title: Laurasia

text: Pangaea was completely assembled by the Permian except for the Asian blocks. The supercontinent was centred on the Equator during the Triassic and Jurassic, a period that saw the emergence of the Pangaean megamonsoon. Heavy rainfall resulted in high groundwater tables, in turn resulting in peat formation and extensive coal deposits.


title: Laurasia

text: During the Cambrian and Early Ordovician, when wide oceans separated all major continents, only pelagic marine organisms, such as plankton, could move freely across the open ocean and therefore the oceanic gaps between continents are easily detected in the fossil records of marine bottom dwellers and non-marine species. By the Late Ordovician, when continents were pushed closer together closing the oceanic gaps, benthos (brachiopods and trilobites) could spread between continents while ostracods and fishes remained isolated. As Laurussia formed during the Devonian and Pangaea formed, fish species in both Laurussia and Gondwana began to migrate between continents and before the end of the Devonian similar species were found on both sides of what remained of the Variscan barrier.


title: Laurasia

text: The oldest tree fossils are from the Middle Devonian pteridophyte Gilboa forest in central Laurussia (today New York, United States).


title: Laurasia

text: In the late Carboniferous, Laurussia was centred on the Equator and covered by tropical rainforests, commonly referred to as the coal forest. By the Permian, the climate had become arid and these rainforests collapsed, lycopsids (giant mosses) were replaced by treeferns. In the dry climate a detritivorous fauna – including ringed worms, molluscs, and some arthropods – evolved and diversified, alongside other arthropods who were herbivorous and carnivorous, and tetrapods – insectivores and piscivores such as amphibians and early amniotes.


title: Laurasia

text: During the Carboniferous–Permian Siberia, Kazakhstan, and Baltica collided in the Uralian orogeny to form Laurasia.


title: Laurasia

text: The Palaezoic-Mesozoic transition was marked by the reorganisation of Earth's tectonic plates which resulted in the assembly of Pangaea, and eventually its break-up. Caused by the detachment of subducted mantle slabs, this reorganisation resulted in rising mantle plumes that produced large igneous provinces when they reached the crust. This tectonic activity also resulted in the Permian–Triassic extinction event. Tentional stresses across Eurasia developed into a large system of rift basins (Urengoy, East Uralian-Turgay and Khudosey) and flood basalts in the West Siberian Basin, the Pechora Basin, and South China.


title: Laurasia

text: Laurasia and Gondwana were equal in size but had distinct geological histories. Gondwana was assembled before the formation of Pangaea, but the assembly of Laurasia occurred during and after the formation of the supercontinent. These differences resulted in different patterns of basin formation and transport of sediments. East Antarctica was the highest ground within Pangaea and produced sediments that were transported across eastern Gondwana but never reached Laurasia. During the Palaeozoic, c. 30–40% of Laurasia but only 10–20% of Gondwana was covered by shallow marine water.


title: Laurasia

text: During the assembly of Pangaea Laurasia grew as continental blocks broke off Gondwana's northern margin; pulled by old closing oceans in front of them and pushed by new opening oceans behind them.


title: Laurasia

text: During the Neoproterozoic-Early Paleozoic break-up of Rodinia the opening of the Proto-Tethys Ocean split the Asian blocks – Tarim, Qaidam, Alex, North China, and South China – from the northern shores of Gondwana (north of Australia in modern coordinates) and the closure of the same ocean reassembled them along the same shores 500–460 Mya resulting in Gondwana at its largest extent.


title: Laurasia

text: The break-up of Rodinia also resulted in the opening of the long-lived Paleo-Asian Ocean between Baltica and Siberia in the north and Tarim and North China in the south. The closure of this ocean is preserved in the Central Asian Orogenic Belt, the largest orogen on Earth.


title: Laurasia

text: North China, South China, Indochina, and Tarim broke off Gondwana during the Silurian-Devonian; Palaeo-Tethys opened behind them. Sibumasu and Qiantang and other Cimmerian continental fragments broke off in the Early Permian. Lhasa, West Burma, Sikuleh, southwest Sumatra, West Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo broke off during the Late Triassic-Late Jurassic.


title: Laurasia

text: During the Carboniferous and Permian, Baltica first collided with Kazakhstania and Siberia, then North China with Mongolia and Siberia. By the middle Carboniferous, however, South China had already been in contact with North China long enough to allow floral exchange between the two continents. The Cimmerian blocks rifted from Gondwana in the Late Carboniferous.


title: Laurasia

text: In the early Permian, the Neo-Tethys Ocean opened behind the Cimmerian terranes (Sibumasu, Qiantang, Lhasa) and, in the late Carboniferous, the Palaeo-Tethys Ocean closed in front. The eastern branch of the Palaeo-Tethys Ocean, however, remained opened while Siberia was added to Laurussia and Gondwana collided with Laurasia.


title: Laurasia

text: When the eastern Palaeo-Tethys closed 250–230 Mya, a series of Asian blocks – Sibumasu, Indochina, South China, Qiantang, and Lhasa – formed a separate southern Asian continent. This continent collided 240–220 Mya with a northern continent – North China, Qinling, Qilian, Qaidam, Alex, and Tarim – along the Central China orogen to form a combined East Asian continent. The northern margins of the northern continent collided with Baltica and Siberia 310–250 Ma, and thus the formation of the East Asian continent marked Pangaea at its greatest extent.


title: Laurasia

text: Pangaea split in two as the Tethys Seaway opened between Gondwana and Laurasia in the Late Jurassic. The fossil record, however, suggests the intermittent presence of a Trans-Tethys land bridge, though the location and duration of such a land bridge remains enigmatic.


title: Laurasia

text: Pine trees evolved in the early Mesozoic c. 250 Mya and the pine genus originated in Laurasia in the Early Cretaceous c. 130 Mya in competition with faster growing flowering plants. Pines adapted to cold and arid climates in environments where the growing season was shorter or wildfire common; this evolution limited pine range to between 31° and 50° north and resulted in a split into two subgenera: "Strobus" adapted to stressful environments and "Pinus" to fire-prone landscapes. By the end of the Cretaceous pines were established across Laurasia, from North America to East Asia.


title: Laurasia

text: From the Triassic to the Early Jurassic, before the break-up of Pangaea, archosaurs (crurotarsans, pterosaurs and dinosaurs including birds) had a global distribution, especially crurotarsans, the group ancestral to the crocodilians. This cosmopolitanism ended as Gondwana fragmented and Laurasia was assembled. Pterosaur diversity reach a maximum in the Late Jurassic—Early Cretaceous and plate tectonic didn't affect the distribution of these flying reptiles. Crocodilian ancestors also diversified during the Early Cretaceous but were divided into Laurasian and Gondwanan populations; true crocodilians evolved from the former. The distribution of the three major groups of dinosaurs – the sauropods, theropods, and ornithischians – was similar that of the crocodilians. East Asia remained isolated with endemic species including psittacosaurs (horned dinosaurs) and Ankylosauridae (club-tailed, armoured dinosaurs).


title: Laurasia

text: Meanwhile, mammals slowly settled in Laurasia from Gondwana in the Triassic, the latter of which was the living area of their Permian ancestors. They split in two groups, with one returning to Gondwana (and stayed there after Pangaea split) while the other staying in Laurasia (until further descendants switched to Gondwana starting from the Jurassic).


title: Laurasia

text: In the early Eocene a peak in global warming led to a pan-Arctic fauna with alligators and amphibians present north of the Arctic Circle. In the early Palaeogene, landbridges still connected continents, allowing land animals to migrate between them. On the other hand, submerged areas occasionally divided continents: the Turgai Sea separated Europe and Asia from the Middle Jurassic to the Oligocene and as this sea or strait dried out, a massive faunal interchange took place and the resulting extinction event in Europe is known as the "Grande Coupure".


title: Laurasia

text: The Coraciiformes (an order of birds including kingfishers) evolved in Laurasia. While this group now has a mostly tropical distribution, they originated in the Arctic in the late Eocene c. 35 Mya from where they diversified across Laurasia and farther south across the Equator.


title: Laurasia

text: In the Triassic–Early Jurassic (c. 200 Mya), the opening of the Central Atlantic Ocean was preceded by the formation of a series of large rift basins, such as the Newark Basin, between eastern North America, from what is today the Gulf of Mexico to Nova Scotia, and in Africa and Europe, from Morocco to Greenland.


title: Laurasia

text: By spreading had begun in the North Atlantic between the Rockall Plateau, a continental fragment sitting on top of the Eurasian Plate, and North America. By 56 Mya Greenland had become an independent plate, separated from North America by the Labrador Sea-Baffin Bay Rift. By 33 Mya spreading had ceased in the Labrador Sea and relocated to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The opening of the North Atlantic Ocean had effectively broken Laurasia in two.


title: Rat race

text: A rat race is an endless, self-defeating, or pointless pursuit. The phrase equates humans to rats attempting to earn a reward such as cheese, in vain. It may also refer to a competitive struggle to get ahead financially or routinely.


title: Rat race

text: The term is commonly associated with an exhausting, repetitive lifestyle that leaves no time for relaxation or enjoyment.


title: Rat race

text: The earliest known occurrence is 1934. In reference to aviation training a rat race was originally a "follow-the-leader" game in which a trainee fighter pilot had to copy all the actions (loops, rolls, spins, Immelmann turns etc.) performed by an experienced pilot. From 1945, the phrase took on the meaning of "competitive struggle."


title: Jack Carson

text: John Elmer Carson (October 27, 1910 – January 2, 1963) was a Canadian-born American film actor. Carson often played the role of comedic friend in films of the 1940s and 1950s, including "The Strawberry Blonde" (1941) with James Cagney and "Arsenic and Old Lace" (1944) with Cary Grant. He also acted in dramas such as "Mildred Pierce" (1945), "A Star is Born" (1954), and "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" (1958). He worked for RKO and MGM (where he was cast opposite Myrna Loy and William Powell in "Love Crazy", 1941), but most of his notable work was for Warner Bros.


title: Jack Carson

text: John Elmer Carson was born on October 27, 1910 in Carman, Manitoba to Elmer and Elsa Carson (née Brunke). He was the younger brother of actor Robert Carson (1909–1979). His father was an executive with an insurance company. In 1914, the family moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which he always thought of as his home town. He attended high school at Hartford School, Milwaukee, and St. John's Military Academy in Delafield, Wisconsin, and at Carleton College, he acquired a taste for acting. Carson became a U.S. citizen in 1949.


title: Jack Carson

text: Because of his size – 6 ft 2 in (1.9 m) and 220 lb (100 kg) – his first stage appearance (in a collegiate production) was as Hercules. In the midst of a performance, he tripped and took half the set with him. Dave Willock, a college friend, thought it was so funny he persuaded Carson to team with him in a vaudeville act – Willock and Carson – and a new career was born with "a very successful comedy team that played large and small vaudeville theatres everywhere in North America". After the act with Willock broke up, Carson teamed with dancer Betty Alice Lindy for appearances in theaters on the Orpheum Circuit.


title: Jack Carson

text: Radio was another source of employment for the team, starting with a 1938 appearance on the "Kraft Music Hall" when Bing Crosby hosted the show. In 1942–1943, he was host of "The Camel Comedy Caravan", and in the next season he starred in "The New Jack Carson Show", which debuted on June 2, 1943. Charles Foster wrote about the show in "Once Upon a Time in Paradise: Canadians in the Golden Age of Hollywood": "It broke audience records regularly during the four years it was on the air. Hollywood's biggest stars ... lined up to do guest spots on the show."


title: Jack Carson

text: His success in radio led to the start of a lucrative film career. During the 1930s, as vaudeville declined from increased competition from radio and the movies, Willock and Carson sought work in Hollywood. Carson initially landed bit roles at RKO Radio Pictures in films such as "Bringing Up Baby" (1938), starring Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn.


title: Jack Carson

text: An early standout role for Carson was as a mock-drunk, undercover G-Man opposite Richard Cromwell in Universal Pictures's anti-Nazi action drama titled "Enemy Agent". This led to contract-player status with Warner Brothers. While there, he was teamed with Dennis Morgan in a number of popular films known as the "Two Guys" movies, supposedly to compete with Paramount's popular Bing Crosby – Bob Hope "Road to …" pictures.


title: Jack Carson

text: Most of his work at Warner Brothers was limited to light comedy work with Morgan, and later Doris Day (who in her autobiography gave credit to Carson as one of her early Hollywood mentors). Critics generally agree that Carson's best work was in "Mildred Pierce" (1945), where he played the perpetually scheming Wally Fay opposite Joan Crawford in the title role. Also in 1945, he played the role of Harold Pierson, the second husband of Louise Randall, played by Rosalind Russell, in "Roughly Speaking". Another role which won accolades for him was as publicist Matt Libby in "A Star is Born" (1954). One of his later film roles was as the older brother Gooper in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" (1958).


title: Jack Carson

text: From 1950 to 1951, Carson was one of four alternating weekly hosts of the comedy-variety show "Four Star Revue." (The others were veterans Jimmy Durante and Ed Wynn, and up-and-coming young Danny Thomas.) The second season was his last with the show, when it was renamed "All Star Revue".


title: Jack Carson

text: Carson also had his own variety program "The Jack Carson Show" from 1954 to 1955) and was the announcer on the television version of "Strike It Rich".


title: Jack Carson

text: His TV appearances, extending into the early 1960s, included "The Guy Mitchell Show", and "The Polly Bergen Show" in 1957; "Alcoa Theatre" and "Bonanza" (Season 1, Ep.9: "Mr. Henry Comstock") in 1959; "Thriller" ("The Big Blackout") in 1960; "The Twilight Zone" (Season 2, Ep. 14: "The Whole Truth") in 1961; and in perhaps his last TV appearance in "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" (Season 7, Ep. 35: "The Children of Alda Nuova") from June 5, 1962.


title: Jack Carson

text: His TV pilot "Kentucky Kid" was under consideration as a potential series for NBC, but was shelved when Carson became ill with stomach cancer. Carson would have played a veterinarian who raises horses and who has an adopted Chinese child. The series was revived by NBC as "Kentucky Jones" starring Dennis Weaver in the Carson role.


title: Jack Carson

text: On February 8, 1960, Carson received two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions to the television and radio industry. The television star is located at 1560 Vine Street, the radio star is at 6361 Hollywood Boulevard.


title: Jack Carson

text: In 1983, after his death, Jack Carson was inducted into the Wisconsin Performing Artists Hall of Fame along with Dennis Morgan, who was also from Wisconsin.


title: Jack Carson

text: Carson and Elizabeth Lindy were married in 1938 and divorced 1939. He was married to Kay St. Germain from 1941 to 1950. He and Lola Albright were married from 1952 to 1958. Carson was married from 1961 until his death in 1963 to Sandra Jolley, former wife of actor Forrest Tucker and daughter of actor I. Stanford Jolley. Carson had a romantic relationship with Doris Day in 1950–1951, but she left him for Marty Melcher, who became her third husband.


title: Jack Carson

text: On August 26, 1962, while rehearsing the play "Critic's Choice" in Andover, New Jersey, he collapsed on stage. An early diagnosis deemed it a stomach disorder, but two months later, stomach cancer was discovered while he was undergoing an unrelated operation. He died in Encino on January 2, 1963, at age 52. Carson was entombed in Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery.


title: Islamic mythology

text: Islamic mythology is the body of myths associated with Islam and the Quran. Islam is a religion that is more concerned with social order and law than with religious ritual or myths. "The Oxford Companion to World Mythology" identifies a number of traditional narratives as "Islamic myths". These include a creation myth and a vision of afterlife, which Islam shares with the other Abrahamic religions, as well as the distinctively Islamic story of the "Kaaba".


title: Islamic mythology

text: The traditional biography of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, who plays a central role in Islamic teachings, is generally recognized as being largely historical in nature, and Islam depends less on mythology than Judaism and Christianity. However, the canonical narrative includes two key supernatural events: the divine revelation of the Quran and the Isra and Mi'raj — the night journey to Jerusalem followed by the ascension to the Seventh Heaven. In addition, Islamic scriptures contain a number of legendary narratives about biblical characters, which diverge from Jewish and Christian traditions in some details.


title: Islamic mythology

text: The discussion of religion in terms of mythology is a controversial topic. The word "myth" is commonly used with connotations of falsehood, reflecting a legacy of the derogatory early Christian usage of the Greek word "mythos" in the sense of "fable, fiction, lie" to refer to classical mythology. However, the word is also used with other meanings in academic discourse. It may refer to "a story that serves to define the fundamental worldview of a culture" or to stories which a given culture regards as true (as opposed to fables, which it recognizes as fictitious).


title: Islamic mythology

text: The Quran includes many biblical narratives. Central figures, such as Moses (Musa), Abraham (Ibrahim), Joseph (Yūsuf), Mary (Maryam) and Jesus (Isa), reappear throughout the Quran. However, in contrast to the Biblical narratives, the Quran only provides a summary of a certain story, and gets into the religio-moral point, rather scattered through the Quran, instead of offering such narrations in a chronological order. More extensive details about stories incorporated by the Quran were taken from extra-Islamic sources (Isra'iliyyat). Alluding that such stories were of Jewish origin, in fact, Isra'iliyyats may also derive from other religions, such as Christianity or Zoroastrianism. Many of them were stored in Qisas Al-Anbiya (Stories of the Prophets), but also integrated in Quranic exegesis (Tafsir). Although important in early Tafsir, later scholars discouraged the usage of Isra'iliyyats. Besides narrations from the canonical Bible, Islam further adapted Apocryphal and Midrashic writings.


title: Islamic mythology

text: In the Quran, the heavens and the earth were joined together as one "unit of creation", after which they were "cloven asunder". After the parting of both, they simultaneously came into their present shape after going through a phase when they were smoke-like. The Quran states that the process of creation took 6 "youm(يوم)". In the Quran, the word "youm" (often translated to "era") means day.


title: Islamic mythology

text: According to Quranic creation narrative, God informed the angels, that He was going to create a "khalifa" (vicegerent) on earth. The meaning of "Khalifa "holds different interpretations within Islamic exegesis:


title: Islamic mythology

text: Adam is according to Islam, both the first human and the first prophet. The Quran says that he and his wife dwelled in Garden of Eden. The Quranic counterpart of the fall of man differs in some regards from the Book of Genesis. The Quran does not blame women for seducing men, since both Adam and his in the Quran unnamed wife, eat from the forbidden tree. Further, the forbidden tree is not identified as "Tree of the knowledge of good and evil" but as "Tree of Eternity". The Quran does not mention the serpent as a symbol for the devil, but only Satan himself. While the Old Testament curses the earth for Adam's transgression, according to the Quran, God declares the earth as a dwelling place for humans, but not curses it nor is Adam destined to die for his sin, thus lacking the doctrine of original sin, prevailing in Christian theology. Islamic theology gives a more optimistic attitude towards humanity's fall. Only due to free will, humans are able to produce "good". Thus, although Adam's disobedience created evil, only this made it possible to create good. The disobediences of Adam and his wife were already forgiven by God during their life.


title: Islamic mythology

text: Islamic traditions are more extensive, adding further details into the Quranic creation narrative. According to a common narrative, God ordered the Archangels to collect a handful of soil from earth. But every time an archangel approached earth, the earth sought refuge in God, that it might not be distorted. All the archangels returned empty-handed, except Azrael, who succeeded because he sought refuge in God before, for that he will not returned unsuccessful. Another common traditions, portrayed the body of Adam lying on the ground for forty years, whereupon Iblis became curious of the new creation. After investigating the lifeless body, he promised that, if he will gain authority over it, he will destroy it. In another tradition, it is not Azrael, but Iblis, included among the archangels, who succeeded in collecting soil from the earth, thus he later declined to prostrate himself before whose formation he just assisted.


title: Islamic mythology

text: There is an extensive debate among the exegetes ("muffasirun") on the creation of Eve as outlined in the foundational sources - Qur'an and Hadith. Surah an-Nisa verse one says "O people! Be mindful of your Lord who created you from a single soul ("nafsin wahida") and created from it, its mate ("zawjaha")..." Most Muslim exegetes have interpreted this verse as suggesting that Eve ("zawjaha") is the secondary creation brought forth from Adam ("nafsin wahida"). Karen Bauer argues that since the nature and manner of Eve's creation in the Qur'an remains obscure, exegetes had no option but to read into the text of the Qur'an using Biblical, para-Biblical accounts and older myths. It is undeniable that the first spouse, according to the Qur'anic narrative, was created from ("min") and for man ("lahu") (Q. 7:189), but the meaning of from ("min") is not clear. The exegetes have understood this in two key ways: first, from the "crooked rib" and second, "of the same type (substance)" It is worth mentioning that the Bible presents both accounts - of the same type (Genesis 1:26-7) and from the rib (Genesis 2:20-4) (109).


title: Islamic mythology

text: Muqatil b. Sulayman (d. 150/767), one of the earliest interpreters of the Qur'an says Eve was created from Adam's rib and this is reflected in her name - Eve (Hawwa), from the word living being ("hayy"). Another early exegete, Hud b. Muhakkam al-Hawwari (d. 3rd/9th century) also presents the same reading by referring it to al-Hasan al-Basri who has reported from the Prophet Muhammad that "indeed, woman was created from a rib, and if you wish to straighten her you break her." Many traditionalist exegetes like al-Tabari, Ibn Abi Hatim al-Razi, Maybudi, etc. have quoted these opinions. But others like Abu Ja'far Muhammad al-Baqir and Ibn Bahr argue that Eve was created "of the same type." In the modern period, the creation of Eve continues to be intensely debated. Pakistani scholar of the Qur'an, Israr Ahmed (d. 2010) was of the opinion that with the advances in our knowledge due to modern science, the notion of Eve's creation from Adam's rib is against human observation and reason. He believes the "crooked rib" hadith is using a metaphor to make a point regarding the psychological nature of women. Israr, in the evolution of the animal kingdom from a unicellular being like an amoeba, sees a clear indication that the creation was brought forth from the first unicellular being in which the characteristic of biological sex did not exist. Another South Asian scholar, Javed Ahmed Ghamidi, sees the hadith as a metaphor and argues that Eve was created of the same biological sex as Adam.


title: Islamic mythology

text: Islamic traditions often use figures similar to the Biblical narrative. Adam's wife is commonly named "Hawa", and the serpent reappears together with a peacock as two animals, which supported Iblis to slip into Adam's abode. Many denied, that the Garden in which Adam dwelled with his wife, was identical with the Paradise in afterlife. They rather lived in paradisical conditions before their fall, while after their fall, they need to work to survive. Unlike Christian mythology, in Islamic thought, they did not simply walk out of paradise, but fell out of it. Hawa was punished with childbirth and menstruation, while Adam became bald and the serpent lost its legs.


title: Islamic mythology

text: Regarding the creation of Muhammad, Islam developed the belief in the pre-existence of Muhammad. This posits that God created the spiritual nature of Muhammad before God created the universe or Adam. Following this belief, Muhammad was the first prophet created, but the last one sent to mankind. When Adam walked in heaven, he once read the "Shahada" inscripted in the Throne of God, a belief attested by Al-Bayhaqi, who attributes it to Umar. In a Shia version, the inscription also mentions Ali.


title: Islamic mythology

text: In the Quran, fire ("nar") makes up the basic substance for spiritual entities, in contrast to humans created from clay ("tin"). Islamic traditions state more precisely, how different spiritual creatures were created. Islamic mythology commonly acknowledges three different types of spiritual entities:


title: Islamic mythology

text: Other prominent creatures within Islamic mythological traditions are Buraq, Ghaddar, Hinn, Houris and Yajuj and Majuj (Gog and Magog). Later, spiritual entities from other cultures were identified with whose of the Quran and assimilated to Islamic lore, such as Peri of Persian- Ghoul of Arabian- and İye of Turkic origin.


title: Islamic mythology

text: According to popular ideas derived from cultural beliefs during the Classical Islamic period, the earth is flat, surrounded by water, which is veiled in darkness, with Mount Qaf at the edge of the visible world. Despite being flat, there is no trace of a disc-shaped earth within cosmological treatises. The heavenly dome ends at a world-serpent or agon. Studies from Suyuti's works often give the description of the first heaven, consisting of waters enclosing the earth. The world is carried by different creatures: an angel, a bull and a fish. Zakariya al-Qazwini identified the bull and the fish with the biblical monsters, Behemoth and Leviathan. Both heaven and hell coexist with the temporary world. The seven layers of hell are identified with the seven earths. Sijjin is one of the lowest layers of hell, while Illiyin the highest layer of heaven. Hell is portrayed with the imageries of seas of fire, dungeons, thorny shrubs, the tree of Zaqqum, but also immense cold at bottom, inhabited by scorpions, serpents, zabaniyya and shayatin. The imageries heavens are described with different colors, seas of light, the tree of heaven, inhabited by angels and houris, as a Garden with sprawling meadows and flowing rivers. The inhabitants can rest on couches bedecked with silk and visit the other deads if they wish.


title: Islamic mythology

text: Islamic scholars knew the world was not flat. Islamic astronomy was developed on the basis of a spherical earth inherited from Hellenistic astronomy. The Islamic theoretical framework largely relied on the fundamental contributions of Aristotle ("De caelo") and Ptolemy ("Almagest"), both of whom worked from the premise that the Earth was spherical and at the centre of the universe (geocentric model).


title: Islamic mythology

text: The 11th-century scholar Ibn Hazm stated: "Evidence shows that the Earth is a sphere but public people say the opposite." He added: "None of those who deserve being Imams for Muslims has denied that Earth is round. And we have not received anything indicates a denial, not even a single word."


title: Islamic mythology

text: According to Islamic mythology, God instructed Adam to construct a building (called the "Kaaba") to be the earthly counterpart of the House of Heaven and that Ibrahim "(Abraham)" and Ismail "(Ishmael)" later rebuilt it on its original foundations after was destroyed in the flood of Nuh "(Noah)". According to other opinions, Ibrahim and Ismail were the first to build it. As Ismail was searching for a stone to mark a corner with, he met with the angel Jibrail "(Gabriel)". Jibrail gave him the Black Stone. According to the "hadith", the Black Stone is reported to have been milky white after being descended from Heaven but was rendered black due to the sins of the people, who had touched it. Muslims do not worship the Black Stone.


title: Islamic mythology

text: The "Kaaba" was originally intended as a symbolic house for the one monotheistic God. However, according to Islamic mythology, after Ibrahim's death, people started to fill the "Kaaba" with "pagan idols". When Muhammad conquered Mecca after his exile, he removed the idols from the "Kaaba". The inside of the "Kaaba" is now empty. It now stands as an important pilgrimage site, which all Muslims are supposed to visit at least once if they are able ("Hajj"). Muslims are supposed to pray five times a day while facing in the "Kaaba"'s direction ("qibla").


title: Islamic mythology

text: Beginning as a reaction to the Age of Enlightenment in Europe and the threat of Western colonialism, Salafi reformism sought out a more practical model to "restore the "ummah"", downplaying mystical, cosmic, and mythological aspects attributed to Muhammad, while simultaneously emphasizing the social and political role of the "sunnah".


title: Islamic mythology

text: Many adherents of the Muslim Brotherhood reject most traditional Islamic mythological narratives. Sayyid Qutb attempted to break the connection between Khi and the Quran, eliminating his identification with God's servant mentioned in Surah 18. Accordingly, adherents of Qutbist thought began to no longer perceive Khi (and his corresponding mythology) as related to Islam. The teachings of Sulaiman Ashqar disapprove of many records about the traditional material regarding angels, including the Classical scholars who used them, which has led to a marginalization of Islamic thought of angels, including names and stories regarding their origin.


title: Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade

text: Fire Emblem, also officially known as Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade, is a tactical role-playing game developed by Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy Advance handheld video game console. It is the seventh installment in the "Fire Emblem" series, the second to be released for the platform after "", and the first to be localized for international audiences. It was released in Japan and North America in 2003, and in Europe and Australia in 2004.


title: Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade

text: The game is a prequel to "The Binding Blade", set on the fictional continent of Elibe. It tells the story of Lyn, Eliwood, and Hector, three young lords who band together on a journey to find Eliwood's missing father Elbert while thwarting a larger conspiracy threatening the stability of Elibe. The gameplay, which draws from earlier "Fire Emblem" entries, features tactical combat between armies on a grid-based map. Characters are assigned different character classes that affect abilities and are subjected to permanent death if defeated in battle.


title: Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade

text: Development began in 2002 as a companion title to "The Binding Blade", but it was prolonged from its initial seven-month window as new features were added. While the "Fire Emblem" series remained exclusive to Japan due to concerns about its difficulty, the success of "Advance Wars" and popular demand following the inclusion of "Fire Emblem" characters in "Super Smash Bros. Melee" prompted the game's localization. The game was released to positive sales and international critical acclaim, establishing the "Fire Emblem" series in the West. Its overseas success caused all subsequent games (except for "") to be released outside of Japan.


title: Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade

text: "Fire Emblem" is a tactical role-playing game where players take the role of story protagonists Lyn, Eliwood, and Hector as they navigate story-driven missions across the fictional continent of Elibe. The player takes the role of an unseen tactician directing the player army. The single-player campaign is divided into chapters which generally begin with story elements presented through the use of scenes animated with still images of the main characters, then followed by a battle with an enemy; after each battle, the player is given the opportunity to save their progress. In-game currency is gained either through battles in the game's various Arenas or through other means, rather than from defeating units. Currency can be used to buy new items and weapons at merchants at specific locations within maps. Items can also be exchanged between units during battles.


title: Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade

text: Battles in the story take place on maps divided into a square-based grid. Battle actions are governed by a turn-based system where each unit on both sides is given their chance to move and act. During gameplay, weather and terrain effects appear such as fog of war or elements of the environment that can be manipulated to one side's advantage, affecting the progress of battle. Units are split between player, enemy and allied non-player character (NPC) units. Each unit's movement range and attack range is displayed when selected. The player must clear a map to advance the story: the objectives for clearing a level can vary from defeating all enemies to capturing strongholds or rescuing NPCs. When engaging a unit, the scene transitions into a battle between the player and enemy unit, with battle animation playing out. When hit with an attack, a character loses health points (HP). For player characters, HP can be restored with items or by units with healing magic; it can also be regained by standing on forts, gates or castles, or using a special spell that replenishes health based on damage dealt to an enemy.


title: Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade

text: Each unit is governed by a character class system, with their class affecting what weapons they can use. After each action in battle gains experience points (EXP). Upon reaching 100 EXP, a unit levels up and its statistics such as attack power and defense are randomly raised, while weapon ranks increase naturally when using their respective weapons. Upon reaching Level 10, and using a special item, a unit's class can be upgraded to a more powerful version with access to new items and weapons. If a unit is defeated in battle, they are subject to permanent death, being removed from all future encounters and the overall storyline with a few exceptions for story-related characters. If characters crucial to the storyline like Lyn, Eliwood or Hector fall, the game ends and the player must restart the level.


title: Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade

text: Weapon strengths and weaknesses are governed by the series' Weapons Triangle system; axes are strong against lances, lances strong against swords, and swords strong against axes. Bows are independent of the system, being effective against airborne units. A similar system, dubbed the Magic Trinity in-game, governs how different types of spells react; elemental magic is strong against light, light against dark and dark against elemental. The strength of weapon types assigned to a particular unit is raised through usage, with its rank ranging from E to S, with S being the highest possible affinity with a promoted character. Characters also have a Support system, where talking in battle strengthens two characters' relationship, and consequently provides stat boosts. The higher the Support rank, which ranges from "C" to "A", the better the boost.


title: Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade

text: Outside the main campaign, players can battle against the game's artificial intelligence (AI) in the Link Arena: after building a team, the player fights a battle against their own units controlled by the game AI. "Fire Emblem" also features a Link Arena multiplayer option in which up to four players can link up and do battle with teams of characters from the single-player save file. Players choose up to five characters and equip them like in the main story. During battle, each player takes turns to attack with one character. Weapons are selected automatically for each battle. Victory is determined either by surviving a period of time or aggregating the highest number of points.


title: Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade

text: The events of "Fire Emblem" take place on the fictional continent of Elibe, twenty years before the events of "": in ancient times, humans and dragons coexisted, but humans turned against and banished the dragons in a conflict called "The Scouring". Throughout the game, the player travels through the countries of Sacae, a land of nomads and tribes; Lycia, an alliance of marquisates including Pherae and Ostia; and Bern, a militaristic kingdom ruled by a single ruler.


title: Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade

text: The player adopts the perspective of a tactician who is found by Lyn, a Sacean girl whose tribe and parents were killed by bandits. Lyn learns from a pair of knights that her mother was actually the estranged daughter of the Marquess of Caelin, Hausen, who seeks to reconcile with his daughter's family. She begins a journey to Caelin to reunite with her grandfather, but comes under attack from Hausen's avaricious younger brother Lundgren, who wants to kill both her and Hausen to take power in Caelin for himself. During her quest, Lyn protects a traveling bard named Nils from an assassin guild called the Black Fang, while his sister Ninian is rescued by Eliwood, son of Marquess Elbert of Pherae. Lyn defeats Lundgren and reunites with her grandfather.


title: Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade

text: One year later, Elbert disappears, prompting Eliwood and his friend Hector, younger brother of Marquess Uther of Ostia, to investigate. The pair discover that the Black Fang has incited Marquess Darin of Laus to rebel against Lycia, and Elbert was captured when he refused to cooperate. After rescuing Lyn from Darin's troops, the three pursue him to the Dread Isle. There, they reunite with Ninian and Nils and learn that the Black Fang is being manipulated by a sorcerer named Nergal; he seeks to provoke a full-scale war in Elibe, providing him with an enormous amount of "quintessence", or life-force from fallen warriors, and force the siblings to open the Dragon's Gate and summon dragons to Elibe. The party kills Darin, but Elbert dies delivering a grave wound to Nergal. The party returns to Ostia to report recent events to Uther, who directs them to the western desert of Nabatea. There, they meet Archsage Athos, who sends them to Bern to find the Shrine of Seals. In Bern, the heroes save Prince Zephiel from an assassination attempt orchestrated by his jealous father, King Desmond. Out of gratitude, the queen of Bern gives them directions to the Shrine of Seals. At the Shrine, the party meets the ancient hero Bramimond, who unseals the Blazing Blade Durandal and the Thunder Axe Armads so they can oppose Nergal. However, Nergal returns and captures Ninian. The heroes collect the legendary weapons, but Nergal tricks Eliwood into killing Ninian, who along with Nils is revealed to be a half-dragon. The group returns to Ostia, where Hector learns that Uther has died of an illness. The party and Athos return to the Dread Isle and defeat Nergal, who summons three dragons with the last of his strength. Bramimond arrives and resurrects Ninian, who banishes two of the dragons; the heroes slay the last dragon in battle.


title: Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade

text: In the aftermath, Athos expends all of his energy and predicts a future conflict originating in Bern before passing away. Nils and Ninian return through the Dragon's Gate and seal it. Eliwood becomes marquess of Pherae, Hector inherits his brother's title as marquess of Ostia, and Lyn abdicates her claim over Caelin and returns to Sacae. Fifteen years later, Eliwood and Hector reunite, introduce their respective children Roy and Lilina to each other, and discuss the recent assassination of Desmond. Meanwhile, the embittered Zephiel is confronted by a robed man who accuses him of awakening a demon dragon, leading into the events of "".


title: Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade

text: "Fire Emblem", known in Japan as "Fire Emblem: Rekka no Ken", was created by series developer Intelligent Systems. Toru Narihiro and Takehiro Izushi from Intelligent Systems acted as producers, Hitoshi Yamagami from Nintendo supervised with Taeko Kaneda and Kentarou Nishimura as directors. The script was written by Ken Yokoyama and Kouhei Maeda. Character designs were done by Sachiko Wada, who would reprise her role for "". A second artist on the project was Ryo Hirata, who had previously done illustration work for Production I.G and would go on to work on "The Sacred Stones". Eiji Kaneda, who worked on "The Binding Blade", did uncredited illustration work. Background graphics, particularly those for the Fire Dragons, were done by Daisuke Izuka. Music was composed by Yuka Tsujiyoko, who had worked on every game since the series' inception, although "Fire Emblem" would be her last work on the series as a composer. She was helped by Saki Haruyama.


title: Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade

text: Development of "Fire Emblem" began in 2002 after the release of "The Binding Blade". Intended as a companion title built upon the foundation of "The Binding Blade", development time was initially estimated at seven months. The storyline was built around three main characters and their strengths in battle; the central character Eliwood was made fairly weak to fit the concept of an "easy" mode for new players, while the Lyn and Hector both provided steeper gameplay challenges and altered story segments. As with "The Binding Blade", the titular "Fire Emblem" was represented as a family crest. The gameplay, initially identical to "The Binding Blade", underwent multiple changes including expansions on the role of the player in the storyline through the unseen strategist character, and the added tutorial stages helped introduce the mechanics to new players. Due to the multiple extra features, development ultimately lasted over a year. The tutorial was included because the game's steep difficulty was proving off-putting to new players; an inclusion made to make "Fire Emblem" a major series for Nintendo. Additional content could be unlocked by connecting the game to the " Bonus Disc" via a GameCube – Game Boy Advance link cable.


title: Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade

text: "Fire Emblem" was first announced in early 2003. It was the second title in the "Fire Emblem" series to have been developed for the Game Boy Advance while also being compatible with the newly released Game Boy Advance SP, an upgraded version of the GBA. It was released on April 25, 2003. Prior to 2017, the game's Japanese subtitle was translated as "The Sword of Flame". In 2017, the subtitle was officially translated by Nintendo as "The Blazing Blade". The game was later released on the Virtual Console for Wii U on May 14, 2014.


title: Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade

text: The concept of localizing a "Fire Emblem" game in the West had been around for some time, but the combined elements of extensive use of text and a view that tactical RPGs would be met with low sales overseas had kept the series exclusive to Japan. Another major factor was the appearance of Roy from "The Binding Blade" and Marth from the in the 2001 fighting game "Super Smash Bros. Melee". The director of "Melee", Masahiro Sakurai, had wanted to include Marth since the original "Super Smash Bros.", and included him as part of a push for more sword-wielding characters. Gameplay-wise, Roy was included to act as a clone of Marth, and his inclusion was partially to advertise the upcoming release of "Binding Blade" in Japan (three months after the release of "Melee"). There were difficulties including both Marth and Roy, as the "Fire Emblem" series had not seen an overseas release at that point. Sakurai, with support from Nintendo of America, managed to keep Marth and Roy in the game. The growing base of tactical role-playing games including "Advance Wars", in addition to the interest garnered by the appearance of Roy and Marth in "Melee", meant Nintendo was more willing to bring "Fire Emblem" overseas. Speaking in a later interview, localization producer Tim O'Leary said that localizing the title was more difficult than its successor "The Sacred Stones", but was smaller in scale than "".


title: Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade

text: A Western release was first hinted at in mid-2003, when it was listed on a leaked release list from Nintendo of America. It was first shown at the 2003 Electronic Entertainment Expo, along with a playable demo. For its Western release, the subtitle was removed, with it simply being dubbed ""Fire Emblem"". The game released in North America on November 3, 2003; in Australia on February 20, 2004; and in Europe on July 16. It was later re-released on Virtual Console for Wii U on August 21, 2014, in Europe; and in North America on December 4 of that year.


title: Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade

text: "Fire Emblem" met with generally positive reviews from critics. On aggregate site Metacritic, "Fire Emblem" garnered a score of 88/100 based on 31 reviews. It was the 6th best-reviewed GBA title of 2003.


title: Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade

text: Japanese magazine "Famitsu" praised the characters and felt it was a suitable addition to the "Fire Emblem" series, while Eurogamer's Tom Bramwell cited the storyline as being similar to better examples within the Japanese role-playing genre and its near-seamless integration with gameplay mechanics. "GamePro" reviewer Star Dingo called the narrative "a complex (but not convoluted) classic fantasy yarn", while GameSpot's Bethany Massimilla called the story standard while praising the writing and character development. Christian Nutt of GameSpy praised the writing as highly enjoyable for both the Japanese and Western releases, and IGN's Craig Harris believed that the game was superior to "Advance Wars" through its portrayal of characters despite some minor complaints about characters that remained alive for story reasons despite falling in battle. "PALGN" reviewer Andrew Burns commented that the story gained a serious edge once Lyn's opening story arc was completed.


title: Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade

text: Speaking about the gameplay, "Famitsu" was slightly mixed about some aspects; one critic praised the added tutorial for allowing new players to be eased in the series gameplay, while another compared the tutorial to a nagging mother and said it and the unseen Tactician representing the player might grate with series fans. Bramwell praised the integration of RPG elements and tactical gameplay, in addition to finding the permanent death of characters a suitable fit for the game's world. Dingo was positive about the level design and controls, but warned that it was quite short and lacking in depth when compared to "Final Fantasy Tactics Advance". Massimilla found the gameplay both accessible and challenging as she made her way through the game, while Nutt was skeptical about the permanent death system and critical of the in-game economy despite generally enjoying the experience. Harris again compared it to "Advance Wars", but said that "Fire Emblem" had enough unique elements to make it its own product, and generally praised the title's accomplishments. Burns, who had experience of earlier "Fire Emblem" titles, praised the game as a worthy entry in the series and a good entry for the West to experience.


title: Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade

text: In its debut week, "Rekka no Ken" entered Japanese gaming charts at #2 with sales of 93,880 units. The following week it had dropped to #4, selling a further 47,550 and bringing total sales to 141,430 units. The following week it had reached #3 with further sales of 23,296 units. The game continued to steadily into July, reaching #21 in the top 100 best-selling games for that half of 2003 with total sales of 223,575 units. As of 2012, "Rekka no Ken" has sold 272,000 units in Japan. While no exact sales figure are available for Western territories, developers later stated that "Fire Emblem" was a commercial success overseas, and prompted the development of "Path of Radiance" for the GameCube home console.


title: Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade

text: "Fire Emblem" was named "Editor's Choice" by both IGN and GameSpy as part of their reviews. During its 2004 awards, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences named "Fire Emblem" "Handheld Game of the Year". In the same year, the International Game Developers Association awarded the game for "Excellence in Writing" alongside titles including "Beyond Good & Evil" and "". In lists compiled by IGN, GamesRadar and "Game Informer", "Fire Emblem" was ranked among the best games for the GBA.


title: Buick Enclave

text: The Buick Enclave is a three-row luxury crossover SUV produced by General Motors since 2007. It was previewed at the 2006 North American International Auto Show, officially as a concept car, making it the first Lambda vehicle to be displayed. The Enclave is partially based on the Buick Centieme concept shown at the 2003 Detroit Auto Show.


title: Buick Enclave

text: The first-generation Enclave, the Saturn Outlook, the original GMC Acadia, and the first-generation Chevrolet Traverse all shared the GM Lambda platform.


title: Buick Enclave

text: The Enclave replaced both of Buick's SUVs, the minivan-based Rendezvous and the truck-based Rainier, as well as the Terraza minivan. In 2014, the Enclave was the top-ranked "Affordable Midsize SUV" in "U.S. News & World Report". The second-generation Enclave was officially revealed at the 2017 New York International Auto Show.


title: Buick Enclave

text: The Enclave has seating for seven passengers, with an optional second row bench seat instead of the standard two captain chairs which increases the seating to eight. It comes standard with front-wheel drive with an option of all-wheel drive.


title: Buick Enclave

text: The Enclave shares powertrains with its Lambda siblings. For its first year of production, the Enclave was powered by a 3.6 L High Feature V6 engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. For the 2009 model, an upgraded power boost for the 3.6 L V6 Spark Ignition Direct Injection VVT is now at and of torque standard (also standard on other 2009 Lambdas). The latter direct-injection engine offers a broader torque curve, and brings fuel economy to / for FWD models and / for AWD models, according to the new United States Environmental Protection Agency estimates. The Lambda vehicles are built at GM's new Delta Township Assembly plant near Lansing, Michigan, and production of the Enclave commenced on April 11, 2007, with the first vehicles reaching certain dealers by the end of the month. The Enclave debuted with a starting price of $32,790.


title: Buick Enclave

text: In its first year of production, the Enclave was often criticized for its 6-speed transmission, which was "hesitant to downshift." The powertrain was improved for 2009. For its entire production, it has been regarded as overly heavy, weighing nearly with all-wheel-drive. Buick's VentiPorts have reappeared at the Enclave's introduction, a styling feature unique to Buick dating back to 1949.


title: Buick Enclave

text: Initial sales of the Enclave far exceeded production capacity, forcing GM to add a third shift to the Delta Township plant.


title: Buick Enclave

text: With the arrival of the Buick Envision (which is slotted between the Enclave and Buick Encore) to North America in 2016 (for the 2017 model year), the Enclave will be bigger after Envision's debut, and the 2017 model year Enclave will be the last under the first generation platform.


title: Buick Enclave

text: GM unveiled the 2013 Buick Enclave on April 3, 2012, one day before its official debut at the New York Auto Show. The 2013 model features revised exterior styling including a new chrome waterfall grille, xenon headlights with LED running lights, LED Foglights, and LED taillights. Interior updates include a redesigned dashboard with more soft-touch materials, wood and chrome accents, blue ambient lighting, and touchscreen IntelliLink infotainment display. Among safety features are seven standard airbags, including an industry-first front center airbag, and available blind spot monitoring.


title: Buick Enclave

text: Sales in the United States and Canada began in 2007 during the 2008 model year. In 2008, General Motors began exporting the Enclave to China, to be sold through Shanghai GM's Buick network.


title: Buick Enclave

text: The Buick brand has been relaunched in Mexico for the 2010 model year, bringing the Enclave to that market.


title: Buick Enclave

text: On April 11, 2017, exactly ten years after the first Enclave was produced, Buick unveiled the second generation Enclave at the Pier 59 Studios during the 2017 New York International Auto Show. With the introduction of the compact Buick Envision in 2016 and the launching of the Opel Insignia-badged Buick Regal TourX wagon, the next generation Enclave moved upmarket, competing with the Volvo XC90, Infiniti QX60, and Acura MDX in the premium crossover SUV market. The second generation Enclave went on sale in the Fall of 2017 as a 2018 model.


title: Buick Enclave

text: The long-wheelbase version of GM’s C1XX chassis sharing the same platform with the Chevrolet Traverse, the second generation Enclave moved away from the egg-shaped design but retains some elements of the previous generation, displaying a sleeker aerodynamic appearance, a lower roofline, and the introduction of the Evonik Acrylite exterior forward lighting flanking Buick's new three-dimensional mesh grille with chrome wings.


title: Buick Enclave

text: Powered by a 3.6-liter V-6 mated to a new nine-speed automatic transmission, it produces with torque. The second generation Enclave comes in standard Front-drive or available with Intelligent AWD with an active twin-clutch rear differential, which complements its first switchable all-wheel-drive system. There are three level trims, including a new top-of-the-line premium Avenir sub-brand.


title: Buick Enclave

text: Buick initially planned to launch an updated version of the Enclave in mid- to late 2020 as a 2021 model year vehicle. However, GM delayed launch and production of the updated Enclave to 2021 as 2022 model year vehicle. The mid-cycle refresh adopts many design elements and features along with new LED headlights and taillights already seen on the Chinese version of the Buick Enclave.


title: Buick Enclave

text: The 2022 Enclave adds as standard a driver assistance safety suite previously only available in the Avenir trim. Features include front pedestrian braking, automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, blind spot monitor, rear cross traffic alert, and rear parking sensor. Other new features include a push-button transmission, optional head-up display, optional rear pedestrian alert, and wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.


title: Buick Enclave

text: On October 22, 2019, Buick unveiled the Chinese-market Enclave. It is a "mid-size plus" version of the Enclave which utilizes GM's C1 short wheelbase platform. It went on sale in that region in late 2019. While it has the similar features as the full-size North American Enclave, the Chinese version is shorter with a design different from its counterpart; there are no plans to make it available in North America. Buick planned to name the Chinese version "Envoy" (a name previously used on a GMC midsize SUV in North America from 1998 to 2007) but elected to use the Enclave name instead.


title: Buick Enclave

text: The Chinese Enclave features GM's Electronic Precision Shift technology, and is equipped exclusively with a turbocharged 2.0L LSY engine that makes , mated to the new GM nine-speed automatic transmission.


title: Just Blaze

text: Justin Gregory Smith (born January 8, 1978), known professionally as Just Blaze, is an American hip hop record producer and DJ. Born in Paterson, New Jersey, Blaze attended Rutgers University for three years before dropping out to pursue his musical career. His stage name was inspired by the character Blaze Fielding from the "Streets of Rage" video game series. Blaze gained recognition as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records in the early 2000s, pioneering the "chipmunk soul" sampling style that was prominent in the early to mid-2000s hip-hop scene. He appears in the video for the third single from Eminem's 2010 album "Recovery" entitled "No Love", which he produced. Blaze is also the CEO of Fort Knocks Entertainment. He has also composed soundtracks for video games, and was a character in "NBA Street Vol. 2" .


title: Just Blaze

text: His hometown of Paterson honored him in July 2018 with a key to the city in recognition of his "outstanding cultural contribution" to the city.


title: Training Day (TV series)

text: Training Day is an American crime-thriller television series that aired on CBS from February 2, to May 20, 2017. The series serves as a follow up to the 2001 film of the same name. It stars Bill Paxton and Justin Cornwell, and is known for being one of Paxton's final performances prior to his death in February 2017.


title: Training Day (TV series)

text: Fifteen years after the events of the film, the series follows Officer Kyle Craig (Justin Cornwell) as he infiltrates the LAPD's Special Investigation Section (SIS) by becoming a partner with the morally ambiguous Detective Frank Roarke (Bill Paxton), whose off-the-books record has attracted the attention of the LAPD.


title: Training Day (TV series)

text: On August 7, 2015, it was announced that Antoine Fuqua had decided to develop a television series based on a movie, and had teamed with Jerry Bruckheimer to develop the concept. Warner Bros. Television was shopping the show to the American broadcast networks. Will Beall would write the series, while Fuqua would serve as executive producer, and would direct the potential pilot. CBS ordered a pilot on August 14, 2015. In addition to Fuqua, Bruckheimer, Beall, and Jonathan Littman will serve as executive producers for the series, which is set 15 years after the original film. On February 19, 2016, it was announced that Danny Cannon would direct the pilot instead of Fuqua.


title: Training Day (TV series)

text: On February 26, 2016, it was announced that Bill Paxton had joined the production as Frank Rourke, an older, veteran police officer similar to Denzel Washington's character Alonzo Harris in the original movie. Several additional cast members were announced in March 2016. Katrina Law plays Detective Rebecca Lee, an officer with the LAPD's Special Investigation Section (S.I.S.), a unit that goes after the worst of the worst. Drew Van Acker is Tommy Campbell, another S.I.S. officer who is a former pro surfer. Lex Scott Davis is Alyse Arrendondo, a history teacher who is Kyle Craig's wife. Julie Benz is Holly Butler, a Hollywood madam who has a tacit understanding with Frank. Finally, Justin Cornwell was cast as Kyle Craig, Frank's young partner and an analog of Ethan Hawke's character Jake Hoyt in the original movie.


title: Training Day (TV series)

text: On February 25, 2017, lead actor Bill Paxton died of a stroke at age 61 due to complications from heart surgery. A day later, CBS stated that all 13 commissioned episodes had already been filmed before his death, as shooting already wrapped up in December 2016.


title: Training Day (TV series)

text: "Training Day" received generally negative reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the season has a rating of 24% based on 33 reviews, with an average rating of 4.2/10. The site's critical consensus reads, ""Training Day" falls short of recapturing the excellence of the film in its television incarnation -- and fails to distinguish itself from the current squad of tired police procedurals." On Metacritic, the season has a score of 38 out of 100, based on 27 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".


title: Fabiana Udenio

text: Fabiana Udenio (born December 21, 1964) is an Italian-Argentine actress. Born in Argentina to Italian parents, she grew up in Rome. She is best known for her role as "Alotta Fagina", a Bond girl parody in the 1997 film "".


title: Fabiana Udenio

text: Fabiana Udenio was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and moved to Italy, where she was crowned "Miss Teen Italy" at the age of thirteen. That same year Fabiana made her theatre debut as Miranda in a production of "The Tempest" directed by Giorgio Strehler. She began acting in films and television as a teenager.


title: Fabiana Udenio

text: Udenio's film roles include playing the daughter of a World War II Resistance fighter in "The Scarlet and the Black", Italian foreign-exchange student Anna-Maria Mazarelli in "Summer School" (1987), the sunbather in the "Sunblock 5000" commercial within "RoboCop 2" (1990), Dan Cain's only living girlfriend Francesca in "Bride of Re-Animator" (1990), as "Alotta Fagina" in "" (1997), as "Don Na" in "The Godson" (1998), and Gabriella in Pauly Shore's film "In The Army Now" (1994).


title: Fabiana Udenio

text: On television, Udenio had the recurring role of "Giulietta" on the ABC soap opera "One Life to Live" from 1985 to 1986, and was a regular cast member in the Peter Benchley syndicated drama "Amazon" (1999–2000). She has guest starred and had recurring roles on dozens of television shows, including "Babylon 5", "Baywatch", "Full House", "NYPD Blue", "Quantum Leap", "", "Cheers", "Mad About You", "Wings", "The Magnificent Seven", "", and "Mistresses". She also had the recurring role on "90210" (2008–2011) of Atooza Shirazi. She appeared in the recurring role of Elena Di Nola/Mutter in the series "Jane the Virgin" (2015–2016).Fabiana is soon appearing as a series regular in the upcoming Arnold Schwarzenegger spy series for Netflix.


title: Fabiana Udenio

text: Fabiana Udenio was married to actor Judson Scott, who she met in New York on the set of the soap opera "One Life to Live".


title: Fabiana Udenio

text: Udenio was later married to real estate developer Robert F. MacLeod jr. for four years. She filed for divorce on February 5, 2009, citing irreconcilable differences. They have a son named Adrian Raice MacLeod.


title: Bayesian information criterion

text: In statistics, the Bayesian information criterion (BIC) or Schwarz information criterion (also SIC, SBC, SBIC) is a criterion for model selection among a finite set of models; models with lower BIC are generally preferred. It is based, in part, on the likelihood function and it is closely related to the Akaike information criterion (AIC).


title: Bayesian information criterion

text: When fitting models, it is possible to increase the likelihood by adding parameters, but doing so may result in overfitting. Both BIC and AIC attempt to resolve this problem by introducing a penalty term for the number of parameters in the model; the penalty term is larger in BIC than in AIC for sample sizes greater than 7.


title: Bayesian information criterion

text: The BIC was developed by Gideon E. Schwarz and published in a 1978 paper, where he gave a Bayesian argument for adopting it.


title: Bayesian information criterion

text: Konishi and Kitagawa derive the BIC to approximate the distribution of the data, integrating out the parameters using Laplace's method, starting with the following model evidence:


title: Bayesian information criterion

text: The log-likelihood, formula_16, is then expanded to a second order Taylor series about the MLE, formula_5, assuming it is twice differentiable as follows:


title: Bayesian information criterion

text: where formula_19 is the average observed information per observation, and formula_20 denotes the residual term. To the extent that formula_20 is negligible and formula_13 is relatively linear near formula_5, we can integrate out formula_14 to get the following:


title: Bayesian information criterion

text: where BIC is defined as above, and formula_31 either (a) is the Bayesian posterior mode or (b) uses the MLE and the prior formula_13 has nonzero slope at the MLE. Then the posterior


title: Bayesian information criterion

text: When picking from several models, ones with lower BIC values are generally preferred. The BIC is an increasing function of the error variance formula_34 and an increasing function of "k". That is, unexplained variation in the dependent variable and the number of explanatory variables increase the value of BIC. However, a lower BIC does not necessarily indicate one model is better than another. Because it involves approximations, the BIC is merely a heuristic. In particular, differences in BIC should never be treated like transformed Bayes factors.


title: Bayesian information criterion

text: It is important to keep in mind that the BIC can be used to compare estimated models only when the numerical values of the dependent variable are identical for all models being compared. The models being compared need not be nested, unlike the case when models are being compared using an F-test or a likelihood ratio test.


title: Bayesian information criterion

text: Under the assumption that the model errors or disturbances are independent and identically distributed according to a normal distribution and the boundary condition that the derivative of the log likelihood with respect to the true variance is zero, this becomes ("up to an additive constant", which depends only on "n" and not on the model):


title: Bayesian information criterion

text: When testing multiple linear models against a saturated model, the BIC can be rewritten in terms of the


title: One Shot (2021 film)

text: One Shot is a 2021 British action thriller film directed by James Nunn and starring Scott Adkins, Ashley Greene Khoury and Ryan Phillippe. The film follows a Navy SEAL squad conducting a transport mission of a prisoner while dealing with insurgents who are after the same prisoner. "One Shot" was released by Screen Media Films in theaters and on VOD on November 5, 2021. It garnered mixed reviews from critics.


title: One Shot (2021 film)

text: An elite squad of Navy SEALs, on a covert mission to transport a prisoner off a CIA black site island prison, are trapped when insurgents attack while trying to rescue the same prisoner.


title: One Shot (2021 film)

text: Screen Media Films acquired North American distribution rights to the film in August 2021. The film was released in theaters and on VOD on November 5, 2021.


title: One Shot (2021 film)

text: "One Shot" received mixed reviews from critics. It has a 59% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 22 reviews, with an average score of 5.3/10.


title: One Shot (2021 film)

text: Dennis Harvey of "Variety" gave the film a positive review and wrote, "Still, director James Nunn’s reunion with star Scott Adkins does effectively use that device to heighten immediacy in an effort that may not transcend their usual B-grade, adrenaline-fueled macho fare, but does bring some welcome novelty to the genre." Mark Peikert of "IndieWire" graded the film a C and wrote, "Lacking the polish of other entries such as "Birdman" and "1917", "One Shot" feels like a first-person shooter video game with the camera reversed for once." Leslie Felperin of "The Guardian" criticised the film for its "risibly cliched dialogue" and "wooden, poorly directed acting", but commended the technical aspects for its "crisp" digital technology and lighting, calling it "weirdly mesmeric as it is schlocky." Chris Knight of the "National Post" was commendable towards the continuous shot technique being "well executed" but felt it wasn't enough to prevent the story from being "a little thin", concluding that "while it may in fact be possible to take something that is normally edited and present it in a single, breathless rush, it's not always the best idea to do so."


title: Zhao Yun

text: Zhao Yun ( ) (died 229), courtesy name Zilong (), was a military general who lived during the late Eastern Han dynasty and early Three Kingdoms period of China. Originally a subordinate of the northern warlord Gongsun Zan, Zhao Yun later came to serve another warlord, Liu Bei, and had since accompanied him on most of his military exploits, from the Battle of Changban (208) to the Hanzhong Campaign (217–219). He continued serving in the state of Shu Han – founded by Liu Bei in 221 – in the Three Kingdoms period and participated in the first of the Northern Expeditions until his death in 229. While many facts about Zhao Yun's life remain unclear due to limited information in historical sources, some aspects and activities in his life have been dramatised or exaggerated in folklore and fiction. In the 14th-century historical novel "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", he was lauded as a member of the Five Tiger Generals under Liu Bei.


title: Zhao Yun

text: Zhao Yun's original biography in the "Records of the Three Kingdoms" ("Sanguozhi"), written by Chen Shou in the third century, is only 346 Chinese characters long. In the fifth century, Pei Songzhi added annotations from the "Zhao Yun Biezhuan" (趙雲別傳; "Unofficial Biography of Zhao Yun") to Zhao Yun's biography in the "Sanguozhi", providing a relatively clear, though still incomplete picture of Zhao Yun's life.


title: Zhao Yun

text: Zhao Yun was from Zhending County, Changshan Commandery. The "Zhao Yun Biezhuan" described his physical appearance as follows: eight "chi" tall (approximately 1.85 metres or 6 feet), with majestic and impressive looks.


title: Zhao Yun

text: After receiving a recommendation from the Administrator of Changshan Commandery to serve in the government, Zhao Yun led a small group of volunteers to join Gongsun Zan, a warlord in You Province. Around the time, the warlord Yuan Shao had experienced a surge in fame after his recent appointment as the Governor of Ji Province, so Gongsun Zan was worried that many people in You Province would choose to serve under Yuan Shao instead of him.


title: Zhao Yun

text: When Zhao Yun showed up with his volunteers, Gongsun Zan asked him mockingly: "I heard that all those in your home province wanted to serve the Yuans. Why did you have a change of heart, and decide to correct your mistake?" Zhao Yun replied: "The Empire is in a state of chaos and it is unclear who is right and who is wrong. The people are in danger. Those in my home province, after careful deliberation, decided to follow a lord who governs with benevolence. Therefore, I chose to join you, General, instead of Lord Yuan." Gongsun Zan then accepted him. Zhao Yun later fought on Gongsun Zan's side in some battles against rival forces.


title: Zhao Yun

text: Around the early 190s, Zhao Yun met Liu Bei, who was taking shelter under Gongsun Zan at the time. Zhao Yun became very close to Liu Bei and desired to switch his allegiance to Liu Bei. When Gongsun Zan sent Liu Bei to assist his ally, Tian Kai, in a battle against Yuan Shao, Zhao Yun followed Liu Bei and served as a cavalry officer under Liu Bei.


title: Zhao Yun

text: When Zhao Yun received news of his elder brother's death, he asked for a temporary leave of absence from Liu Bei to mourn his brother. Liu Bei knew that Zhao Yun would not return after leaving, so he held Zhao Yun's hand while bidding him farewell. Before departing, Zhao Yun told Liu Bei: "I will never forget your favour."


title: Zhao Yun

text: In early 200, after Liu Bei lost his base in Xu Province to his rival Cao Cao, he fled north across the Yellow River and sought refuge under Yuan Shao, Cao Cao's rival. Around the same time, Zhao Yun also came to Ye, Yuan Shao's headquarters, where he met Liu Bei again. Zhao Yun and Liu Bei shared the same room during their stay in Ye.


title: Zhao Yun

text: Liu Bei secretly instructed Zhao Yun to help him gather hundreds of men who were willing to follow him, and claim that they served under the General of the Left (). Yuan Shao was unaware of this. Zhao Yun then accompanied Liu Bei and his followers as they left Yuan Shao and headed south to join Liu Biao, the Governor of Jing Province.


title: Zhao Yun

text: In 202, when Cao Cao was away on campaigns in northern China against Yuan Shao's sons and their allies, Liu Bei took advantage of Cao Cao's absence to launch an attack on Cao Cao's territories in central China. Cao Cao sent his general Xiahou Dun and others to lead an army to resist Liu Bei.


title: Zhao Yun

text: During the battle, Zhao Yun captured Xiahou Lan (), an old friend who was from the same hometown as him. He requested that Liu Bei spare Xiahou Lan's life and recommended Xiahou Lan to serve as a military judge because he knew that Xiahou Lan was knowledgeable about law. Zhao Yun earned praise for being conscientious and careful when he maintained a professional relationship with Xiahou Lan despite their friendship.


title: Zhao Yun

text: After Liu Biao died in 208, his younger son Liu Cong succeeded him as the Governor of Jing Province. When Cao Cao launched a military campaign in the same year to eliminate opposing forces in southern China, Liu Cong surrendered and yielded Jing Province to him. Liu Bei and his followers abandoned their stronghold in Xinye County and headed further south towards Xiakou, which was guarded by Liu Biao's elder son Liu Qi and was independent of Cao Cao's control.


title: Zhao Yun

text: Cao Cao personally led a 5,000-strong elite cavalry force to pursue Liu Bei. They caught up with Liu Bei at Changban and inflicted a devastating defeat on his forces. While Liu Bei abandoned his family and fled, Zhao Yun carried Liu Bei's young son Liu Shan and protected Liu Bei's wife Lady Gan (Liu Shan's mother) during the battle and delivered them to safety. He was later promoted to the rank of General of the Standard () for his efforts.


title: Zhao Yun

text: Earlier on, after his defeat at Changban, Liu Bei heard rumours that Zhao Yun had betrayed him and defected to Cao Cao' side. Refusing to believe the rumours, he threw a short "ji" to the ground and said: "Zilong will never abandon me." He was right as Zhao Yun returned to him a short while later.


title: Zhao Yun

text: In the winter of 208–209, Liu Bei formed an alliance with the warlord Sun Quan and they defeated Cao Cao at the decisive Battle of Red Cliffs. As Cao Cao retreated north after his defeat, Liu Bei and Sun Quan advanced and conquered Nan Commandery, which used to be under Cao Cao's control.


title: Zhao Yun

text: Zhao Yun was later promoted to Lieutenant-General () for his contributions towards Liu Bei's conquests of the four commanderies in southern Jing Province: Changsha, Lingling, Wuling and Guiyang. After the capture of Guiyang Commandery, Liu Bei appointed Zhao Yun as the new Administrator to replace Zhao Fan.


title: Zhao Yun

text: Zhao Fan had a widowed sister-in-law who was famous for her beauty. He wanted to arrange for her to marry Zhao Yun so as to build connections with Zhao Yun. However, Zhao Yun rejected the idea and told Zhao Fan: "We share the same family name. Your elder brother is also like an elder brother to me."


title: Zhao Yun

text: There were others who urged Zhao Yun to accept the marriage but Zhao Yun firmly refused and said: "Zhao Fan was forced to surrender because of the circumstances. His intentions are unclear and suspicious. Besides, there are many other women in this world." Not long later, Zhao Fan escaped, and Zhao Yun was able to avoid any association with him because he did not agree to the marriage.


title: Zhao Yun

text: Around 211, Liu Bei led an army west into Yi Province to assist the provincial governor Liu Zhang in countering a rival warlord, Zhang Lu of Hanzhong Commandery. Zhao Yun and others remained behind to guard Jing Province.


title: Zhao Yun

text: Sometime in 209, Liu Bei married Sun Quan's younger sister, Lady Sun, to strengthen the Sun–Liu alliance. Lady Sun also remained in Jing Province when Liu Bei left for Yi Province. As she saw herself as the sister of a powerful warlord, Lady Sun not only acted in an arrogant and unbridled manner, but also allowed her bodyguards and personal staff to behave lawlessly in Jing Province. For this reason, Liu Bei specially appointed Zhao Yun, whom he deemed a serious and conscientious person, to oversee domestic affairs in Jing Province and maintain law and order during his absence. When Sun Quan heard that Liu Bei had left for Yi Province, he sent a vessel to fetch his sister home. Lady Sun attempted to bring Liu Bei's son Liu Shan along with her, but Zhao Yun and Zhang Fei led their men to stop her and retrieved Liu Shan.


title: Zhao Yun

text: The "Chronicles of Han and Jin" (漢晉春秋) written by the Jin historian Xi Zuochi gives a similar account to the one recorded into the "Zhao Yun Biezhuan".


title: Zhao Yun

text: Liu Bei and Liu Zhang were friendly towards each other in the beginning, but tensions between them gradually increased until the point of armed conflict around late 212. Liu Bei was initially stationed at Jiameng Pass (葭萌關; in present-day Zhaohua District, Guangyuan, Sichuan), where he was helping Liu Zhang defend the area from Zhang Lu. However, he turned against Liu Zhang later and attacked him. He ordered Zhuge Liang, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun and others to lead reinforcements from Jing Province into Yi Province to help him, while Guan Yu remained behind to defend Jing Province.


title: Zhao Yun

text: The reinforcements marched along the Yangtze River and conquered the commanderies and counties in the surrounding areas. When they reached Jiangzhou, Zhuge Liang ordered Zhao Yun to lead a separate force to attack Jiangyang Commandery (江陽郡; around present-day Neijiang, Sichuan) and take an alternate route, and later rendezvous with Liu Bei and the other armies outside Yi Province's capital, Chengdu. In 214, Liu Zhang gave up resistance and surrendered to Liu Bei, who gained control over Yi Province. Zhao Yun was appointed as General of the Assisting Army ().


title: Zhao Yun

text: After taking Yi Province, Liu Bei held a discussion on how to distribute the households in Chengdu and the fields outside the city among his followers because he wanted to reward them for their efforts in the campaign. Zhao Yun objected: Liu Bei heeded Zhao Yun's advice.


title: Zhao Yun

text: In 217, Liu Bei launched the Hanzhong Campaign to seize control of Hanzhong Commandery from Cao Cao because Hanzhong was the northern gateway into Yi Province. Liu Bei's general Huang Zhong killed Cao Cao's general Xiahou Yuan at the Battle of Mount Dingjun of 218–219.


title: Zhao Yun

text: After Xiahou Yuan's defeat, Huang Zhong heard that enemy troops were transporting food supplies in the vicinity so he led a detachment of troops to attack the convoy and seize the supplies. When Huang Zhong did not return to camp in time, Zhao Yun led tens of horsemen out in search of Huang Zhong.


title: Zhao Yun

text: At the time, Cao Cao had sent his forces to attack Liu Bei's positions. Zhao Yun encountered Cao Cao's vanguard force and engaged them in battle until Cao Cao's main force showed up and surrounded him. Despite the overwhelming odds, Zhao Yun attempted to charge and break through the enemy formation and alternated between fighting back and retreating. Cao Cao's forces regrouped, got back into formation and surrounded Zhao Yun. Left with no choice, Zhao Yun had to fight his way out and head back to camp. During the battle, Zhao Yun's deputy Zhang Zhu () was wounded but Zhao Yun turned back, saved him and brought him back to camp.


title: Zhao Yun

text: Cao Cao's forces pursued Zhao Yun as he retreated back to his camp. Upon seeing the enemy's approach, Zhao Yun's subordinate Zhang Yi wanted to shut the camp's gates and get the troops to hold their position. However, Zhao Yun ordered the gates to be opened, all flags and banners to be hidden, and the war drums to be silenced so as to create an illusion of an empty camp. Cao Cao's forces thought that there was an ambush inside Zhao Yun's camp so they withdrew. Just as they were retreating, Zhao Yun launched a counterattack and his men beat the war drums loudly and fired arrows at the enemy. Cao Cao's soldiers were shocked and thrown into disarray. Some of them trampled on each other as they panicked and fled, while many of them fell into the Han River and drowned.


title: Zhao Yun

text: The following day, when Liu Bei came to inspect Zhao Yun's camp and survey the battlefield, he remarked: "Zilong is full of courage." He then threw a feast to celebrate Zhao Yun's victory and they made merry until nightfall. Zhao Yun was also given the nickname "General of Tiger's Might" ().


title: Zhao Yun

text: In late 219, Sun Quan broke the Sun–Liu alliance by sending his general Lü Meng to launch a stealth invasion of Liu Bei's territories in southern Jing Province while Guan Yu was away at the Battle of Fancheng against Cao Cao's forces. Guan Yu was later captured in an ambush and executed on Sun Quan's order when he refused to surrender.


title: Zhao Yun

text: Following Cao Cao's death in March 220, his son and successor Cao Pi usurped the throne from Emperor Xian later that year, ended the Eastern Han dynasty, and established the state of Wei with himself as the new emperor. In 221, Liu Bei declared himself emperor and founded the state of Shu to challenge Wei's legitimacy. In the same year, Sun Quan pledged allegiance to Cao Pi and agreed to become a vassal under Wei; in return, Cao Pi granted him the title "King of Wu".


title: Zhao Yun

text: Liu Bei bore a grudge against Sun Quan for the loss of Jing Province and wanted to attack Sun Quan. Zhao Yun attempted to dissuade him by saying:


title: Zhao Yun

text: Liu Bei ignored Zhao Yun's advice and proceeded with his quest for vengeance by personally leading a military campaign against Sun Quan. He left Zhao Yun behind to guard Jiangzhou.


title: Zhao Yun

text: In October 222, Liu Bei suffered a devastating defeat at the Battle of Xiaoting against Sun Quan's forces, and was forced to retreat to Baidicheng. By the time Zhao Yun showed up with reinforcements at Yong'an, Sun Quan's forces had given up on pursuing Liu Bei and retreated back to Wu.


title: Zhao Yun

text: After Liu Bei died in June 223, his son Liu Shan succeeded him as the emperor of Shu, with the Imperial Chancellor Zhuge Liang serving as regent because Liu Shan was still underage at the time. Following his coronation, Liu Shan appointed Zhao Yun as Central Protector of the Army () and General Who Attacks the South (), and enfeoffed him as the Marquis of Yongchang Village (). He promoted Zhao Yun to the position of General Who Guards the East () later.


title: Zhao Yun

text: In 227, Zhao Yun moved to the staging area at Hanzhong Commandery to join Zhuge Liang, who had mobilised military forces from throughout Shu in preparation for a large-scale military campaign against Shu's rival state, Wei.


title: Zhao Yun

text: In the spring of 228, Zhuge Liang ordered Zhao Yun and Deng Zhi to lead a detachment of troops to Ji Valley () and pretend to attack Mei County (郿縣; southeast of present-day Fufeng County, Shaanxi) via Xie Valley (). Their mission was to distract and hold the Wei general Cao Zhen's attention, while Zhuge Liang led the Shu main army to attack Mount Qi (祁山; the mountainous regions around present-day Li County, Gansu).


title: Zhao Yun

text: Zhao Yun and Deng Zhi lost to Cao Zhen at the battle in Ji Valley because Zhuge Liang had given them command of the weaker soldiers while he led the better troops to attack Mount Qi. Nevertheless, Zhao Yun managed to rally his men into putting up a firm defence as they retreated, thus minimising their losses.


title: Zhao Yun

text: After the Shu forces managed to retreat back to Hanzhong, Zhao Yun was demoted to the position of General Who Guards the Army () as punishment for his defeat at Ji Valley. During this time, Zhuge Liang asked Zhao Yun and Deng Zhi: "When our troops withdrew from Jieting, they were very disorganised. However, those who retreated from Ji Valley were orderly. Why is it so?" Deng Zhi replied: "(Zhao) Yun personally led the rearguard. He ensured that our troops retreated in an orderly manner and left no equipment behind."


title: Zhao Yun

text: As Zhao Yun still had some silk left in his unit, Zhuge Liang wanted to distribute it among the troops to raise their morale. However, Zhao Yun disagreed: "The campaign was a failure, so why should rewards be given out? Please store the silk in the official treasury now and distribute it among the men later during the tenth month as a season gift for winter." Zhuge Liang heeded Zhao Yun's suggestion.


title: Zhao Yun

text: Zhao Yun died in 229. Zhao was posthumously honoured as "Marquis Shunping" () by Liu Shan in April or May 261.


title: Zhao Yun

text: During Liu Bei's reign, only Fa Zheng received posthumous honours. In Liu Shan's time, only three consecutive heads of government – Zhuge Liang, Jiang Wan and Fei Yi – received posthumous titles. Later, Liu Shan also posthumously honoured Chen Zhi, whom he favoured, and Xiahou Ba, a Wei general who defected to Shu. Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Ma Chao, Pang Tong, Huang Zhong and Zhao Yun were also awarded posthumous titles by Liu Shan as well. At the time, it was a great honour for a person to receive a posthumous title.


title: Zhao Yun

text: Liu Shan's imperial edict for awarding Zhao Yun his posthumous title read: "Zhao Yun followed the Late Emperor and he made outstanding contributions. I was young then and experienced many difficulties, but I relied on his loyalty and faithfulness to get out of danger. I bestow this posthumous name on him to recognise him for his meritorious service and also because there were others who advised me to do so."


title: Zhao Yun

text: The name of Zhao Yun's posthumous title was suggested by Jiang Wei and others – "shun" (; literally "obey / follow") because he was virtuous and kind, "ping" (; literally "peace / pacify") because he performed his duties up to standard and overcame chaos, so "shun" and "ping" became "Shunping".


title: Zhao Yun

text: Zhao Yun's eldest son, Zhao Tong (), served as an officer in the "huben" () division of the imperial guards.


title: Zhao Yun

text: Zhao Yun's second son, Zhao Guang (), served as an Officer of the Standard (). He accompanied the Shu general Jiang Wei in the campaigns against Wei, and was killed in action in Tazhong (沓中; northwest of present-day Zhugqu County, Gansu).


title: Zhao Yun

text: Chen Shou, who wrote Zhao Yun's biography in the "Sanguozhi", commented on Zhao Yun as follows: "Huang Zhong and Zhao Yun were fierce and mighty warriors, just like claws and teeth. Were they the successors to Guan and Teng?"


title: Zhao Yun

text: Many of Zhao Yun's actual exploits were highly dramatised in the 14th-century historical novel "Romance of the Three Kingdoms". In the novel, Zhao Yun is portrayed as an almost perfect warrior – one who possesses powerful combat skills, unwavering loyalty to his lord, tremendous courage, keen intelligence, and serene charisma. These traits have often been reflected in nearly all modern materials about Zhao Yun to date.


title: Zhao Yun

text: Zhao Yun has been featured prominently in Chinese and Japanese popular culture, literature, art and anecdotes. Zhao Yun was already a relatively well-known hero from the Three Kingdoms period, as folktales about his exploits have been passed down through centuries. He became a household name due to the popularity of the 14th-century historical novel "Romance of the Three Kingdoms".


title: Zhao Yun

text: Zhao Yun sometimes appears as a door god in Chinese and Taoist temples in Henan, usually in partnership with Ma Chao.


title: Zhao Yun

text: Zhao Yun is strongly associated with the color white in several Three Kingdoms media, which is a callback to his appearance as stated in "Romance of the Three Kingdoms". People can see an interpretation of him in the Summer Palace, which has a famous painting of his heroics at Changban. White is linked to several positive traits within various fictional mediums, including honesty, virtue, purity and so on. One other reason for Zhao Yun being linked with the color may be due to a myth regarding the horse the general favored. A quick steed in its own right, it is fabled to run one thousand leagues during the day and five hundred leagues at night. The horse's name is supposedly the "White Dragon Horse" (白龍駒, "Bailongju").


title: Zhao Yun

text: Another strong image for Zhao Yun in various Three Kingdoms fiction is the idea of him wielding a spear, often said to be a long spear. Its name is roughly translated as "Shore Edge Spear" (涯角槍, "Yajiaoqiang") in legends and it allegedly makes an unnamed appearance in the "Sanguozhi Pinghua". The weapon's revered namesake means that it "[has] none surpassing it, even in the heavenly sea of stars". Measuring in at a length of nine "chi" (approximately three meters or ten feet in modern conversions), Zhao Yun is said to have wielded it with magnificent skill. If one is to believe the tales, Zhao Yun used the same spear to defeat Zhang Fei in a duel. At times, Zhao Yun is associated with one of Cao Cao's twin swords from "Romance of the Three Kingdoms". In this tale, he killed Xiahou En while rescuing A Dou from peril.


title: Zhao Yun

text: There is a Chinese folktale about Zhao Yun's death which is not mentioned in the 14th-century novel "Romance of the Three Kingdoms". In this story, Zhao Yun had never been wounded in battle before so there were no scars on his body. One day, while he was taking a bath, his wife pricked him with a sewing needle out of mischief. Zhao Yun began to bleed profusely and eventually died of shock.


title: Zhao Yun

text: The 2008 Hong Kong film "" is loosely based on stories related to Zhao Yun in the historical novel "Romance of the Three Kingdoms". It was directed by Daniel Lee and starred Hong Kong actor Andy Lau as "Zhao Zilong". Mainland Chinese actor Hu Jun portrayed Zhao Yun in John Woo's "Red Cliff", a two-part epic war film based on the Battle of Red Cliffs.


title: Zhao Yun

text: Notable actors who have portrayed Zhao Yun in television series include: Zhang Shan, in "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" (1994); Nie Yuan, in "Three Kingdoms" (2010), Benji Wang in "K.O.3an Guo" (2010), and Lin Gengxin in "God of War, Zhao Yun" (2016).


title: Zhao Yun

text: Zhao Yun is one of the Five Tiger Generals that must be recruited by the player in the NES RPG "Destiny of an Emperor".


title: Zhao Yun

text: Zhao Yun appears as a playable character in Koei's "Dynasty Warriors" and "Warriors Orochi" video game series. He is usually featured prominently on the cover of each title, and is most often used by the developers in screenshots and other promotional materials for upcoming releases. He also appears in all instalments of Koei's "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" strategy game series.


title: Zhao Yun

text: The playable champion Xin Zhao in the multiplayer online battle arena game "League of Legends" is based on Zhao Yun. Zhao Yun also appears as a playable character in "Lost Saga", "Heroes Evolved", and "". He was later renamed to "Zilong" by the latter.


title: Ahalya

text: In Hinduism, Ahalyā (, IAST: Ahalyā) also known as Ahilya, is the wife of the sage Gautama Maharishi. Many Hindu scriptures say that she was seduced by Indra (the king of gods), cursed by her husband for infidelity, and liberated from the curse by Rama (7th avatar of the god Vishnu).


title: Ahalya

text: Created by the god Brahma as the most beautiful woman, Ahalyā was married to the much older Gautama. In the earliest full narrative, when Indra comes disguised as her husband, Ahalyā sees through his disguise but nevertheless accepts his advances. Later sources often absolve her of all guilt, describing how she falls prey to Indra's trickery. In all narratives, Ahalyā and Indra are cursed by Gautama. The curse varies from text to text, but almost all versions describe Rāma as the eventual agent of her liberation and redemption. Although early texts describe how Ahalyā must atone by undergoing severe penance while remaining invisible to the world and how she is purified by offering Rāma hospitality, in the popular retelling developed over time, Ahalyā is cursed to become a stone and regains her human form after she is brushed by Rāma's foot.


title: Ahalya

text: Ahalya's seduction by Indra and its repercussions form the central narrative of her story in all scriptural sources for her life. Although the "Brahmanas" (9th to 6th centuries BCE) are the earliest scriptures to hint at her relationship with Indra, the 5th- to 4th-century BCE Hindu epic "Ramayana" – whose protagonist is Rama – is the first to explicitly mention her extra-marital affair in detail. Medieval story-tellers often focus on Ahalyā's deliverance by Rāma, which is seen as proof of the saving grace of God. Her story has been retold numerous times in the scriptures and lives on in modern-age poetry and short stories, as well as in dance and drama. While ancient narratives are Rama-centric, contemporary ones focus on Ahalyā, telling the story from her perspective. Other traditions deal with her children.


title: Ahalya

text: In traditional Hinduism, Ahalyā is extolled as the first of the "panchakanya" ("five virgins"), archetypes of female chastity whose names are believed to dispel sin when recited. While some praise her loyalty to her husband and her undaunted acceptance of the curse and gender norms, others condemn her adultery.


title: Ahalya

text: The word "Ahalya" can be divided into two parts: "a" (a prefix indicating negation) and "halya", which Sanskrit dictionaries define as being related to the plough, ploughing, or deformity. In the "Uttar Kanda" book of the "Ramayana", the god Brahma explains the meaning of the Sanskrit word "Ahalya" as "one without the reprehension of ugliness", or "one with an impeccable beauty" while telling Indra how he created Ahalya by taking the special beauty of all creation and expressing it in every part of her body. Because some Sanskrit dictionaries translate Ahalya as "unploughed," some recent authors view this as an implicit reference to sexual intercourse and argue that the name refers to a virgin or a motherly figure. This fits the context of the character Ahalya, who is viewed as being in one way or another beyond Indra's reach. However, Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore (1861–1941), focusing on the literal meaning of "unploughed," interpreted Ahalya as a symbol of stone-like, infertile land that was made cultivable by Rama. Delhi University professor Bharati Jhaveri concurs with Tagore, interpreting Ahalya as unploughed land, on the basis of the tribal Bhil "Ramayana" of Gujarat, an undated oral tradition.


title: Ahalya

text: Ahalya is often described as an "ayonijasambhava", one not born of a woman. The "Bala Kanda" of the "Ramayana" (5th to 4th century BCE) mentions that Brahma moulds her "with great effort out of pure creative energy". The "Brahma Purana" (401–1300 CE) and the "Vishnudharmottara Purana" (401–500 CE) also record her creation by Brahma. According to the Mahari dance tradition, Brahma created Ahalya out of water as the most beautiful woman in order to break the pride of Urvashi, the foremost "apsara". The tribal Bhil "Ramayana" begins with the tale of Ahalya, Gautama and Indra. In the tale, Ahalya is created from the ashes of the sacrificial fire by the Saptarishi (seven seers) and gifted to Gautama. In contrast, the "Bhagavata Purana" (501–1000 CE) and the "Harivamsa" (1–300 CE) regard Ahalya as a princess of the Puru Dynasty, the daughter of King Mudgala and sister of King Divodasa.


title: Ahalya

text: In the "Uttara Kanda" book of the "Ramayana" (regarded by most scholars as a later addition to the epic), Brahma crafts Ahalya as the most beautiful woman and places her in the care of Gautama until she reaches puberty. When that time arrives, the sage returns Ahalya to Brahma, who, impressed by Gautama's sexual restraint and asceticism, bestows her upon him. Indra, who believes that the best women are meant for him, resents Ahalya's marriage to the forest-dwelling ascetic.


title: Ahalya

text: The "Brahma Purana" gives a similar account of Ahalya's birth and initial custody, recording that her marriage was determined through an open contest. Brahma declares that the first being to go around the three worlds (heaven, earth and the underworld) will win Ahalya. Indra uses his magical powers to complete the challenge, finally reaching Brahma and demanding the hand of Ahalya. However, the divine sage Narada tells Brahma that Gautama went around the three worlds before Indra. Narada explains that Gautama circumambulated the wish-bearing cow Surabhi while she gave birth, as part of his daily "puja" (ritual offering), making the cow equal to three worlds according to the "Vedas". Brahma agrees and Ahalya marries Gautama, leaving Indra envious and infuriated. A similar, but shorter, version of Ahalya's early life appears in the "Padma Purana" (701–1200 CE).