Who plays the part of John Cairncross in the film The Imitation Game' about the life of Alan Turing. He has appeared regularly in 'Downton Abbey'?

In 'Imitation Game,' An Outsider Takes Center Stage | KTEP In 'Imitation Game,' An Outsider Takes Center Stage Benedict Cumberbatch stars as British mathematician and scientist Alan Turing in The Imitation Game; Charles Dance plays Commander Denniston. Director Morten Tyldum says the movie is set up like a mystery — "like a puzzle you're piecing together." Jack English / Black Bear Pictures The Imitation Game is Tyldum's first English-language film; his previous features, including Fallen Angels and Headhunters, were in Norwegian. Vittorio Zunino Celotto / Getty Images Listen / Originally published on November 29, 2014 4:29 pm The new film The Imitation Game, Benedict Cumberbatch plays Alan Turing — the eccentric, socially awkward British mathematician who led the effort to break the Nazi's secret Enigma code. In part, it's a movie about a great intellectual achievement, instrumental to winning World War II — but the film also traces the bullying Turing faced as a child, and the trials he endured as a gay man in Britain at a time when homosexuality was a crime. "It's the story about the outsider," Morten Tyldum, director of the film, tells NPR's Arun Rath. "To me I wanted to make a celebration about being different, and also how important it is to actually celebrate those who are different than us instead of fear them." Tyldum says detail was a key part of making the movie feel authentic. They used real Nazi Enigma machines, shot at the boarding school Turing attended and filmed at Bletchley Park, Britain's decryption headquarters during the war. Tyldum says the biggest artistic license they took in telling the story was figuring out how to compress it all. "The story of Alan Turing is so — I mean, if you wrote it as fiction it would go, like, 'This could never happen, this is too wild,' " Tyldum says. "You have this awkward mathematician who becomes this super-spy and cracks the Nazi enigma code and he's gay and he's being prosecuted for it ... not to mention he actually creates computer science. "But it's all true." Interview Highlights On what he knew about Alan Turing before the film I didn't know anything about Alan Turing. I was shocked how little I knew. I mean, why wasn't this man on the cover of my history book when I was at school? Because his achievements are so staggering. So I became obsessed with him. I needed to know everything — and as a filmmaker, it's such a blessing, because you find this story that you just need to tell and you feel you're part of something. On the structure of the film, which jumps between Turing's days in boarding school, his time as a code breaker and his life after the war I didn't want it to be told as a traditional history lesson. I wanted the movie to be intriguing, thrilling, exciting — because that's how his life was. To me, Alan Turing was a mystery — it was sort of like something I needed to unravel. And he was also obsessed with puzzles. So I wanted to make the movie like a mystery, like a puzzle that you're piecing together. On working with Benedict Cumberbatch Benedict transforms, he doesn't act. He becomes Turing. I put aside three weeks of rehearsal — which is now getting rarer and rarer to actually have that — and we were able to really explore these characters and really find the voice of Alan Turing and try to create him. Because there's no recordings of him — nobody knows how he talks, nobody knows how he moves, there's only ... descriptions of him. So we had to sort of, like, piece him together. And I really think [Cumberbatch] makes Alan Turing come to life. And Alan Turing's family was there when we opened the [BFI London] Film Festival. They were very complimentary about how it is, so that was a good feeling. Copyright 2014 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/. Transcript ERIC WESTERVELT, HOST: The new film "The Imitation Game" tells the story of World War II code-breaker Alan Turing. Benedict Cumberbatch plays the socially awkward, eccentric British mathematician who led the effort to break the Nazi's secret codes. (SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "THE IMITATION GAM


Which popular folk band is led by John Boden?

Jon Boden « Folk Witness So. Farewell then Spiers & Boden Last week, Folk Witness snapper Simon and I went to the Ropetackle Centre to see Spiers & Boden on their farewell tour. For a goodbye, it was a pretty cheerful affair. Jon Boden introduced the gig as “our first farewell tour”, which immediately dispelled any notion that we weren’t going to see him perform with John Spiers again.Of course, we’ll be seeing (probably quite a lot of) them as part of Bellowhead – their 22-legged big band – who are aiming for big things with their new album, Revival, this year. Spiers & Boden say their farewells at the Ropetackle Centre. Photo: Simon Rogers The gig featured a reasonably heavy bias towards stuff the boys have arranged for Bellowhead – which (promisingly) went down a treat with the crowd, and perhaps reflected their necessary devotion to that project. We’ll miss the duo’s surprising loudness, fine solo spots and the raucous singalongs to Bold Sir Rylas – but we’ll also look forward to the reunion – and perhaps, one day, a second farewell tour. I wrote a proper review of the Ropetackle gig for The Argus, here . You can see a full gallery of Simon Rogers’ excellent photos of the show here, at the Folk Witness Facebook page . Give us a like while you’re there, and don’t forget you can follow us on Twitter , too. Bellowhead, Billy Bragg, Karine Polwart: Kew Gardens, London, July 14 2013 What better sound, as you walk into a leafy and quiet Kew Gardens , could greet you than the Karine Polwart trio’s gentle, cinematic hum? We arrive as she’s introducing Cover Your Eyes, her iron-fist-velvet-glove riposte to Donald Trump and his Aberdeenshire golf course aberration. The song, and the setting, is beautiful. Billy Bragg and band at Kew the Music. Photo: Simon Rogers The cold, unforgiving dune system Polwart (who Folk Witness interviewed last year ) describes in the song is squarely at odds with the scene in front of us. A golden summer’s day is coming to an end, and a relaxed ‘Kew the Music’ audience, divided somewhat strangely into a series of pens, are picnicking on the drying grass. Kew’s series of shows are sponsored by John Lewis – so the standard of eating is pretty good (during Tears for Lot’s Wife, a nice lady offers me some cheese, which doesn’t happen very often at gigs): “Who’s got the poshest picnic?” asks Polwart. Champagne and Pimm’s are mentioned as arbiters of swank, before guitarist Steven Polwart chips in: “Anyone got any Irn-Bru?” Maybe not. Still, the trio find ways to relate to the audience – We’re All Leaving, about Charles Darwin’s struggle to cope with the loss of his daughter, has a certain resonance, given the botanical location. And it’s hard not to get swept along with the optimism of Rivers Run. But it’s the group’s finale that really soars. King of Birds, inspired in part by Christopher Wren’s St Paul’s Cathedral, sounds clear and crisp in the evening air. Polwart’s lengthy, involving introduction tells the tale of how the wren out-thought the eagle to become the king of birds; the jumbo jets that periodically fly overhead, en route to Heathrow, provide an interesting counterpoint. The planes are thoroughly drowned out, however, by Billy Bragg , who good-naturedly moans that critics have accused him of “going country”. Along with his band, he plays a countrified No One Knows Nothing Anymore (“alliteration trumps grammar,” he tells us) followed by Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key, which is slathered in lovely, rich pedal steel. It’s one of many of Bragg’s Woody Guthrie collaborations of the night, as he celebrates Woody’s 101st birthday. “All you fascists are bound to lose!” yells Bragg, before leading his band into a rollicking performance. We might be at Waitrose-fest (the week has seen the consumption of “a tonne and a half” of artisan bread, apparently), but we’re most certainly not down with the EDL and its absurd Spanish ex-pat division. Bellowhead haul away for Rosie. Photo: Simon Rogers Bragg uses variety to keep the momentum going during his set. There’s another Guthrie song – a children’s on


BBC ON THIS DAY | 20 | 1975: Spanish dictator Franco dies About This Site | Text Only 1975: Spanish dictator Franco dies General Francisco Franco, who ruled Spain with an authoritarian hand for 39 years, has died at the age of 82. He had been ill for five weeks and died early this morning at La Paz hospital, Madrid. Doctors said the cause of death was heart failure aggravated by peritonitis. Flags all around the country are at half-mast and the general's body is now lying in state at the El Pardo Palace. Franco, also know as the Generalissimo, will be buried next week at the Valley of the Fallen mausoleum. Forgiveness The Prime Minister, Carlos Arias Navarro, his voice trembling with emotion, announced the death at 1000 local time on radio. He said that on his deathbed General Franco had asked his enemies to forgive him. "I ask pardon of all my enemies, as I pardon with all my heart all those who declared themselves my enemy, although I did not consider them to be so," the general had said. He also asked the Spanish people to remain loyal to Prince Juan Carlos, his designated successor who will be sworn in as king tomorrow. In a veiled warning to resist separatist movements such as the Basque nationalist group ETA, he advised the nation to "keep the lands of Spain united". General Franco successfully led the Nationalist armies against the Loyalists during the Spanish Civil War in the late 1930s, with support from Hitler's Germany and Italy under Mussolini. Franco allowed Hitler to use Spain's naval bases during World War II, then declared Spain neutral in 1943 when it looked like the Allies would win. Under Franco Spain has enjoyed stability and relative prosperity, especially after reforms introduced since 1959 that modernised administration and industry. His regime has also been deeply reactionary, with political parties and non-government trade unions banned, and separatists and communists repressed. World hopes for democracy Leaders of European countries have been guarded in their reaction the dictator's death and expressed hope that the new king would introduce modern democracy to Spain. The European Commission expressed "sympathy and friendship for the people of Spain" and condolences to General Franco's widow. No western European nation will be sending a head of state to the funeral apart from Monaco. But staunch supporters in South America, such as President Pinochet of Chile and Bolivia's President Banzer will attend. In Britain, Labour backbenchers are furious that the government is sending a representative - Lord Shepherd, the Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the House of Lords - to the funeral. Stanley Newens, MP for Harlow, said the decision was "an affront to those who fought and died in the Civil War in Spain in the 1930s". World leaders gave a muted reaction to news of Franco's death In Context


What was the pseudonym of the mathematician Leonardo Bonacci (1170-1240)?

Fibonacci, Leonardo approximately 1170-approximately 1240 [WorldCat Identities] The book of squares by Leonardo Fibonacci(                 Book                 ) 8                editions published                               between 1978 and                1988                in English and Undetermined and held by                21 WorldCat member                               libraries                               worldwide The Book of Squares by Fibonacci is a gem in the mathematical literature and one of the most important mathematical treatises                 written in the Middle Ages. It is a collection of theorems on indeterminate analysis and equations of second degree which                 yield, among other results, a solution to a problem proposed by Master John of Palermo to Leonardo at the Court of Frederick                 II. The book was dedicated and presented to the Emperor at Pisa in 1225. Dating back to the 13th century the book exhibits                 the early and continued fascination of men with our number system and the relationship among numbers with special properties                 such as prime numbers, squares, and odd numbers. The faithful translation into modern English and the commentary by the translator                 make this book accessible to professional mathematicians and amateurs who have always been intrigued by the lure of our number                 system Pianography : prepared piano by Richard Bunger(                                  ) 2                editions published                               in 1981 and held by                14 WorldCat member                               libraries                               worldwide


Who in the 1970's issued the albums 'Gorilla' and 'Mudslide Slim land the Biue Horizon'?

Joni Mitchell Library - That's the Way I've Always Heard It Should Be: Baby Boomers, 1970s Singer-Songwriters, and Romantic Relationships: Journal of American History, December 2010 December 2010 Judy Kutulas, professor of history and American studies, St. Olaf College On August 4, 2003, Dick Ebersol of nbc placed the winning bid of $50,000 at a charity auction to learn the identity of the preening playboy featured in Carly Simon's 1973 hit, "You're So Vain." For thirty years, the "mystery" (Simon's word) of which of her many paramours was the song's inspiration prompted a "nationwide guessing game." A Los Angeles disc jockey asked his listeners to vote; their choice was the musician (and Simon's former lover) Kris Kristofferson. On the club circuit, the comedian Martin Mull joked that maybe "Carly will write another one about me." Mull was not in the running as the song's inspiration, but the surprise backup singer Mick Jagger was a common guess, as were Warren Beatty, Jack Nicholson, Cat Stevens, and James Taylor, each of whom had been linked to the singer.1 The public obsession with the origin of "You're So Vain" reflected a society - and a generation - confused about love. The 1960s were years of social turmoil, but it was only in the 1970s that ordinary people assimilated once-radical ideas into their personal lives. By then, traditional authority had lost its influence, especially over the younger generation, driving them toward a host of new experts with real-world credibility. Simon and her ilk, singer-songwriters who wrote autobiographical songs and lived in the public eye, provided middle-class youths with some compelling models of modern gender, romance, and sexuality. "Joni Mitchell is the woman who taught your cold English wife how to feel," Emma Thompson's character tells her husband in the 2003 film Love Actually. Like Thompson's character, a lot of American youths in the 1970s learned from singer-songwriters to think differently about love.2 Members of the baby boom generation (Americans born between 1947 and 1964) were raised to conform, but to varying degrees the many "revolutions" of the sixties altered their personal trajectories. White, college-educated, middle-class boomers, who were economically privileged and able to experience more prolonged periods of personal exploration, were disproportionately affected by the so-called Age of Aquarius. What the historian Bruce J. Schulman has characterized as "the great shift" of the 1970s was a series of shifts for middle-class youths, conducting them away from traditional markers of adulthood, such as family and career. Many middle-class boomers chose not to replicate the families in which they were raised. They married later, had fewer children, and were more likely than previous generations to spend at least part of adulthood alone. Many also failed to match their parents' standards of living, whether by choice or economic circumstances. Instead, those young people who represented the traditional promise of American society began to seek their status and identity through their lifestyle choices. The counterculture, sexual revolution, and the women's movement offered tempting freedom for the individual, but balanced against that freedom was the reassurance of the well-trod path to middle-class success. Defying norms, being radical and free, meant rejecting more socially validated choices. Nowhere did the welter of social norms and individual desires collide more sharply than with sexual and romantic options. The once nearly automatic progression of intimacy that began with dating and ended with sex only within the confines of a marriage lost its cultural weight and moral authority. Without that traditional arc to anchor one's personal life, middle-class youths were left to puzzle out their romantic identities.3 Middle-class boomers were both the instigators and the victims of unprecedented sexual change; they were members of the class that traditionally defined standards but were simultaneously most restricted by them. Typically, societies pass along sexua


Which author who died in 1998 wrote the thrillers 'The Mask of Dimitrios' and 'Journey into Fear'?

Thomas Jones on thriller writer Eric Ambler | Books | The Guardian Share on Messenger Close For Graham Greene he was "unquestionably our best thriller writer". John le Carré once called him "the source on which we all draw". With the six novels he wrote in the years leading up to the second world war - five of which have just been reissued by Penguin Modern Classics - Eric Ambler revitalised the British thriller, rescuing the genre from the jingoistic clutches of third-rate imitators of John Buchan, and recasting it in a more realist, nuanced and leftishly intelligent - not to mention exciting - mould. His novels were all out of print by the time he died in October 1998, but his tales of ordinary men and (sometimes) women caught up in the machinations of carelessly malign international corporations, or of stateless refugees facing an uncertain future in a volatile and unwelcoming Europe, seemed anything but out of date when I first read them the following year - the year in which Naomi Klein's No Logo brought concerns about the depredations of globalised capital into the mainstream, and thousands of people were displaced by the war in Kosovo. However, Ambler never intended to be a thriller writer. If his 1985 autobiography, the wrily entitled Here Lies Eric Ambler, is to be believed, his ambition as a young man was to be a playwright. Born 100 years ago this month in south-east London, the eldest child of music-hall artists, he won at the age of 16 a scholarship to study engineering at Northampton Polytechnic in Islington (now City University). He soon dropped out, and after the general strike found a job as a trainee at the Edison Swan Electric Company. During a six-month secondment to the firm's cable works in Gloucestershire, he wrote the first two chapters of a realist novel, in the manner of Arnold Bennett, based on the life of his father. Returning to London, he was asked to compose a press release extolling the bogus virtues of a batch of dodgy bulbs for car headlights. They sold so quickly on the back of it that the company even thought about making more. As for Ambler, the experience may or may not have given him a taste for concocting plausible fictions with a pseudo-technical bent, but it certainly showed he had a talent for it. Before long he was working full-time as an advertising copywriter. Here Lies is almost coy in the way it slips mention of Ambler's first novel into the narrative: he gives his girlfriend a bound page proof in a cinema on King's Road, Chelsea, just before the lights go down. The Dark Frontier (1936) began life as a parody of the contemporary British thriller. The problem with the genre, as Ambler saw it, was principally one of character. Whether "power-crazed or coldly sane", the villains were wholly implausible, while the hero "could be a tweedy fellow with steel-grey eyes and gun pads on both shoulders or a moneyed dandy with a taste for adventure. He could also be a xenophobic ex-officer with a nasty antisemitic streak. None of that really mattered. All he really needed to function as hero was abysmal stupidity combined with superhuman resourcefulness and unbreakable knuckle bones." Julian Symons, in Bloody Murder: From the Detective Story to the Crime Novel, framed it slightly differently: "After the first world war began, spy stories became unequivocally nationalist in tone and rightwing in political sympathy." In The Dark Frontier a mild-mannered academic is knocked on the head in a car accident shortly after picking up one of these novels in a West Country pub. He comes round convinced he is Conway Carruthers, secret agent, the thick-skulled, tough-knuckled hero of the book he's just been reading, and charges off to eastern Europe to thwart the nuclear ambitions of a power-crazed countess. It's extremely silly, but also, as if despite itself, a fairly decent thriller, not merely mocking but beginning to improve on the shortcomings of the form. That contemporary readers were prepared to take it at face value is perhaps a sign of how severe those shortcomings were. The Scotsman cal


Which author of children's books had the real name Theodore Geisel?

9 Things You May Not Know About Dr. Seuss - History in the Headlines 9 Things You May Not Know About Dr. Seuss March 1, 2012 By Christopher Klein Share this: 9 Things You May Not Know About Dr. Seuss Author 9 Things You May Not Know About Dr. Seuss URL Google The classic Dr. Seuss fable “The Lorax” hits movie theaters tomorrow, which also happens to be the 108th anniversary of the birth of the famed children’s author and illustrator. To celebrate, here are a few surprising facts about the wildly imaginative man who penned some of the best-selling children’s books of all time. 1. Dr. Seuss’ real name was Theodor Seuss Geisel. A grandson of German immigrants, Theodor (without an “e”) was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, on March 2, 1904. Seuss was his mother’s maiden name. While the actual German pronunciation of “Seuss” rhymed with “voice,” the American pronunciation, rhyming with “juice,” stuck. 2. Teddy Roosevelt left Dr. Seuss with a permanent case of stage fright. Affirming the loyalties of his German-American family during World War I, 14-year-old Ted Geisel was one of Springfield’s top sellers of war bonds. Before an audience of thousands, Ted was to be the last of 10 Boy Scouts to receive a personal award for his efforts from former president Theodore Roosevelt. The president, however, was only given nine medals, and when he reached Geisel, Roosevelt gruffly bellowed, “What’s this little boy doing here?” Honor quickly turned to humiliation as the flustered scoutmaster whisked Ted off the stage. The event so scarred Dr. Seuss that he dreaded public appearances for the rest of his life. 3. Bootleg gin was responsible for the Dr. Seuss pseudonym. It certainly wasn’t a scene out of “Animal House,” but on the night before Easter in 1925, the local police chief caught Dartmouth College senior Ted Geisel partying with his friends and a pint of bootleg gin. The dean ousted Geisel as editor-in-chief of the Dartmouth humor magazine, but in what he called a “corny subterfuge,” Ted continued to ink cartoons under several pen names, including “Seuss” and “T. Seuss.” Geisel added the “Dr.” title a few years later. 4. Dr. Seuss was a “mad man.” Dr. Seuss achieved early success writing and illustrating humorous advertisements for Flit, a bug spray manufactured by Standard Oil. (“Quick, Henry, the Flit!” became one of the most memorable catchphrases of its time.) He also created advertising campaigns for a diverse range of clients including Ford Motor Company, NBC and Narragansett Brewing Company. Even in his commercial work, Dr. Seuss employed a madcap menagerie of beasts, such as the “Moto-raspus” and “Karbo-nockus” who appeared in Essolube motor oil ads. 5. A chance sidewalk encounter led to Dr. Seuss’ first children’s book. After a 27th publisher rejected his first manuscript, Dr. Seuss walked dejectedly along the sidewalks of New York, planning to burn the book in his apartment incinerator. On Madison Avenue, however, he bumped into Dartmouth friend Mike McClintock, who that very morning had started a job as an editor in the Vanguard Press children’s section. Within hours, the men signed a contract, and in 1937 Vanguard Press published “And to Think that I Saw It on Mulberry Street,” which launched the extraordinary literary career of Dr. Seuss. “If I had been going down the other side of Madison Avenue, I’d be in the dry-cleaning business today,” he later said. 6. Dr. Seuss drew political cartoons for a left-leaning newspaper. As the Nazi tanks rolled into Paris in 1940, Dr. Seuss felt compelled to express his opposition to American isolationists, particularly aviation hero Charles Lindbergh. “I found that I could no longer keep my mind on drawing pictures of Horton The Elephant. I found myself drawing pictures of Lindbergh The Ostrich,” he said. Between 1940 and 1942, Geisel drew over 400 editorial cartoons skewering isolationists at home and the Axis abroad for the liberal newspaper “PM.” These included stereotypical and inflammatory depictions of Japanese leaders and xenophobic cartoons portraying Japanese Americans as


Juliet and Cupid are moons of which planet in our solar system?

Space Today Online - Solar System - Planet Uranus - Moons Margaret 2003 Click to enlarge Voyager 2 photos in 1986 of the Uranus moons Umbriel (left) and Ariel (right). The planet Uranus has at least 27 moons that we know of. Before the planet was visited by the spacecraft Voyager 2 on January 24, 1986, astronomers knew of only five. Voyager 2 discovered ten small moons. Today, astronomers suggest there may be more tiny satellites among the planet's rings. The moons of Uranus are eye-openers. They have statuesque mountains towering more than ten miles high. Incredibly deep valleys. Vast plains, some with a mysterious dark surface. Moon diameters range from a bit fatter than 25 miles up to about 1,100 miles.They circle Uranus in orbits ranging from every eight hours to every 14 days. Some of the moons are very tiny. Click to enlarge Voyager 2 image of the planet Uranus Voyager 2 found moons. The interplanetary probe Voyager 2 flew within 50,600 miles of Uranus' cloud tops on January 24, 1986, discovering a magnetic field and much ultraviolet light, known as dayglow. Voyager 2 found 10 previously-unknown moons, the largest only 90 miles in diameter, bringing the total to 15. Astronomers previously had seen five large ice-and-rock moons. The innermost, Miranda, was found by Voyager to be one of the strangest bodies in the Solar System, with fault canyons up to 12 miles deep, terraced layers and mixed young and old surfaces. Titania was marked by huge faults and deep canyons. Ariel had the brightest and youngest surface of Uranian moons, with many deep valleys and broad ice flows. Dark-surfaced Umbriel and Oberon looked older. The moons Umbriel and Ariel each are about 75O miles in diameter. In NASA's 1986 pictures at right, Voyager 2 was about 346,000 miles from Umbriel. The Ariel picture is a mosaic of four images collected when Voyager 2 was about 8O,OOO miles from the moon Voyager found nine rings around Uranus, but they were quite different from Jupiter and Saturn rings. Uranus' rings may be young remnants of a shattered moon. NASA image of the planet Uranus Moons discovered in the 1990s. Until 1997, Uranus was the only one of the giant gas planets in our Solar System without any known tiny moonlets. In 1997, J.J. Kavelaars of the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory in British Columbia, and a team of astronomers found the 16th and 17th satellites of Uranus. Those moons are named Caliban and Sycorax. In 1999, Erich Karkoschka of the University of Arizona spotted an 18th Uranian satellite in a Voyager 2 photograph snapped in 1986. In 1999, Kavelaars and a team of astronomers discovered the 19th and 20th moonlets orbiting Uranus. Designated 1999 U1 and 1999 U2, they are dark rocks less than 12 miles in diameter. All newly-discovered Uranian moons are, or will be, named after Shakespearean characters. New moonlet, in white circle, orbiting Uranus, bottom left Source: International Astronomical Union 22 moons in 2002. Uranus has more than 20 satellites. The total number known in 2002 was 22, although astronomers were uncertain because newly-discovered moonlets were not always confirmed immediately by other astronomers. Uranus was known to have ten so-called "regular" natural satellites that follow orderly paths around the planet all in about the same plane. Also known were six so-called "irregular" moons, including a newly-discovered tiny moonlet known as S/2001. The irregulars were seen to be traveling in odd orbits around Uranus and may be remnants of a massive ancient collision between a comet and some other large object that had been orbiting Uranus. S/2001 was the smallest Uranian satellite found so far, estimated to be 9 to 12 miles in diameter. It was discovered in 2001 by Matthew Holman of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, Massachusetts, J.J. Kavelaars of the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory in British Columbia, and Dan Milisavljevic of McMaster University in Ontario. The first sighting was made with the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope and the Cerro-Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chi


What was the first name of Captain Mainwaring in Dad's Army?

Captain George Mainwaring | Dad's Army Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Edit George Mainwaring was born in 1885. He is a pompous, blustering figure with overdeveloped sense of his importance, fuelled by his social status in Walmington-on-Sea as the bank manager, and his status as Captain and commander of the local Home Guard volunteer unit. He believes in following rules and orders to sometimes ludicrous degrees. He is class conscious and a snob, considering himself upper-middle class and looking down on anyone he considers beneath him, which may be because he struggled to rise above his working class background. His pretensions stand in contrast to Wilson , who is genuinely Upper Middle Class, Mainwaring is often bitter about Wilson's having attending public school, believing it made him 'wet', while his own state-school background is an attribute. Mainwaring and Wilson's relationship is mainly based on the fact that Mainwaring has always had to struggle and fight for everything in his life, whereas Wilson has just sat back and let it all come to him, (despite being a strong autocrat, Mainwaring fully believes that people should work and earn everything they get in life). Mainwaring is prudish and repressed, and can be judgemental about people who do not share his moral outlook. Mainwaring Mainwaring's pomposity and snobbery work against him, as he is frequently dependent on those he considers beneath him, and his arrogance is frequently punctured by circumstance and the people around him, such as Arthur Wilson , his chief clerk with whom he shares an antagonistic friendship, and Private Walker , a black-marketeer who interjects during Mainwaring's lectures with a quip or a sly revelation that Mainwaring is benefitting from underhanded deals. Mainwaring is particularly jealous of Wilson, who is more relaxed and charming and possesses combat experience that Mainwaring does not, and takes every opportunity to remind his sergeant who is the senior. As a bank manager, he is efficient if ruthless and stingy; as a military commander he is barely competent, confused by the 24-hour clock, and his plans result in chaos. Mainwaring has no combat experience, which causes tension with the other members of the Home Guard, particularly Wilson, who was a decorated Captain of World War I. (In World War II, John Le Mesurier who played Wilson, had been a Captain while Arthur Lowe was a Sergeant Major). He did, however, serve in the army of occupation in France, "during the whole of 1919 — somebody had to clear up the mess." (He tried to enlist in 1914 but was rejected with poor eyesight; Arthur Lowe tried to enlist in the Merchant Navy prior to World War II but was also rejected with poor eyesight.) Despite his shortcomings as a leader, Mainwaring considers himself an excellent military tactician. His height and background is frequently demonstrated to show a Napoleon Complex; he is frequently referred to as 'Napoleon' by his nemesis Hodges . In one episode, A Soldier's Farewell , Mainwaring dreams he is Napoleon Bonaparte , and is thwarted at the Waterloo by a Duke of Wellington looking like Wilson. His pomposity and conviction of his prowess see Mainwaring yearn to be in control of any situation, and he behaves in an arrogant manner; this is demonstrated by the first episode, in which he organised the Home Guard unit and appointed himself commanding officer despite lack of experience or qualifications (and had to wait until the episode Room at the Bottom before he received his commission). In Command Decision he was prepared to relinquish control so the platoon could gain rifles, arguing defence of the country was more important than his ego. In addition he was prepared to "march in the ranks as Private Mainwaring" when he was briefly de-commissioned. This implied he was more overzealous than a control freak. Mainwaring's patriotism can lead to xenophobia (he is not keen on the French because they are emotional, the Russians because their communism, and the Germans and the Italians because of them being such deadly enemies). Mainwaring o


Which European capital city lies at the confluence of the rivers Danube and Sava?

Belgrade | national capital, Serbia | Britannica.com national capital, Serbia Belgrade, Serbo-Croatian Beograd (“White Fortress”), city, capital of Serbia . It lies at the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers in the north-central part of the country. Boats along the Danube River, Belgrade, Serbia. Jon Arnold/SuperStock Belgrade is located at the convergence of three historically important routes of travel between Europe and the Balkans: an east-west route along the Danube River valley from Vienna to the Black Sea ; another that runs westward along the valley of the Sava River toward Trieste and northern Italy; and a third running southeast along the valleys of the Morava and Vardar rivers to the Aegean Sea . To the north and west of Belgrade lies the Pannonian Basin, which includes the great grain-growing region of Vojvodina . Large industrial ship traveling under a bridge on the Sava River, Belgrade, Serbia. © Goran Cakmazovic/Shutterstock.com There is evidence of Stone Age settlements in the area. The city grew up around an ancient fortress on the Kalemegdan headland that was encompassed on three sides by the Sava and the Danube. The first fortress was built by the Celts in the 4th century bce and was known by the Romans as Singidunum. It was destroyed by the Huns in 442 and changed hands among the Sarmatians , Goths , and Gepidae before it was recaptured by the Byzantine emperor Justinian . It was later held by the Franks and the Bulgars , and in the 11th century became a frontier town of Byzantium . In 1284 it came under Serbian rule, and in 1402 Stephen Lazarević made it the capital of Serbia. The Ottoman Turks besieged the city in 1440, and after 1521 it was in their hands except for three periods of occupation by the Austrians (1688–90, 1717–39, and 1789–91). The confluence of the Sava (foreground) and Danube rivers from the Kalemegdan fortress, Belgrade, … Jean S. Buldain/Berg & Assoc. Novi Sad During the Turkish period Belgrade was a lively commercial centre where goods were traded from various parts of the Ottoman Empire . After the first Serbian uprising under Karadjordje in 1804, Belgrade became the Serbian capital during 1807–13, but the Turks recaptured it. The Serbs were given control of the citadel in 1867, when Belgrade once more became the capital of Serbia. Serbia: From 1921 Belgrade was the capital of the three successive Yugoslav states, including the rump Yugoslavia. The city’s rapid population growth since World War II resulted primarily from the migration from rural areas of Serbia as a consequence of industrialization. Most of the inhabitants are Serbs; the largest non-Serb groups are Croats and Montenegrins. Since World War II Belgrade has become an industrial city that produces motors, tractors and combines, machine tools, electrical equipment, chemicals, textiles, and building materials. It is the largest commercial centre in Serbia. A number of international railroad lines pass through Belgrade, which is also served by highways and by river vessels traveling up the Danube from the Black Sea or arriving from western Europe via the Main-Danube Canal . Nikola Tesla Airport is located west of the city at Surčin. A peace celebration at St. Sava Church in Belgrade, Serbia. Koca Sulejmanovic—AFP/Getty Images In the course of its growth, Belgrade spread southward and southeastward over a hilly terrain. A new district called New Belgrade (Novi Beograd) has been built on the plain west of the old city, between the Sava and Danube rivers. The old fortress of Kalemegdan is now a historical monument; its former glacis has been rebuilt as a garden, from which is seen a famous view of the plain across the Sava and the Danube. Belgrade is the site of numerous government offices and is also home to various cultural and educational institutions, including the University of Belgrade, founded in 1863. There are many museums and galleries, of which the oldest, the National Museum (Narodni Muzej), was founded in 1844. Pop. (2002) 1,120,092; (2011) 1,166,763. Branko’s Bridge, spanning the Sava River, connects


Which English king was deposed by his first cousin who became Henry the fourth?

Henry V - British History - HISTORY.com Google Henry V: The Warrior-Prince Henry was born in August of 1386 (or 1387) at Monmouth Castle on the Welsh border. His father, Henry of Bolingbroke, deposed his cousin Richard II in 1399. With Henry IV’s ascension, the younger Henry became Prince of Wales and spent eight years leading armies against the rebellious Welsh ruler Owain Glyndwr. In 1403 Henry fought alongside his father against their former ally Henry “Hotspur” Percy in the Battle of Shrewsbury. During the battle, the younger Henry was hit in the face with an arrow but was saved by the daring surgical removal of the arrowhead. Did You Know? Henry V was the first king of England since the Norman invasion to use English as his primary language. His predecessors had all preferred French. Stories of the rakish young “Prince Hal” (expanded upon in Shakespeare’s “Henry IV”) are difficult to prove, though there may have been father-son tensions during the last years of Henry IV’s reign. Henry V: A Pious King Prepares for War Henry IV died in 1413, and the 26-year-old prince took the throne as Henry V. Conspiracies soon arose among his onetime friends to unseat him in favor of Richard II’s heir Edmund Mortimer. In 1415 Henry executed Lord Scrope and the earl of Cambridge, the leading plotters, and defeated a rebellion led by his old associate John Oldcastle (the model for Shakespeare’s Falstaff). Meanwhile, Henry was making demands of France—first for the return of Aquitaine to England in fulfillment of a 1360 treaty, then for a 2-million-crown payment, then for the king’s daughter Catherine’s hand in marriage. In 1415 Henry gathered his army and sailed for France. Henry V: The Battle of Agincourt Henry abandoned plans to attack Paris after the victorious but costly siege of Harfleur, in which one-third of his army died of dysentery. On October 25, 1415—the feast day of St. Crispin—Henry’s army defeated a much larger French force at Agincourt. Henry’s army of about 6,000 battled up to 30,000 French soldiers, who were forced by the terrain to advance in narrow formations that made them easy targets for Henry’s archers. The French advance was impeded by mud and their own mounting dead. All the while, Henry kept control of the battle, encouraging his troops and fighting hand-to-hand. After the English took so many prisoners that Henry worried they might overpower their guards, he violated the rule of war by ordering their immediate execution. All told, the French lost as many as 7,000, while the English dead numbered at most a few hundred. Though not militarily decisive, the victory at Agincourt won Henry important allies and gained him a hero’s welcome on his return to England. Henry V: Second French Campaign, Marriage, Death In 1417 Henry attacked France again, capturing Caen and Normandy and taking Rouen after a six-month siege in which he refused to aid 12,000 expelled residents left to starve between the city walls and the English lines. In 1420 the French king Charles VI sued for peace. The Treaty of Troyes placed Henry in control of France for the remainder of Charles VI’s life and promised that the English line would succeed to the French throne. Henry married Charles’ daughter Catherine. The royal couple arrived in England in 1421, and their only son, the future Henry VI, was born soon after. Henry returned to France to deal with territories allied with the disinherited dauphin, the future Charles VII. In May of 1422 Henry won his last victory in the Siege of Meaux. He died on August 31, 1422, of battlefield dysentery. Henry V: Legacy Henry VI was less than a year old when he took the English and French thrones. By the time he was deposed in 1461, he had lost most of the French territories his father had won and England was riven by the War of the Roses. In 1599 Shakespeare wrote his “Henry V,” including the St. Crispin’s Day “band of brothers” speech by which the eponymous king is most frequently remembered. Tags


In which decade did both Fridtjof Nansen and Frank Kellogg win the Nobel Peace prize

The Nobel Peace Prize 1901-2000 Lists of Nobel Prizes and Laureates Lists of Nobel Prizes and Laureates The Nobel Peace Prize, 1901-2000 by Geir  Lundestad * Secretary of the Norwegian Nobel  Committee, 1990 - Introduction This article is intended to serve as a  basic survey of the history of the Nobel Peace Prize during its  first 100 years. Since all the 107 Laureates selected from 1901  to 2000 are to be mentioned, the emphasis will be on facts and  names. At the same time, however, I shall try to deal with two  central questions about the Nobel Peace Prize. First, why does  the Peace Prize have the prestige it actually has? Second, what  explains the nature of the historical record the Norwegian Nobel Committee has established over these 100 years? There are more than 300 peace prizes in the  world. None is in any way as well known and as highly respected  as the Nobel Peace Prize. The Oxford Dictionary of Twentieth  Century World History, to cite just one example, states that  the Nobel Peace Prize is "The world's most prestigious prize  awarded for the 'preservation of peace'." Personally, I think  there are many reasons for this prestige: the long history of the  Peace Prize; the fact that it belongs to a family of prizes, i.e.  the Nobel family, where all the family members benefit from the  relationship; the growing political independence of the Norwegian  Nobel Committee; the monetary value of the prize, particularly in  the early and in the most recent years of its history. In this  context, however, I am going to concentrate on the historical  record of the Nobel Peace Prize. In my opinion, the prize would  never have enjoyed the kind of position it has today had it not  been for the decent, even highly respectable, record the  Norwegian Nobel Committee has established in its selections over  these 100 years. One important element of this record has been  the committee's broad definition of peace, enough to take in  virtually any relevant field of peace work. On the second point, the selections of the  Norwegian Nobel Committee reflected the insights primarily of the  committee members and secondarily of its secretaries and  advisors. But, on a deeper level, they also generally reflected Norwegian  definitions of the broader, Western values of an idealist, the  often slightly left-of-center kind, but rarely so far left that  the choices were not acceptable to Western  liberal-internationalist opinion in general. The Norwegian  government did not determine the choices of the Norwegian Nobel  Committee, but these choices reflected the same mixture of  idealism and realism that characterized Norwegian, and  Scandinavian, foreign policy in general. As we shall see, some of  the most controversial choices occurred when the Norwegian Nobel  Committee suddenly awarded prizes to rather hard-line realist  politicians. Nobel's Will and the Peace Prize When Alfred Nobel died on December 10,  1896, it was discovered that he had left a will, dated November  27, 1895, according to which most of his vast wealth was to be  used for five prizes, including one for peace. The prize for  peace was to be awarded to the person who "shall have done the  most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the  abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding of  peace congresses." The prize was to be awarded "by a committee of five persons to be elected by the Norwegian Storting." Nobel left no explanation as to why the  prize for peace was to be awarded by a Norwegian committee while  the other four prizes were to be handled by Swedish committees.  On this point, therefore, we are dealing only with educated  inferences. These are some of the most likely ones: Nobel, who  lived most of his life abroad and who wrote his will at the  Swedish-Norwegian Club in Paris, may have been influenced by the  fact that, until 1905, Norway was in union with Sweden. Since the  scientific prizes were to be awarded by the most competent, i.e.  Swedish, committees at least


Which Australian state capital lies on the River Swan?

Swan Valley, Perth, Western Australia - Tourism Australia Western Australia Add Share Immerse yourself in the gourmet, natural and scenic wonders of the Swan Valley, Western Australia’s oldest wine region Just north of Perth on the Swan River, lies the Swan Valley, Western Australia's oldest wine region. Handpick a bottle or two from one of the Swan Valley's state-of-the-art boutique wineries. Follow the Swan Valley Food and Wine Trail and indulge your appetite in fine restaurants, relaxed winery cafes, breweries and distilleries, and roadside stalls selling fresh local produce. Dine alfresco in vineyard restaurants or pack a picnic and head to a national park. Cycle the historic Swan Valley Heritage Trail or explore the region in a romantic horse-drawn carriage, chauffeured limousine or a gourmet cruise on the Swan River. Many of the 40 wineries are small, family operations, where you can chat to the grandchildren of the Croatian and Italian migrants who founded the region in the 1920s. Others are international labels with vast vineyards and state-of-the-art cellars. Swan Valley specialises in verdelho, chenin blanc, chardonnay, shiraz and cabernet varieties and is also renowned for its fortified wines. Lancaster Wines, Swan Valley, WA Take a self-drive tour of the award-winning Swan Valley Food and Wine Trail. This scenic 32-kilometre loop encompasses more than 150 places to indulge your appetite, including relaxed winery cafes, breweries and distilleries, fine restaurants and many roadside stalls selling fresh local produce. The trail is well sign-posted and maps are available from the Swan Valley Visitor Centre in Guildford to help you plan your own unique food and wine experience. Dine alfresco in the vineyards or fill your basket with locally grown fruit and vegetables, local cheese and olives and hand-made chocolates and have a picnic in the parklands. Enjoy a delicious ice cream in fresh local fruit flavours. Unwind with live music or sample the boutique beers and spirits at one of the region's microbreweries or distilleries. The charming colonial village of Guildford is the gateway to the Swan Valley. Here you can shop for art and antiques and explore the local markets. Spend a night in one of Guildford's historic lodgings, which range from Western Australia's oldest home to the Federation-style pub. Cycle from Guildford to Swan Valley on the Swan Valley Heritage Trail. The area is also home to art galleries, wildlife sanctuaries, rolling countryside and national parks perfect for walking, horse-riding and cycling. There are also tours which explore the region by bus, horse-drawn carriage, taxi and chauffeured limousine. For a leisurely way to reach Swan Valley, take a gourmet cruise up the Swan River from Perth. North of Swan Valley are Walyunga National Park and Avon Valley National Park, which are popular spots for white water rafting and canoeing. Get up close to koalas and kangaroos at the wildlife park at Caversham and see crocodiles at the reptile park in Henley Brook. The Swan Valley is around 25 minutes drive from  Perth . More Holiday Ideas


As at January 2015 who is the shadow Secretary of State for Education?

Who's who in the new-look Labour shadow cabinet - ITV News 14 September 2015 at 10:43am Who's who in the new-look Labour shadow cabinet Newly-elected Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has finalised his shadow cabinet, amid a storm of criticism for the lack of women in senior roles and the inexperience of many of those selected. Jeremy Corbyn's shadow cabinet - what it looks like so far Credit: PA/Reuters/ITV News Yvette Cooper, Liz Kendall, Ed Miliband, Jamie Reed, Rachel Reeves, Tristram Hunt, Emma Reynolds, Shabana Mahmood, Chuka Umunna and Caroline Flint all stepped down from positions in the former shadow cabinet and ruled out returning under Mr Corbyn, with many citing differences in policy. After promising the cabinet would be split evenly between men and women, he all but kept his vow, with 16 women and 15 men taking up the top jobs. However, he has faced criticism for giving most of the more senior roles - including shadow home secretary, shadow chancellor and shadow foreign secretary - to men, giving lesser briefs to female members. Here's who made the cut: Tom Watson - Deputy leader Credit: PA The West Bromwich MP was elected deputy leader in the election, replacing Harriet Harman. He is known for his "attack dog" style, and became well-known for his campaigning against Rupert Murdoch's media empire - particularly his role in helping expose the phone hacking scandal. Despite admitting a number of policy differences to the new leader, Mr Watson has vowed to back Mr Corbyn "100 per cent". ________ John McDonnell - Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer John McDonnell Credit: Reuters Long term ally and co-ordinator of the Corbyn leadership campaign, John McDonnell, has been given the role of Shadow Chancellor. Twice a contender for the leadership role himself, left-wing McDonnell recently declared he would "swim through vomit" to vote against benefit cuts in defiance of the party line and faced criticism for reportedly telling a union event of his desire to "like to go back to the 1980s and assassinate Thatcher". A close political ally to Corbyn and serial rebel within the party, he has previously proposed nationalisation without compensation and upping the top rate of tax to 60p. Some within the party advised against the appointment, suggesting Angela Eagle for the role instead. The 64-year-old has led the fights against the expansion of Heathrow Airport, which is situated in his Hayes and Harlington constituency which he has represented since 1997. His appointment to such a senior role was met with surprise by some as he has no ministerial experience, though he has previously served on committees. ________ Andy Burnham - Shadow Home Secretary Andy Burnham Credit: PA Former Health Secretary and Labour leadership rival, Andy Burnham, takes the role of Shadow Home Secretary. The Leigh MP, who has run twice for the leadership role, earned much respect for his role in reopening the Hillsborough disaster inquiry in 2009 - though drew heavy criticism for the Mid-Staffordshire hospital scandal, which took place during his time as health chief. Once considered a Blairite, he has since become more left-wing, turning his back on the privatisation of parts of the NHS which Labour presided over. He has been dubbed "flip-flop Andy" in some quarters for his apparent changes in approach. Hilary Benn - Shadow Foreign Secretary Hilary Benn Credit: PA Leeds Central MP Hilary Benn has been kept on for the role of shadow foreign secretary, to which he was appointed after the general election in May. He previously served in the governments of both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, holding the posts of Secretary of State for International Development and for Envionment, Food and Rural Affairs between October 2003 and May 2010 - making him one of the more experienced members of the current line-up. Since taking over the foreign brief in May, he has questioned the Conservatives over plans to repeal the Human Rights Act. ________ Maria Eagle - Shadow Defence Secretary Maria Eagle Credit: PA Maria Eagle is the MP for Garston and Halewood, and has held a


Who hosts the BBC quiz show 'Two Tribes'?

Richard Osman Two Tribes: BBC Two to show new quiz programme hosted by the star - Mirror Online Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again laterInvalid Email Pointless co-host Richard Osman will front new quiz show Two Tribes on BBC Two later this year. Contestants will be quizzed on their general knowledge and split into teams based on how they answer "funny and surprising" questions about themselves in the daytime shows. The 43-year-old, who co-presents hit BBC One gameshow Pointless with Alexander Armstrong, is an unlikely TV star and heartthrob. The bespectacled 6ft 7in co-host had previously worked behind the camera, as a writer on shows like Have I Got News For You and a producer on Deal Or No Deal and Total Wipeout, when he pitched Pointless, in which contestants have to find the least obvious answers, to the BBC. Richard Osman alongside Frank Skinner, Joan Bakewell and Roisin Conaty for Room 101   After demonstrating the role of co-host during the pitch, TV bosses were so impressed that they asked him to help front the show. He recently said: "I never went into this with the idea of having an on-screen TV career, it was completely accidental." James Fox, executive producer of Two Tribes, said of the new series: "It's a brilliantly play-along game as you root for the tribe you belong to and answer lots of quick fire general knowledge questions. "We're really looking forward to seeing Richard come out from behind the Pointless desk to front the show and get to know the contestants like never before." Contestants compete for a cash prize in the 30-minute shows, to be made by Remarkable Television, an Endemol company. We're testing a new site: This content is coming soon Like us on Facebook Most Read Most Recent Most Read Most Recent


In which English county is Peckforton Castle?

Peckforton Castle (Tarporley, Cheshire, UK) - UPDATED 2017 Reviews - TripAdvisor Banquet Room Official Description (provided by the hotel) Welcome to Peckforton Castle - An enchanting Hotel in the heart of Cheshire. Rising majestically above the Cheshire landscape, the castle is both enigmatic and enchanting. Originally the home of Lord Tollemache and built in the early 19th Century, this Grade I listed building is the only intact medieval style Castle in the country. Over the years the castle has been the location for numerous movies including Robin Hood and Dr Who. Now owned by the Naylor family, the stunning exterior has been complemented by a loving and considered restoration programme resulting in a magnificent hotel and venue offering contemporary luxury and impeccable service. Services include 48 stunning individual guest rooms, conference, events, and wedding facilities for up to 180. Tranquility beauty, on site Falconry and team activities all adding up to a rather magical experience. Dining at the Castle truly is a special occasion, welcoming the public as well as hotel guests. The 1851 Restaurant offers a dining experience fit for royalty. Holder of 3 AA Rosettes and a Taste Cheshire Award. Alternatively the more informal and cosmopolitan 2010 Brasserie, located in the former scullery of the castle, features many of the amazing features of the original scullery including two cast iron cooking ranges dating back to the 1840's. Peckforton Castle's enchanting medieval style beauty and stunning location make it a truly impressive and desirable venue for weddings, christenings, birthday parties, or just about anything that's worth celebrating. Everything plays a part; the fabulous setting, stunning location, the attentive service and smiling faces, the bespoke menus and decorations. A magnificent venue for conferencing and meetings. Within the medieval walls, old and new combine seamlessly to offer state of the art multi media and conference facilities. Captivating on arrival, Peckforton Castle's unspoilt, natural beauty will stimulate and motivate, delight the eye, inspire the mind, tantalise the taste buds and leave you enchanted. ... more   less  Additional Information about Peckforton Castle Address: Stone House Lane, Tarporley CW6 9TN, England Location: United Kingdom > England > Cheshire > Tarporley Price Range: $175 - $241 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room) Hotel Class:4 star — Peckforton Castle 4* Number of rooms: 47 Reservation Options: TripAdvisor is proud to partner with Travelocity and LateRooms so you can book your Peckforton Castle reservations with confidence. We help millions of travelers each month to find the perfect hotel for both vacation and business trips, always with the best discounts and special offers. Also Known As:


In which English county is Shepherd Neame brewery?

Welcome to Britain's Oldest Brewer | Shepherd Neame Find a Pub Our vision is to be a great British brewer and run the best pubs, providing our customers with a great and memorable experience. We have more than 300 pubs and hotels across London and the South East, from characterful, traditional pubs in London’s West End and The City, and picturesque country pubs, to large contemporary seafront hotels in Kent, with a diverse range of sites in between. Find your perfect pub searching by location, or by the facilities on offer such as accommodation, live music, real log fires and more. Join us We are always on the lookout for great people to join our award-winning team. Whether you're completely new to the industry, or if you have lots of experience and are looking for a new challenge, we want to hear from you! VIEW AVAILABLE JOBS READ ABOUT OUR ROLES run your own pub Stay with us Relax in style at one of our hotels or inns, each with its own unique character, located in some stunning locations around the South East. Unwind in high quality accommodation, while enjoying the warm welcome, delicious food and distinctive Kentish ales for which we are renowned. Search accommodation Discover our beers You may know us best for our traditional Kentish ales such as Spitfire, with its cheeky advertising campaign, but we also brew award-winning lagers including Asahi and Samuel Adams and the popular new Whitstable Bay Collection. Our brewers have been also busy experimenting in our pilot brewery for our limited edition No.18 Yard Brewhouse range. FIND A BEER BREWING IN FAVERSHAM The Faversham Brewery is home to Shepherd Neame, Britain’s Oldest Brewer. Nestled in the medieval market town of Faversham in Kent, brewing has continued on this site for centuries.


What would your occupation be if you had the letters MRTPI after your name?

Chartered Town Planner Chartered Town Planner Get involved Chartered Town Planner Employers recognise the high quality of skills and experience that are held by Chartered Town Planners. They know that they can rely upon the designation as a sign of professionalism. Chartered Town Planners must adhere to a code of conduct that specifies standards of professional ethics. All Chartered Town Planners are required to maintain a level of professional development throughout their career thus ensuring they remain at the forefront of new developments, legislative changes and the latest knowledge in planning. "I am very proud to be a member of the RTPI and to promote the planning profession." Iram Mohammed, Major Assets Project Officer, East Dunbartonshire Council Member profiles


Which book won the Man Booker Prize in 2014. Its subject was Japanese prisoner of war camps in World War 2?

A new book recalls the Japanese ‘railroad of death’ from World War II | Public Radio International A new book recalls the Japanese ‘railroad of death’ from World War II A view of the Bridge on the River Kwai during a light-and-sound show in Kanchanaburi, Thailand, in 1994 Credit: Reuters/stringer This year's Man Booker prize for literature in English has been won by Australian novelist Richard Flanagan, for his haunting novel  The Narrow Road to the Deep North . Player utilities PRI.org <iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.pri.org/node/69913/embedded" height="75" width="100%"></iframe> It tells the story of a prisoner of war in the hands of the Japanese during World War II. It was inspired by Flanagan's father's experiences, working on the infamous "Railroad of Death" in Thailand and Burma. In a BBC interview, Flanagan said the book was not a biography of his father, Archie. But still the work was hugely important to his father, who passed away last year just after the manuscript was completed. "It mattered to him that people didn’t forget. It mattered enormously to him. He didn’t wish there to be hate or judgement. But he didn’t want that suffering to be forgotten." The host of The World, Marco Werman, is well aware of Japan's wartime mistreatment of prisoners, because his grandfather was one. He was Dutch, and was living and working in the Dutch East Indies, now Indonesia, when the Japanese invaded. Unlike many of his fellow prisoners, men and women, he survived.  For most Americans, though, it’s a forgotten chapter of history. On the same day that the Japanese attacked the United States at Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941, the Japanese also attacked the British and Dutch empires in southeast Asia. Those European powers were focussed on Nazi Germany and were unable to stop the Japanese onslaught. Within a few weeks and months, about 130,000 men were captured, including some 36,000 Americans captured in the Philippines. Tens of thousands of European civilians were also forcibly interned. The Japanese refused to respect international conventions on the treatment of POWs, and forced them to become slave laborers to try to help the Japanese war effort. The POWs worked in atrocious conditions in mines, fields, factories and most notoriously on the "Railroad of Death." Think of the 1957 movie Bridge on the River Kwai , or last year's The Railway Man . This line was started because the Japanese were attempting to expand their empire into British-held India, through Burma. The allies had some success intercepting Japanese supply ships. So the Japanese came up with the idea of building a railroad to supply their armies in Burma. The route passed through appalling terrain, though, with remote and densely forested mountains and valleys.    More than 60,000 POWs were sent to help build the railroad, along with an estimated 250,000 Asian laborers. It took about 16 months, from June 1942 through October 1943. In that time, an estimated 12,000 to 13,000 POWs died, along with perhaps 90,000 Asian forced laborers. They died from malnutrition, torture, execution, and tropical diseases. The POWs working on the Burma Railroad included almost 700 Americans. About half were survivors of the USS Houston, which was sunk off Java in February 1942. More than half died. For many prisoners, though, the completion of the Burma Railroad was not the end of their suffering. Many were shipped to Japan to work in the factories, mines and fields there. They were crammed into ships so tight that they could not lie down. Many died from dehydration and hunger. And dozens of these ‘hell ships’ were unknowingly sunk by Allied planes and submarines. One British soldier, Alistair Urquhart , was on just such a ship, the Kachidoki Maru, when it was torpedoed by a US submarine in September 1944. He was badly burnt, but clung on to some debris for five days, as sharks took other survivors. Urquhart was rescued by a Japanese whaling boat and sent to work in a labor camp in Nagasaki. He was lucky enough to survive the nuclear attack on Nagasaki in August 1945. He


In the human body where is the zygomatic bone?

The Zygomatic Bone - Human Anatomy 5b. 4. The Zygomatic Bone FIG. 164 Left zygomatic bone in situ. (Os Zygomaticum; Malar Bone) The zygomatic bone is small and quadrangular, and is situated at the upper and lateral part of the face: it forms the prominence of the cheek, part of the lateral wall and floor of the orbit, and parts of the temporal and infratemporal fossæ (Fig. 164). It presents a malar and a temporal surface; four processes, the frontosphenoidal, orbital, maxillary, and temporal; and four borders.   Surfaces.The malar surface (Fig. 165) is convex and perforated near its center by a small aperture, the zygomaticofacial foramen, for the passage of the zygomaticofacial nerve and vessels; below this foramen is a slight elevation, which gives origin to the Zygomaticus.   The temporal surface (Fig. 166), directed backward and medialward, is concave, presenting medially a rough, triangular area, for articulation with the maxilla, and laterally a smooth, concave surface, the upper part of which forms the anterior boundary of the temporal fossa, the lower a part of the infratemporal fossa. Near the center of this surface is the zygomaticotemporal foramen for the transmission of the zygomaticotemporal nerve.   Processes.The frontosphenoidal process is thick and serrated, and articulates with the zygomatic process of the frontal bone. On its orbital surface, just within the orbital margin and about 11 mm. below the zygomaticofrontal suture is a tubercle of varying size and form, but present in 95 per cent. of skulls (Whitnall   (* 43 ). The orbital process is a thick, strong plate, projecting backward and medialward from the orbital margin. Its antero-medial surface forms, by its junction with the orbital surface of the maxilla and with the great wing of the sphenoid, part of the floor and lateral wall of the orbit. On it are seen the orifices of two canals, the zygomaticoörbital foramina; one of these canals opens into the temporal fossa, the other on the malar surface of the bone; the former transmits the zygomaticotemporal, the latter the zygomaticofacial nerve. Its postero-lateral surface, smooth and convex, forms parts of the temporal and infratemporal fossæ. Its anterior margin, smooth and rounded, is part of the circumference of the orbit. Its superior margin, rough, and directed horizontally, articulates with the frontal bone behind the zygomatic process. Its posterior margin is serrated for articulation, with the great wing of the sphenoid and the orbital surface of the maxilla. At the angle of junction of the sphenoidal and maxillary portions, a short, concave, non-articular part is generally seen; this forms the anterior boundary of the inferior orbital fissure: occasionally, this non-articular part is absent, the fissure then being completed by the junction of the maxilla and sphenoid, or by the interposition of a small sutural bone in the angular interval between them. The maxillary process presents a rough, triangular surface which articulates with the maxilla. The temporal process, long, narrow, and serrated, articulates with the zygomatic process of the temporal.


A History of Winchester A BRIEF HISTORY OF WINCHESTER, HAMPSHIRE By Tim Lambert ROMAN WINCHESTER Winchester began as a Roman town. It was built about 70 AD. The Romans called the new town Venta Belgarum which means the capital of the Belgares (who were the local Celtic tribe before the Roman conquest). Roman Winchester was made a civitas or regional capital. Roman Winchester was built with its streets laid out in a grid pattern. In the middle of the town was the forum. This was a market place lined with shops and public buildings. An important building in Roman Winchester was the public baths. Romans went to the baths not just to get clean but also to socialize. There were also temples in Winchester. At first the buildings in Winchester were made of wood but by the third century some were replaced with brick and stone. Wealthy people in Winchester lived in splendid houses with glass windows, mosaic floors and walls painted with murals. However the poor lived in simple wooden houses. At first Winchester was protected by ditch and an earth rampart, probably with a wooden palisade on top. However at the beginning of the 3rd century Winchester was given stone walls. Winchester now covered 144 acres, which made it the 5th largest town in Roman Britain. There were also suburbs outside the walls. However, like other Roman towns, Winchester declined in the 4th century. SAXON WINCHESTER A statue of King Alfred in Winchester The last Roman soldier left Britain in 407. Town life then broke down. Winchester seems to have been abandoned. When the Saxons arrived in the 6th century a small number of them may have lived in wooden huts within the walls and farmed the land outside. However Winchester ceased to be a town. The Saxons called q Roman settlement a caester and they called Venta Belgarum, Venta Caester. In time this was changed to Wintancaester and eventually became corrupted to Winchester. From 597 monks from Rome began the task of converting Southern England to Christianity. In the mid 7th century a Minster church called the Old Minister was built inside the Roman walls of Winchester. (A Minster church is one with a monastery attached). It was later known as the Old Minster. In 676 the Bishop of Wessex moved his seat to Winchester and the Old Minster became a cathedral. Late in the 9th century Alfred the Great revived the old Roman town. To defend his kingdom he formed a network of fortified places where men could gather to fight the Danes whenever necessary. Alfred often repaired and revived old Roman towns for this purpose. Winchester was rebuilt with the streets laid out in a grid pattern and people were encouraged to come and live there. Soon Saxon Winchester was flourishing. In 901 Alfred's successor founded a second Minster church in Winchester, called the New Minster. In 903 Alfred's widow founded a nunnery known as the Nunnaminster. (It was later called St Marys Abbey). Later in the 10th century the monastery attached to the Old Minster church was reformed and became St Swithun's Priory. In the 10th century the New Minster, St Swithun's Priory and the Nunnaminster were centers of art and learning. They were famous for their illuminated manuscripts (decorated books), jewelry, embroidery and metalwork. From the 10th century there was a mint in the town. Winchester may have had a population of about 8,000 and there were suburbs outside Westgate and Northgate. There was also a Royal Palace in Winchester. It was probably built in the early 10th century. WINCHESTER IN THE MIDDLE AGES Winchester Cathedral William the Conqueror rebuilt the Royal Palace in Winchester. The new palace was twice the size of the old Saxon palace. William also built a castle in the west of Winchester. Sixty houses were demolished to make way for it. At first it was made of wood but in the early 12th century it was rebuilt in stone. After 1079 the Normans demolished the Old Minster Cathedral and built a new cathedral on the site. Early in the 12th century the Nunnaminster (St Marys Abbey) was rebuilt. The New Minster monastery was move


Which British actor plays the part of Martin Luther King in the 2014 film 'Selma'?

Playing MLK: Actor David Oyelowo on Selma | The Huffington Post Playing MLK: Actor David Oyelowo on Selma 12/18/2014 08:28 am ET | Updated Feb 17, 2015 Nell Minow Movie critic, corporate governance analyst British actor David Oyelowo plays Dr. Martin Luther King in director Ava DuVernay's new film Selma, the story of Dr. King's march from Selma, Alabama to the state capital in Montgomery, on behalf of the right to vote. At the time, black citizens were denied the right to vote in the South through impossible " literacy tests " and poll taxes. Oyelowo spoke to me about the importance of showing the audience the man Dr. King was in private as well as his public appearances. For me as an actor, you can't take anything, any of those scenes, any of who he was in isolation. When we think of Dr. King, those are the things that flash through our heads -- we think of speeches, we think of him talking to presidents, we think of him talking to the press. And so even though those scenes were important to me, they were always being thought of by me through the lens of how are they going to be juxtaposed? So in a scene with Lyndon Johnson [played by Tom Wilkinson], I have so much I want to say. I want to think of how that juxtaposes with the scene with my wife where I don't have the words, where I don't have a strategy, where to be perfectly honest, I have less mental capacity to engage with what's going on in the home and so therefore I've run out of resources to deal with what's going on at home. So in many ways the robustness, the strategy, the tactician that you see in front of LBJ shows one side of him. And the ferocity, the degree of cajoling, the degree of at times dampening himself down. You see that more clearly because of what we learn in the more private moments. While the movie focuses only on a few weeks in Dr. King's life, Oyelowo found a way to show Dr. King's views and tactics evolving. One of the things I really loved was the progression of these scenes with LBJ. As King, I come in initially, very amenable, almost curtailing myself because I know I am politic as well and I'm there to try to get something. And before I know it, it's not quite the answers I am looking for. That relationship matures over time. You can see that over the three scenes together. We look to them as a gradation, as a progression in a sense where you see the man maturing. What meant the most to him was being able to create a full-scale character through Dr. King's interactions with a wide range of people from his wife, Coretta Scott King (Carmen Ejogo, who also played Mrs. King in the superb film Boycott) to the President of the United States and to a young college student named John Lewis (Stephan James), who will go on not just to vote but to run for office and serve in Congress. What I really gain satisfaction from is watching the film, seeing those scenes juxtaposed with the same guy in a car with a young John Lewis pushing and with LBJ not budging, feeling this is just not working. I went in there and gave it my all and this young man is quoting me back to me saying, "Fear not, we've come so far to turn back now." That's what you're looking for an actor is that layering that enables you to go big in certain scenes and then go really small in others. In Selma, we see the most private moments of Dr. King with his wife, their relationship strained by his activism and the risks he is taking, and by tapes the FBI sent to Mrs. King revealing her husband's affairs. Oyelowo explained why those scenes were "a gift" to him as an actor. It started with Ava really. I mean the original incarnation of the script didn't have that. Literally I only had a phone call with her character, there was no face time at all. I think this is one of the beauties, one of the benefits of having a female director who comes at it with a different perspective, a layered perspective. A perspective on how important it is to show that relationship that a white man wouldn't necessarily come at it with which is what the original writer is. Those scenes were just a gift to an


Which medical condition would be treated with drugs such as ramiprii and enalapril?

Ramipril: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects & Warnings - Drugs.com Ramipril Generic Name: ramipril (RAM i pril) Brand Names: Altace What is ramipril? Ramipril (Altace) is an ACE inhibitor. ACE stands for angiotensin converting enzyme. Ramipril is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) or congestive heart failure, and to improve survival after a heart attack. Ramipril may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide. Important information Do not use ramipril if you are pregnant. If you become pregnant, stop taking this medicine and tell your doctor right away. Slideshow If you have diabetes, do not use ramipril together with any medication that contains aliskiren (Amturnide, Tekturna, Tekamlo, Valturna). Before taking this medicine You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to ramipril or to any other ACE inhibitor, such as benazepril, captopril, fosinopril, enalapril, lisinopril, moexipril, perindopril, quinapril, or trandolapril. If you have diabetes, do not use ramipril together with any medication that contains aliskiren (Amturnide, Tekturna, Tekamlo, Valturna). You may also need to avoid taking ramipril with aliskiren if you have kidney disease. To make sure ramipril is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have: kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis); liver disease; diabetes; a connective tissue disease such as Marfan syndrome, Sjogren's syndrome, lupus, scleroderma, or rheumatoid arthritis; or if you are also taking telmisartan (Micardis). Do not use if you are pregnant. If you become pregnant, stop taking this medicine and tell your doctor right away. Ramipril can cause injury or death to the unborn baby if you take the medicine during your second or third trimester. Use effective birth control. It is not known whether ramipril passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while using this medicine. How should I take ramipril? Take ramipril exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Ramipril can be taken with or without food. Swallow the tablet whole. You may open the capsule and sprinkle the medicine into a half-cup (4 ounces) of water, apple juice, or applesauce to make swallowing easier. Swallow without chewing. You may store the mixture for up to 24 hours at room temperature, or up to 48 hours in a refrigerator. Vomiting, diarrhea, or heavy sweating can cause you to become dehydrated. This can lead to very low blood pressure, electrolyte disorders, or kidney failure while you are taking ramipril. Drink plenty of water each day while you are taking this medication. Your blood pressure will need to be checked often, and you may need frequent blood tests to check your potassium levels. If you need surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using ramipril. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time. If you are being treated for high blood pressure, keep using this medication even if you feel well. High blood pressure often has no symptoms. You may need to use blood pressure medication for the rest of your life. Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light. Keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use. What happens if I miss a dose? Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose. What happens if I overdose? Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. What should I avoid? Do not use salt substitutes or potassium supplements while taking ramipril, unless your doctor has told you to. Avoid drinking alcohol. It can further lower your blood pressure and may increase some of the side effects of ramipril. Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up slowly and steady yourself to prevent a f


With which sport are the players Ernests Gulbis and Milos Raonic associated?

LIVE Milos Raonic - Ernests Gulbis - ATP Barcelona - 26 April 2013 - Eurosport Milos Raonic - Ernests Gulbis ATP Barcelona - 26 April 2013 Barcelona – Follow the Tennis match between Milos Raonic and Ernests Gulbis live with Eurosport. The match starts at 10:30 on 26 April 2013. Our live coverage lets you follow all the key moments as they happen. Head-to-head: see historical stats and visit our detailed profiles for Milos Raonic vs Ernests Gulbis . Get all the latest on Tennis : fixtures, results and tables.


What is the Capital of Samoa? - Capital-of.com Dates of religious and Civil holidays around the world. www.when-is.com Capital of Samoa The Capital City of Samoa (officially named Independent State of Samoa) is the city of Apia. The population of Apia in the year 2001 was 38,800. Samoa is an English speaking country in the Pasific Ocean. Additional Information


As at January 2015 who is the leader of the Green Party in the UK?

Green party's Natalie Bennett says it should NOT be a crime to join ISIS | Daily Mail Online It should NOT be a crime to join ISIS, says Green party leader who does not want to punish people for what they think Natalie Bennett insists it should not be illegal to join any organisation Stresses that inciting violence or supporting violence should be illegal ISIS was banned by the UK last summer after rise in extremists attacks Government warns of 'very significant risk' of an ISIS-inspired attack Greens have seen a surge in membership to overtake Ukip and Lib Dems But few people know what their policies are with 4 months until the election


Which US band still active today had hits with September and After The Love Has Gone? They were founded by Maurice White.

Earth Wind & Fire |  BIOGRAPHY CONTACT BIOGRAPHY During the 1970s, a new brand of pop music was born – one that was steeped in African and African-American styles – particularly jazz and R&B but appealed to a broader cross-section of the listening public. As founder and leader of the band Earth, Wind & Fire, Maurice White not only embraced but also helped bring about this evolution of pop, which bridged the gap that has often separated the musical tastes of black and white America. It certainly was successful, as EWF combined high-caliber musicianship, wide-ranging musical genre eclecticism, and ’70s multicultural spiritualism. “I wanted to do something that hadn’t been done before,” Maurice explains. “Although we were basically jazz musicians, we played soul, funk, gospel, blues, jazz, rock and dance music…which somehow ended up becoming pop. We were coming out of a decade of experimentation, mind expansion and cosmic awareness. I wanted our music to convey messages of universal love and harmony without force-feeding listeners’ spiritual content.”Maurice was born December 19, 1941, in Memphis, TN. He was immersed in a rich musical culture that spanned the boundaries between jazz, gospel, R&B, blues and early rock. All of these styles played a role in the development of Maurice’s musical identity. At age six, he began singing in his church’s gospel choir but soon his interest turned to percussion. He began working gigs as a drummer while still in high school. His first professional performance was with Booker T. Jones, who eventually achieved stardom as Booker T and the MGs.After graduating high school, Maurice moved to the Windy City to continue his musical education at the prestigious Chicago Conservatory Of Music. He continued picking up drumming jobs on the side, which eventually lead to a steady spot as a studio percussionist with the legendary Chicago label, Chess Records. At Chess, Maurice had the privilege of playing with such greats as Etta James, Fontella Bass, Billy Stewart, Willie Dixon, Sonny Stitt and Ramsey Lewis, whose trio he joined in 1967. He spent nearly three years as part of the Ramsey Lewis Trio. “Ramsey helped shape my musical vision beyond just the music,” Maurice explains. “I learned about performance and staging.” Maurice also learned about the African thumb piano, or Kalimba, an instrument whose sound would become central to much of his work over the years.In 1969, Maurice left the Ramsey Lewis Trio and joined two friends in Chicago, Wade Flemons and Don Whitehead, as a songwriting team composing songs and commercials in the Chicago area. The three friends got a recording contract with Capitol and called themselves the “Salty Peppers,” and had a marginal hit in the Mid-western area called “La La Time.” That band featured Maurice on vocals, percussion and Kalimba along with keyboardists/vocalists Wade Flemons and Don Whitehead. After relocating to Los Angeles and signing a new contract with Warner Bros., Maurice simultaneously made what may have been the smartest move of his young career. He changed the band’s name to Earth, Wind & Fire (after the three elements in his astrological chart). The new name also captured Maurice’s spiritual approach to music – one that transcended categories and appealed to multiple artistic principals, including composition, musicianship, production, and performance. In addition to White, Flemons and Whitehead, Maurice recruited Michael Beal on guitar, Leslie Drayton, Chester Washington and Alex Thomas on horns, Sherry Scott on vocals, percussionist Phillard Williams and his younger brother Verdine on bass. Earth, Wind & Fire recorded two albums for Warner Brothers: the self-titled 1970 album Earth, Wind And Fire and the 1971 album The Need Of Love. A single from this album, “I Think About Lovin’ You,” provided EWF with their first Top 40 R&B hit. Also in 1971, the group performed the soundtrack to the Melvin Van Peebles film ‘Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song’. In 1972, White dissolved the line-up (except he and brother Verdine White) and added Jessica Cleaves (v


Which British film and TV actor is the son of actress Wanda Ventham?

Benedict Cumberbatch - Biography - IMDb Benedict Cumberbatch Biography Showing all 117 items Jump to: Overview  (4) | Mini Bio  (2) | Spouse  (1) | Trade Mark  (5) | Trivia  (58) | Personal Quotes  (47) Overview (4) 6' (1.83 m) Mini Bio (2) Benedict Timothy Carlton Cumberbatch was born and raised in London, England. His parents, Wanda Ventham and Timothy Carlton (Timothy Carlton Congdon Cumberbatch), are both actors. He is a grandson of submarine commander Henry Carlton Cumberbatch, and a great-grandson of diplomat Henry Arnold Cumberbatch CMG. Cumberbatch attended Brambletye School and Harrow School. Whilst at Harrow, he had an arts scholarship and painted large oil canvases. It's also where he began acting. After he finished school, he took a year off to volunteer as an English teacher in a Tibetan monastery in Darjeeling, India. On his return, he studied drama at Manchester University. He continued his training as an actor at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art graduating with an M.A. in Classical Acting. By the time he had completed his studies, he already had an agent. Cumberbatch has worked in theatre, television, film and radio. His breakthrough on the big screen came in 2004 when he portrayed Stephen Hawking in the television movie Hawking (2004). In 2010, he became a household name as Sherlock Holmes on the British television series Sherlock (2010). In 2011, he appeared in two Oscar-nominated films - War Horse (2011) and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011). He followed this with acclaimed roles in the science fiction fiction film Star Trek Into Darkness (2013), the Oscar-winning drama 12 Years a Slave (2013), The Fifth Estate (2013) and August: Osage County (2013). In 2014, he portrayed Alan Turing in The Imitation Game (2014) which earned him a Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild Award, British Academy of Film and Television Arts and an Academy Award nominations for Best Actor in a Leading Role. Cumberbatch was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) by Queen Elizabeth II in the 2015 Birthday Honours for his services to the performing arts and to charity. Cumberbatch's engagement to theatre and opera director Sophie Hunter, whom he has known for 17 years, was announced in the "Forthcoming Marriages" section of The Times newspaper on November 5, 2014. On February 14, 2015, the couple married at the 12th century Church of St. Peter and St. Paul on the Isle of Wight followed by a reception at Mottistone Manor. They have a son, Christopher Carlton (b. 2015). - IMDb Mini Biography By: Kad Benedict Cumberbatch is an English actor and film producer who has performed in film, television, theatre and radio. The son of actors Timothy Carlton and Wanda Ventham, he graduated from the University of Manchester and continued his training at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, obtaining a Master of Arts in Classical Acting. He first performed at the Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park in Shakespearean productions such as Love's Labour's Lost (2001), A Midsummer Night's Dream (2001, and Romeo and Juliet (2002). He also portrayed George Tesman in Richard Eyre's revival of Hedda Gabler in 2005 and since then has starred in the Royal National Theatre productions After the Dance (2010) and Frankenstein (2011). In 2015, he played William Shakespeare's Hamlet at the Barbican Theatre. Cumberbatch's television work includes appearances in Heartbeat (2000), Silent Witness (2002) and Fortysomething (2003) before starring as Stephen Hawking in the television film Hawking in 2004. He has played Sherlock Holmes in the series Sherlock since 2010. He has also starred in Tom Stoppard's adaptation of Parade's End (2012), as well as providing the voices of the British Prime Minister and Severus Snape on an episode of the animated series The Simpsons (1989). Cumberbatch's first film appearance was in the To Kill a King (2003) and he went on to appear in the films Atonement (2007), Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011), and War Horse (2011). He has starred in the films Amazing Grace (2006) as William Pitt the Younger, Sta


"What is considered to be the most likely cause of ""The madness of King George""?"

Madness of King George III may have been his doctors' fault - The Boston Globe Madness of King George III may have been his doctors' fault By Carolyn Y. Johnson, Globe Staff  |  August 1, 2005 Nearly two centuries after King George III famously mistook a large tree for a Prussian king, peed red- and blue-tinged urine, and died blind, deaf, and mad, scientists are still finalizing his diagnosis. In 1969, a mother-and-son team of psychiatrists with a penchant for diagnosing deranged, dead celebrities suggested that the king suffered from a hereditary disorder called porphyria. The diagnosis stuck, and the British king's legacy brought fame to the rare metabolic disease -- though it remained hotly contested. Other possibilities have been floated over the years, too: the king who sat on the throne when the United States earned its independence could have had manic-depressive psychosis, or even pent-up sexual frustration -- the theory is that after being forced to marry an ugly German princess, the king, as a ''God-fearing man, had to remain faithful . . . and that put him over the edge," said Martin Warren, a biochemist at Queen Mary, University of London. Now, using modern forensic techniques on a two-inch lock of the king's hair and retracing the royal family tree, Warren and his colleagues have uncovered further evidence that the king likely suffered from porphyria, which even today is frequently mistaken for mental illness -- and a possible explanation for his unusually long, severe episodes of madness. Their analysis, published late last month in the British medical journal, The Lancet, implicates arsenic -- a heavy metal known to aggravate and even trigger episodes of the disease. The arsenic, researchers wrote, was probably a contaminant in his medications, meaning that as the royal physicians attempted to cure the king of his porphyria -- they may have been making him much worse. ''Of course, postulates such as this one are of the armchair variety," and not provable, but the paper is ''provocative," said Dr. Peter Tishler, a professor at Harvard Medical School, and a member of the advisory board of the American Porphyria Foundation. He has long been skeptical of King George's diagnosis. Porphyria is a complicated diagnosis: Even today, the disease is nicknamed ''the little imitator" because it looks like dozens of other diseases on first examination. The genetic disorder interferes with metabolism, causing acute abdominal pain, muscle weakness, confusion, and red-tinged urine, which seems to have affected several of the king's offspring and relatives. To support their diagnosis, researchers drew on the royal physicians' reports from the 1780s until the king's death in 1820: They were giving the king medications that -- unbeknownst to them -- commonly contained arsenic. ''His Majesty's medicine was given him by force at seven o'clock and this has certainly contributed to his irritation and irascibility which has prevailed ever since," one note from 1811 reads. Nonetheless, controversy continues. Wilfred Niels Arnold, a biochemistry professor at the University of Kansas Medical Center who has written several papers suggesting that the impressionist painter Vincent Van Gogh had porphyria, said he is skeptical of the new claims. He believes the arsenic found in the hair may have been an external preservative and that several of the king's medications could have triggered episodes of porphyria. In an e-mail, he called the paper ''one of the worst so far in this field," because many of the king's medicines contained different compounds that could have triggered attacks of porphyria. Like other subjects of ''pathography," a field of science that reconstructs illness long after a person has died (posthumous medical diagnoses have been offered in books whose titles include ''The Health of Presidents," ''The Madness of Kings," and ''Medical Biographies: The Ailments of Thirty-three Famous Persons") King George III has long excited both medical and historical curiosity -- although researchers cheerfully agree that such medical


How many US presidents have there been during the reign of Elizabeth the second?

86 Surprising Facts About Queen Elizabeth II - Diamond Jubilee: Queen Elizabeth II of England - TIME 86 Surprising Facts About Queen Elizabeth II By Anoosh ChakelianWednesday, May 23, 2012 Sean Dempsey / Reuters 1. She speaks fluent French and often uses the language for audiences and state visits. She does not require an interpreter. 2. The Queen has received over 3.5 million items of correspondence during her reign. 3. Since 1952, she has conferred over 404,500 honors and awards. 4. Elizabeth has personally held 610 investitures. An investiture is the ceremony in which an honor is bestowed on someone for their good services; the recognitions are published twice a year, in the Queen's Birthday Honors and New Year's Honors lists. 5. Queen Elizabeth II is Britain's 40th monarch since William the Conqueror was crowned. (Get TIME's new book The Royal Family: The House of Windsor, Past, Present and Future) 6. In 2002, at 76, Elizabeth became the oldest monarch to celebrate a Golden Jubilee. The youngest was James I (James VI of Scotland), at age 51. 7. About 1.5 million people have attended garden parties at Buckingham Palace or the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Scotland since Elizabeth has been on the throne. 8. Over the course of her reign, she has given regular Tuesday-evening audiences to 12 British Prime Ministers: Winston Churchill, 195155; Sir Anthony Eden, 195557; Harold Macmillan, 195763; Sir Alec Douglas-Home, 196364; Harold Wilson, 196470 and 197476; Edward Heath, 197074; James Callaghan, 197679; Margaret Thatcher, 197990; John Major, 199097; Tony Blair, 19972007; Gordon Brown, 20072010; and David Cameron, 2010-present. 9. There have been 12 U.S. Presidents during her reign. 10. Tony Blair is the first Prime Minister to have been born during her reign. He was born in early May 1953, a month before her coronation. 11. The Queen and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, introduced small, informal luncheon parties at Buckingham Palace to meet distinguished people from all professions, trades and vocations. The first was held on May 11, 1956, and the tradition continues to this day. There are usually six to eight guests and two members of the royal household in attendance. 12. Elizabeth is patron of more than 600 charities and organizations. 13. In the past 60 years, the Queen has undertaken 261 official overseas visits, including 96 state visits, to 116 different countries. 14. In 2005, she claimed ownership of 88 cygnets (young swans) on the River Thames. They are looked after by a swan marker. The first royal swan keeper was appointed around the 12th century. 15. Technically, the Queen still owns the sturgeons, whales and dolphins in the waters around the U.K. A statute from 1324, during the reign of King Edward II, states, "Also the King shall have ... whales and sturgeons taken in the sea or elsewhere within the realm." This statute is still valid today, and sturgeons, porpoises, whales and dolphins are recognized as "fishes royal": when they are captured within 3 miles (about 5 km) of U.K. shores or wash ashore, they may be claimed on behalf of the Crown. Generally, when brought into port, a sturgeon is sold in the usual way, and the purchaser, as a gesture of loyalty, requests the honor of its being accepted by Elizabeth. (PHOTOS: Extraordinary Images of the Queen from the National Portrait Gallery) 16. In the summer of 2005, she opened the first children's trail in the Buckingham Palace garden for its seasonal opening. 17. The Queen joined Facebook in November 2010, with a page called the British Monarchy, which features royal news, photos, videos and speeches. However, it is not possible to poke the royal family. She joined Twitter in July 2009, with teams at Buckingham Palace tweeting daily updates. None of the royals themselves tweet. The page follows only one other Twitter account: Clarence House, the royal home of the Prince of Wales. 18. To mark the 50th anniversary of the Queen's first televised festive address, a YouTube channel for the royal family, called the Royal Channel, was launched in Dec