said printing 1,000 banknotes costs between €25 to €100 ($27 to $110). So if Greece wants to print 50 new banknotes per person -- which is the average for a normal economy -- the new notes would cost between €13.8 million to €55 million ($15 million to $60 million). Coin production can become even more expensive that note printing. 5. Distribute drachmas Once the money has been minted, the Gre


In what city was John F. Kennedy assassinated?

November 22, 1963: Death of the President - John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum November 22, 1963: Death of the President November 22, 1963: Death of the President Shortly after noon on November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated as he rode in a motorcade through Dealey Plaza in downtown Dallas, Texas. By the fall of 1963, President John F. Kennedy and his political advisers were preparing for the next presidential campaign. Although he had not formally announced his candidacy, it was clear that President Kennedy was going to run and he seemed confident about his chances for re-election. At the end of September, the president traveled west, speaking in nine different states in less than a week. The trip was meant to put a spotlight on natural resources and conservation efforts. But JFK also used it to sound out themes—such as education, national security, and world peace—for his run in 1964. Campaigning in Texas A month later, the president addressed Democratic gatherings in Boston and Philadelphia. Then, on November 12, he held the first important political planning session for the upcoming election year. At the meeting, JFK stressed the importance of winning Florida and Texas and talked about his plans to visit both states in the next two weeks. Mrs. Kennedy would accompany him on the swing through Texas, which would be her first extended public appearance since the loss of their baby, Patrick, in August. On November 21, the president and first lady departed on Air Force One for the two-day, five-city tour of Texas.   President Kennedy was aware that a feud among party leaders in Texas could jeopardize his chances of carrying the state in 1964, and one of his aims for the trip was to bring Democrats together. He also knew that a relatively small but vocal group of extremists was contributing to the political tensions in Texas and would likely make its presence felt—particularly in Dallas, where US Ambassador to the United Nations Adlai Stevenson had been physically attacked a month earlier after making a speech there. Nonetheless, JFK seemed to relish the prospect of leaving Washington, getting out among the people and into the political fray. The first stop was San Antonio. Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, Governor John B. Connally, and Senator Ralph W. Yarborough led the welcoming party. They accompanied the president to Brooks Air Force Base for the dedication of the Aerospace Medical Health Center. Continuing on to Houston, he addressed a Latin American citizens' organization and spoke at a testimonial dinner for Congressman Albert Thomas before ending the day in Fort Worth. Morning in Fort Worth A light rain was falling on Friday morning, November 22, but a crowd of several thousand stood in the parking lot outside the Texas Hotel where the Kennedys had spent the night. A platform was set up and the president, wearing no protection against the weather, came out to make some brief remarks. "There are no faint hearts in Fort Worth," he began, "and I appreciate your being here this morning. Mrs. Kennedy is organizing herself. It takes longer, but, of course, she looks better than we do when she does it." He went on to talk about the nation's need for being "second to none" in defense and in space, for continued growth in the economy and "the willingness of citizens of the United States to assume the burdens of leadership." The warmth of the audience response was palpable as the president reached out to shake hands amidst a sea of smiling faces. Back inside the hotel the president spoke at a breakfast of the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, focusing on military preparedness. "We are still the keystone in the arch of freedom," he said. "We will continue to do…our duty, and the people of Texas will be in the lead." On to Dallas The presidential party left the hotel and went by motorcade to Carswell Air Force Base for the thirteen-minute flight to Dallas. Arriving at Love Field, President and Mrs. Kennedy disembarked and immediately walked toward a fence where a crowd of well-wishers had gathe