title: Dark pattern

text: Bait-and-switch patterns advertise a free (or at a greatly reduced price) product or service that is wholly unavailable or stocked in small quantities. After announcing the product's unavailability, the page presents similar products of higher prices or lesser quality.


title: Dark pattern

text: Confirmshaming uses shame to drive users to act. For example, when websites word an option to decline an email newsletter in a way that shames visitors into accepting.


title: Dark pattern

text: Common in software installers, misdirection presents the user with a button in the fashion of a typical continuation button. A dark pattern would show a prominent "I accept these terms" button asking the user to accept the terms of a program unrelated to the one they are trying to install. Since the user typically will accept the terms by force of habit, the unrelated program can subsequently be installed. The installer's authors do this because the authors of the unrelated program pay for each installation that they procure. The alternative route in the installer, allowing the user to skip installing the unrelated program, is much less prominently displayed, or seems counter-intuitive (such as declining the terms of service).


title: Dark pattern

text: Some websites that ask for information that is not required also use misdirection. For example, one would fill out a username and password on one page, and after clicking the "next" button, the page asks the user for their email address with another "next" button as the only option. This hides the option to press "next" without entering the information. In some cases, the page shows the method to skip the step as a small, greyed-out link instead of a button, so it does not stand out to the user. Other examples include sites offering a way to invite friends by entering their email address, to upload a profile picture, or to identify interests.


title: Dark pattern

text: Confusing wording may be also used to trick users into formally accepting an option which they believe has the opposite meaning, for example a personal data processing consent button with label "don't not sell my personal information".


title: Dark pattern

text: A roach motel or a trammel net design provides an easy or straightforward path to get in but a difficult path to get out. Examples include businesses that require subscribers to print and mail their opt-out or cancellation request. Recently, in the United States, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has announced they will ramp up enforcement of dark patterns like roach motel that trick consumers into signing up for subscriptions or making it difficult to cancel. The FTC has stated key requirements related to information transparency and clarity, express informed consent, and simple and easy cancellation.


title: Dark pattern

text: During the 2020 United States presidential election, Donald Trump's campaign employed a similar dark pattern, pushing users towards committing to a recurring monthly donation.


title: Dark pattern

text: In 2016 and 2017 research has documented social media anti-privacy practices using dark patterns. In 2018 the Norwegian Consumer Council (Forbrukerrådet) published "Deceived by Design," a report on deceptive user interface designs of Facebook, Google and Microsoft. A 2019 study investigated practices on 11,000 shopping web sites. It identified 1818 dark patterns total and grouped them into 15 categories.


title: Dark pattern

text: Recent research from April 2022 finds that dark patterns are still commonly used in the marketplace, highlighting a need for further scrutiny of such practices by the public, researchers and regulators.


title: Dark pattern

text: Under the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), all companies must obtain unambiguous, freely-given consent from customers before they collect and use ("process") their personally identifiable information. A 2020 study found that "big tech" companies often used deceptive user interfaces in order to discourage their users from opting out. In 2022 a report by the European Commission found that "97% of the most popular websites and apps used by EU consumers deployed at least one dark pattern."


title: Dark pattern

text: In the European Union, the GDPR requires that a user's informed consent to processing of their personal information be unambiguous, freely-given, and specific to each usage of personal information. This is intended to prevent attempts to have users unknowingly accept all data processing by default (which violates the regulation).


title: Dark pattern

text: In April 2019, the UK Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) issued a proposed design code for the operations of social networking services when used by minors, which prohibits using "nudges" to draw users into options that have low privacy settings. This code would be enforceable under the GDPR.


title: Dark pattern

text: On 9 April 2019, US senators Deb Fischer and Mark Warner introduced the Deceptive Experiences To Online Users Reduction (DETOUR) Act, which would make it illegal for companies with more than 100 million monthly active users to use dark patterns when seeking consent to use their personal information.


title: Dark pattern

text: In March 2021, California adopted amendments to the California Consumer Privacy Act, which prohibits the use of deceptive user interfaces that have "the substantial effect of subverting or impairing a consumer's choice to opt-out."


title: Dark pattern

text: In October 2021, the Federal Trade Commission issued an enforcement policy statement, announcing a crackdown on businesses using dark patterns that "trick or trap consumers into subscription services." As a result of rising numbers of complaints, the agency is responding by enforcing these consumer protection laws.


title: Dark pattern

text: According to the European Data Protection Board, the "principle of fair processing laid down in Article 5 (1) (a) GDPR serves as a starting point to assess whether a design pattern actually constitutes a 'dark pattern'."


title: Dark pattern

text: In 2022, New York Attorney General Letitia James fined Fareportal $2.6 million for using deceptive marketing tactics to sell airline tickets and hotel rooms and the Federal Court of Australia fined Expedia Group's Trivago A$44.7 million for misleading consumers into paying higher prices for hotel room bookings.


title: Fat Tony (The Simpsons)

text: Anthony "Fat Tony" D'Amico is the name of two recurring characters in the animated sitcom "The Simpsons". Both are voiced by Joe Mantegna and first appeared in the episode "Bart the Murderer" of the third season. Fat Tony is a mobster and the underboss of the Springfield Mafia. His henchmen include Legs, Louie, and Johnny Tightlips, and he answers to Don Vittorio DiMaggio. Upon the death of the original Fat Tony in the episode "Donnie Fatso" of the twenty-second season, the character's near-identical cousin of the same name is introduced. The characters somewhat resemble real-life mobster Anthony "Fat Tony" Salerno.


title: Fat Tony (The Simpsons)

text: Marion Anthony "Fat Tony" D'Amico was behind several of Springfield's criminal enterprises. His rackets included illegal gambling, cigarette smuggling, bootlegging, fraud and selling fake IDs. In "The Twisted World of Marge Simpson", Homer contracts with the mafia to drive out Marge's rival snack food distributors. Fat Tony took out a hit on Mayor Quimby in "Mayored to the Mob" in retaliation for a raid on their rat milk facility, which Quimby opposed, as they had promised him "dog or higher". Fat Tony puts out a contract on Homer after his private security business interferes with the mob's interests in "Poppa's Got a Brand New Badge". Homer would have been executed gangland-style if not for Maggie coming to the rescue with her rifle. Fat Tony's son Michael is first mentioned by Fat Tony as he is talking to Marge in "The Seven-Beer Snitch", saying she drove him home from school sometimes. He is then properly introduced in the episode "The Mook, the Chef, the Wife and Her Homer". The episode also reveals that Fat Tony's wife "was whacked by 'natural causes'." Fat Tony and his associates meet in what is known as the "Legitimate Businessman's Social Club". Fat Tony played the violin in "Insane Clown Poppy". Fat Tony dies in the twenty-second season episode "Donnie Fatso" from a heart attack with his final words to Homer being "I loved you man."


title: Fat Tony (The Simpsons)

text: When the original Fat Tony died of a heart attack in "Donnie Fatso", he was replaced by his slimmer cousin Anthony Paul "Fit Tony" D'Amico. By the end of that episode, Fit Tony has taken to eating as a way of dealing with the stress of assassination attempts. His weight gain causes a change of nickname to "Fit-Fat Tony" and eventually "Fat Tony", essentially restoring the original character. In "The Real Housewives of Fat Tony", he supposedly marries Selma, but the relationship falls apart when Selma discovers Tony only held a ceremony to make her his goomar as he is already married to another woman. This iteration of Tony, although similar in character does have notable differences in appearances. He has lighter skin than the original Fat Tony, has a darker shade of hair & wears a red polo shirt as opposed to a teal polo shirt worn originally.


title: Fat Tony (The Simpsons)

text: The original Fat Tony's actual name is the source of some dispute, as several different real names have been revealed over the course of the series. In the third-season episode "Bart the Murderer", Fat Tony is referred to in a news report given by Kent Brockman as William "Fat Tony" Williams, presumably an alias. In the eighth-season episode "The Homer They Fall", the announcer at Homer's boxing match against Drederick Tatum refers to Fat Tony as Anthony D'Amico (incidentally the name of one of the three Re-Recording Mixers in the end credits), which he is called later as well, for example, by the FBI. In the twelfth-season episode "Insane Clown Poppy", Frankie the Squealer claims that Fat Tony's first name is Marion, a reference to actor John Wayne's real name, Marion Robert Morrison.


title: Fat Tony (The Simpsons)

text: Fat Tony first appeared in the third season episode "Bart the Murderer". The writers conceived the episode before the film "Goodfellas", which has a similar plot, was released. However, when it was, the writers incorporated references to the film in the episode. Fat Tony was modeled on Paul Sorvino, who played mobster Paul Cicero in "Goodfellas". The appearance of Louie, one of Tony's henchmen, was based on another "Goodfellas" actor, Frank Sivero. The end of the episode portrays a TV movie about the events depicted in the episode, in which Joe Mantegna will play Fat Tony (this was before it was decided that Fat Tony would be a recurring character). In the episode "Donnie Fatso", Fat Tony dies of a heart attack; his cousin Fit Tony takes his place as head of the syndicate, but soon becomes known as Fat Tony due to stress-induced overeating.


title: Fat Tony (The Simpsons)

text: The writers originally wanted Sheldon Leonard to voice Fat Tony. When they were unable to get him, they cast Joe Mantegna. It is his longest-running role. Mantegna said, "You feel honored that they asked you to do a voice. The fact that they bring you back and keep writing for the character, it is very satisfying." Mantegna based his raspy voice for Fat Tony on his Uncle Willy, a long-standing cigarette smoker. He insists that the producers must "not let anyone else do his noises," even going so far as to say, "If Fat Tony sneezes, I want to be there." This is referenced in the season 20 episode "Sex, Pies, and Idiot Scrapes, where the script required only grunting. Despite this, Phil Hartman voiced the character in the season 7 episode "A Fish Called Selma". Mantegna voiced Fat Tony in a scene in "The Simpsons Movie" that almost got cut. Of the Fat Tony episodes, Mantegna favors "Bart the Murderer" and "The Mook, the Chef, the Wife and Her Homer", because they are the character's first appearance and a season premiere.


title: Fat Tony (The Simpsons)

text: IGN ranked Fat Tony at No. 18 on their 2006 list of the "Top 25 "Simpsons" Peripheral Characters". Star News Online listed Joe Mantegna as one of the 400 reasons why they love "The Simpsons". In 2007, Adam Finley of TV Squad called Mantegna one of the five best "The Simpsons" guest stars and "Vanity Fair" called "Bart the Murderer" the eighth best episode of the show, saying, "This episode makes the cut because of the inspired Mafia satire". Playmates Toys made Fat Tony into an action figure as part of the World of Springfield toy line.


title: Guo Pei

text: Guo Pei (, , born 1967) is a Chinese fashion designer. She is best known for designing dresses for Chinese celebrities, and in America for Rihanna's trailing yellow gown at the 2015 Met Gala. Guo is the first born-and-raised Asian designer to be invited to become a guest member of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture. In 2016, "Time" listed her as one of the World's 100 Most Influential People.


title: Guo Pei

text: Guo was born in Beijing in 1967. Guo was born to two members of China's Communist Party, her father being a former battalion leader of the People's Army and her mother being a kindergarten teacher. In an interview with "Forbes" magazine, she recalls her father having thrown away her sketches and paintings as a child. In the same interview Guo says she got her start in sewing at the age of 2 years old, helping her mother make clothes for the winter and developed her love for dressmaking. During her childhood, Mao suits were considered the only correct form of clothing and Guo Pei defied this with loose-fitting dresses.


title: Guo Pei

text: Despite the otherwise oppressive fashion enforced, she still went to study and graduate from Beijing Second Light Industry School with a degree in fashion design in 1986. Guo Pei's graduation was also at a good time since post-Mao reforms were being implemented by Deng Xiaoping. Guo Pei found a job at one of China's first privately owned clothing brand manufacturers, Tianma. She states that there was a sudden demand for fashion that grew in China, with one of her most popular factory designs being a brightly colored winter coat with a hood. She left the company in 1997 to form her own fashion brand.


title: Guo Pei

text: Guo Pei says that she strived for something more as the fashion demand grew in China as well. In the early 2000s Guo Pei's reputation began to grow, she received commissions to create styles for the 2008 Summer Olympics as well as the annual Spring Festival Galas put on by China Central Television (CCTV). She is responsible for Song Zuying's dress that she wore during her performance with Plácido Domingo at the 2008 Summer Olympics closing ceremony. The dress took two weeks overall to make and was covered with 200,000 Swarovski crystals.


title: Guo Pei

text: Her "One Thousand and Two Nights" collection debuted in November 2009, during China Fashion Week. American model, Carmen Dell'Orefice appeared in the show wearing an elaborate white embroidered fur-lined gown, with an escort of four to help carry its train. Dell'Orefice later went on to compare Guo to Charles James. Guo was credited as a costume designer on the set of the 2014 film "The Monkey King". The film's makeup and costume departments were nominated for a Hong Kong Film Award the following year but lost out to Man Lim Chung, in "The Golden Era".


title: Guo Pei

text: In 2008, Guo conceived a canary yellow floor-length dress with a large circular train, edged with yellow coloured fur and embroidered with silver floral patterns. It took approximately 50,000 hours over two years for her design team to create and weighed about on completion. Bajan singer Rihanna came across the piece on the internet while researching a design for the China-themed New York Met Gala in 2015. According to Guo, when first asked she agreed to the proposal but was wary about whether the singer would be able to withstand the weight. Rihanna appeared on the red carpet in the gown, followed by a three-person entourage to hold the large train. Early reactions to the dress design spawned viral memes on social media, with the eye catching yellow material and sizable train drawing comparisons to omelettes and pizzas. A photo of the design worn by the singer was featured on the front page of "Vogue" Met Gala edition. This media exposure made Guo more recognizable among Western audiences.


title: Guo Pei

text: Guo Pei's works were also exhibited at the annual exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, titled "". In 2016, Guo Pei became a guest member of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture.


title: Guo Pei

text: Her first collection to be showcased as a part of Paris Fashion Week was her Spring Summer 2016 collection. Inspired by spring flowers for femininity and the phoenix for peace and purity, the collection had traditional Chinese influences like gold tassels, intricate threadwork embroidery over silk, bibs and long trains.


title: Guo Pei

text: Her Spring 2017 haute couture collection, presented at La Conciergerie and titled "Legend", was inspired by the murals of the St. Gallen Cathedral in Switzerland.


title: Guo Pei

text: Most recently Guo Pei's haute couture Spring/Summer show was considered to embody life through her use of forestry and roots in her runway setups to the designs of her clothing themselves. There was a recurring theme of dark blue embroideries hinting at the idea of dawn or dusk, the French idea of "l'heure bleue". While watching her show, you can see models wearing this blue shade in almost all of the designs that come onto the runway, whether they be the main focus of a garment, or in the smaller details, the idea of "l'heure bleue" is everywhere. Guo Pei described her work as representing a life force of roots and flowers, explaining, "Roots are the source of life and vitality ... Without roots, there's not life. This world is a very mysterious place, but it's linked intimately with our lives. That's why the tree is onstage, and you'll see a lot of flowers." One of the connecting pieces in Guo Pei's collections, however, is the use of gold in a lot of her shows. Guo Pei believes that not only does gold embody the top of terms of knowledge and wealth, but Guo Pei also believe that it is, "the color of our souls".


title: Guo Pei

text: In 2022 Pei's work was featured at the San Francisco Legion of Honor and displayed several of her works in the fashion style of couture fantasy. It became the most attended exhibition in 20 years at the museum.


title: Guo Pei

text: Guo is married to Cao Bao Jie, also known as Jack Tsao, who is a textile dealer. She credits him with introducing her to European fabrics and embroideries, and empowering her to recognise herself as an haute couturière instead of just a tailor. Guo's husband oversees the branding and business side of Guo's label.


title: Guo Pei

text: Rose Studio is the name of Guo Pei's showroom in the Chaoyang district of Beijing, and is three stories in what would be considered a drab area near in an industrial park. On the outside, it can be mistaken for a normal factory, but on the inside gold-speckled mirrors line the walls and ceilings. Guo Pei's designs are housed in displays like a museum. On the top floor, dozens of tailors, pattern cutters, shoemakers, and needlewomen work on the orders, with painstaking measures taken to make sure everything works in harmony with one another. Guo Pei employs five hundred people at three locations outside of China's capital, most learning about their craft on the job, stating that Guo Pei is a good teacher. Guo Pei's clients are usually wealthy and well to do, but most of her older clients state that they are embracing a more Chinese style.


title: Lost artworks

text: Lost artworks are original pieces of art that credible sources indicate once existed but that cannot be accounted for in museums or private collections or are known to have been destroyed deliberately or accidentally, or neglected through ignorance and lack of connoisseurship.


title: Lost artworks

text: The US FBI maintains a list of "Top Ten Art Crimes"; a 2006 book by Simon Houpt and a 2018 book by Noah Charney and several other media outlets have profiled the most significant outstanding losses.


title: Lost artworks

text: The Art Loss Register is a commercial computerized international database which captures information about lost and stolen art, antiques and collectables. It is operated by a commercial company based in London.


title: Lost artworks

text: In the U.S., the FBI maintains the Stolen Art File, "a database of stolen art and cultural property. Stolen objects are submitted for entry to the NSAF by law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad."


title: Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve

text: The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve is a biosphere reserve in the Nilgiri mountains of the Western Ghats in South India. It is the largest protected forest area in India, spreading across Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala. It includes the protected areas Mudumalai National Park, Mukurthi National Park, Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu; Nagarhole National Park, Bandipur National Park, both in Karnataka; Silent Valley National Park, Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, and Karimpuzha Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerela.


title: Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve

text: A ecosystem of the hill ranges of Nilgiris and its surrounding environments covering a tract of over 5000 square kilometers was constituted as Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in September 1986 under Man and Biosphere Programme. Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve is India's first and foremost biosphere reserves with a heritage, rich in flora and fauna. Tribal groups like the Badagas, Toda, Kotas, Irulla, Kurumba, Paniya, Adiyan, Edanadan Chettis, Allar, Malayan are native to the reserve. India's natural Gold fields are also located in the regions in and around Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve scattered in the states of Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.


title: Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve

text: The word Nilgiri is derived from the Kannada / Malayalam word "neeli" or "neela" meaning blue and "giri" meaning mountain.


title: Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve

text: In the 1970s, an area of around in the Nilgiri Mountains was proposed to be included in the list of biosphere reserves of India. This proposed area encompassed a forestry zone of , a core zone of , an agricultural zone of and a restoration zone of . Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve was established in September 1986 and is India's first biosphere reserve under UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Programme.


title: Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve

text: Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve extends over an area of from the eastern part of Kodagu District to Erode District in the east and to the Palakkad Gap in the south with an elevation of . It has a buffer zone of and core areas of , comprising in Karnataka, in Kerala and in Tamil Nadu.


title: Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve

text: The reserve extends from the tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical moist forests of the western slopes of the Ghats to the tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests tropical dry forests on the east slopes. The rainfall range is per year. The reserve encompasses three ecoregions, the South Western Ghats moist deciduous forests, South Western Ghats montane rain forests, and South Deccan Plateau dry deciduous forests.


title: Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve

text: Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve harbours more than 3,700 plant species, including about 200 medicinal plants; the 132 endemic flowering plants are contained in the list of endemic plants in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.


title: Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve

text: Tall trees above a height of are used by the giant honey bee ("Apis dorsata") for building nests, including the species "Tetrameles nudiflora", Indian laurel ("Ficus microcarpa"), Coromandel ebony ("Diospyros melanoxylon"), yellow snake tree ("Stereospermum tetragonum"), rusty kamala ("Mallotus tetracoccus") and "Acrocarpus fraxinifolius". During the peak flowering season from January to May, at least 73 species blossom including teak ("Tectona grandis"), red cedar ("Erythroxylum monogynum"), hiptage ("Hiptage benghalensis"), large-flowered bay tree ("Persea macrantha"), zunna berry ("Ziziphus rugosa") and creeping smartweed ("Persicaria chinensis"). They depend on pollination by giant honey bee, Asiatic honey bee ("Apis cerana"), red dwarf honey bee ("A. florea") and "Trigona" bees.


title: Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve

text: Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve harbours 14 bird species that are endemic to the Western Ghats. Of these, the Nilgiri laughingthrush ("Strophocincla cachinnans") inhabits only higher elevations above . Other endemics and near-endemics include Nilgiri wood-pigeon, Malabar grey hornbill, Malabar parakeet, white-bellied treepie, white-bellied shortwing, grey-headed bulbul, grey-breasted laughingthrush, rufous babbler, black-and-rufous flycatcher, Nilgiri flycatcher, and Nilgiri pipit.


title: Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve

text: Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and adjacent areas host the largest Asian elephant ("Elephas maximus") population in India, estimated at about 5,750 individuals by 2007. Herds move in large home ranges and congregate at perennial watersources during the dry season.


title: Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve

text: Fauna includes over 100 species of mammals, 370 species of birds, 80 species of reptiles, about 39 species of fish, 31 amphibians and 316 species of butterflies. It is home to mammals like the Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, chital deer, gaur, sambar deer, dhole, golden jackal, Indian boar, Nilgiri tahr, Indian spotted chevrotain, black buck, Asian palm civet, sloth bear, four-horned antelope, Nilgiri marten, Indian crested porcupine, Malabar giant squirrel, honey badger, Indian grey mongoose, Indian pangolin, Indian fox, smooth coated otter, and painted bat. Primates include the lion tailed macaque, Nilgiri langur, gray langur and bonnet macaque.


title: Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve

text: Amphibians include purple frog, Silent valley brush frog, Malabar gliding frog, Beddomixalus. Around fifty percent of India's amphibian species are endemic to the region, and around ninety species of reptiles including the genera "Brachyopihidium", "Dravidogecko", "Melanophidum", "Ristella", "Salea", "Plectrurus", "Teretrurus", and "Xylophis".


title: Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve

text: Shola forests outside protected areas are threatened by fragmentation, especially in the vicinity of settlements. The rapid and dense growth of the invasive "Passiflora mollissima" inhibits the regeneration of native tree species in the Shola forest patches.


title: Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve

text: Poaching, deforestation, forest fires and dangers to native tribes are the main threats. Despite poaching banned by law in 1972, people still tend to illegally hunt animals such as tigers, elephants and chital for skin, fur or tusks. Forests are being destroyed for farming or livestock. Animals that kill livestock are killed by farmers. Forest fires destroy vegetation. Native tribes are being evacuated from their homelands, resulting in loss of tribal culture.


title: Sid Mallya

text: Sidhartha Vijay Mallya (born May 7, 1987) is an Indian national. He registered with the Screen Actors Guild as Sid Mallya, saying he chose the stage name to try to avoid being typecast in stereotypical roles. He appeared in a sex comedy film entitled "Brahman Naman". He has also hosted an online video show, appeared as a guest judge and host on the Kingfisher Calendar Girl selection show, and worked as a model.


title: Sid Mallya

text: Mallya is the son of Indian businessman Vijay Mallya, the chairman of UB Group (an Indian conglomerate that is primarily in the alcoholic beverages business), and the grandson of Vittal Mallya, who was the company's previous chairman.


title: Sid Mallya

text: He also worked as director of the IPL cricket team Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), which was owned by his father at the time, and as a marketing manager for Guinness (a product of Diageo, a large drinks company closely tied to his father's business). In 2010 he also became one of the directors of the football club Mohun Bagan when his father stepped down as director. He is certainly part of his family trust wealth which gets him lots of money every year. He is owner of several shell firms and offshore trusts that helps him earn money.


title: Sid Mallya

text: Siddharth Mallya was born in Los Angeles, California, to Indian businessman Vijay Mallya and former airline hostess Samira Mallya (née Tyabjee). His father is of a Konkani background. Shortly after Siddharth's birth, the family moved to England, where he was primarily raised. The family also lived part of the time in Dubai (in the United Arab Emirates). At the age of 15, he started boarding school at Papplewick School in Ascot and then went to Wellington College, Berkshire, where he passed his GCSEs and A Levels. He then attended Queen Mary University of London, where he obtained a bachelor's degree in business management. While at the university, he also played on its field hockey team.


title: Sid Mallya

text: In 2016, he was awarded a diploma supplement for a Master of Arts degree in Acting for Screen from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama of the University of London.


title: Sid Mallya

text: After graduating from university, Mallya spent a year working for drinks giant Diageo, as an assistant brand manager on Guinness.


title: Sid Mallya

text: At the beginning of 2010, he became director of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) IPL cricket team, which is owned by UB Group (his father's company). While he was at the RCB, he oversaw the team's "Green Initiatives", which led to RCB claiming to be the world's first carbon-neutral sports team through fan engagement. In 2012, he launched an online chat show called "No Boundaries". The show was written and hosted by him, and its episodes were posted on the team's web site. The website show primarily featured players from the RCB cricket team.


title: Sid Mallya

text: Later that year, he appeared as the lead presenter and judge on "The Hunt for The Kingfisher Calendar Girl 2013" on the NDTV Good Times channel. He made his ramp modeling debut during Lakme Fashion Week 2012 as the show stopper for designer Komal Sood. He followed this up by walking for designers Shantanu and Nikhil during Indian Bridal Week.


title: Sid Mallya

text: In the latter half of 2013, Mallya was selected as one of 20 to participate in the ABC Talent Showcase, a platform and training program for aspiring talents, out of more than 7000 applicants. In 2014, he launched a YouTube show called "Sid Sessions".


title: Sid Mallya

text: Mallya made his feature film debut in the sex comedy film "Brahman Naman" directed by Q and produced by Steve Barron where he played Ronnie, a cricket-playing jock, who is rich, good-looking, and popular with girls.


title: Sid Mallya

text: Mallya is a running enthusiast, having taken part in two Mumbai Marathons, the London Marathon and the Delhi Half Marathon.


title: Splendid isolation

text: Splendid isolation is a term used to describe the 19th-century British diplomatic practice of avoiding permanent alliances, particularly under the governments of Lord Salisbury between 1885 and 1902. The concept developed as early as 1822, when Britain left the post-1815 Concert of Europe, and continued until the 1902 Anglo-Japanese Alliance and the 1904 Entente Cordiale with France. As Europe was divided into two power blocs, Britain became aligned with France and Russia against Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy (The Triple Alliance).


title: Splendid isolation

text: The term itself was coined in January 1896 by a Canadian politician, George Eulas Foster. He indicated his approval for Britain's minimal involvement in European affairs by saying, "In these somewhat troublesome days when the great Mother Empire stands splendidly isolated in Europe."


title: Splendid isolation

text: There is considerable historical debate over the extent to which this approach was intentional or accidental, its impact, or even if it ever existed, other than as a useful phrase.


title: Splendid isolation

text: Nineteenth-century British foreign policy was characterised by a reluctance to enter into permanent alliances with other Great Powers. Often assumed to apply only to the latter part of the century, some historians argue it originated after the 1822 Congress of Verona, when Britain withdrew from the post-1815 Concert of Europe, guided by Foreign Minister George Canning. His principles dominated British foreign policy for decades, and have been summarised as follows;


title: Splendid isolation

text: For much of the nineteenth century, Britain sought to maintain the existing balance of power in Europe, while protecting trade routes to its colonies and dominions, especially those connecting to British India through the Suez Canal. In 1866, the Foreign Secretary Lord Derby explained this policy as follows:


title: Splendid isolation

text: It is the duty of the Government of this country, placed as it is with regard to geographical position, to keep itself upon terms of goodwill with all surrounding nations, but not to entangle itself with any single or monopolising alliance with any one of them; above all to endeavour not to interfere needlessly and vexatiously with the internal affairs of any foreign country."


title: Splendid isolation

text: One exception was the 1839 Treaty of London, recognising the independence of Belgium, which led to Britain entering World War I in 1914. The ports of Ostend, Antwerp and Zeebrugge were so important to ensuring control of the English Channel, Britain guaranteed Belgian independence, by military means if required.


title: Splendid isolation

text: After the founding of the German Reich in 1871, German Chancellor Bismarck created the 1873 League of the Three Emperors, or "Dreikaiserbund", between Austria-Hungary, Russia and Germany. In 1878, the League collapsed due to competing Austrian and Russian aims in the Balkans, with Germany and Austria-Hungary forming the 1879 Dual Alliance. This became the Triple Alliance in 1882 with the addition of Italy.


title: Splendid isolation

text: Unlike his successors, Bismarck viewed a war on two fronts as potentially fatal for Germany; his key foreign policy aims were friendship with Russia, and the isolation of France. When the French attempted to negotiate a Russian alliance in 1881, he persuaded Austria and Russia to join a reconstituted "Dreikaiserbund". Even after the League finally dissolved in 1887, Bismarck replaced it with the Reinsurance Treaty, a secret agreement with Russia to observe 'benevolent neutrality', in the event of an attack by France on Germany, or Austria-Hungary on Russia.


title: Splendid isolation

text: British Prime Minister Lord Salisbury once defined his foreign policy as "to float lazily downstream, putting out the occasional diplomatic boathook." He defined this as avoiding war with another Great Power, or combination of Powers, and securing communications with the Empire. A recurring concern was Russian access to the Mediterranean, in this case by acquiring Constantinople and the Dardanelles. A factor in the 1853–1856 Crimean War, it resurfaced during the 1875–1878 Great Eastern Crisis, when Jingoism demonstrated a growing sense of insecurity among British media and politicians.


title: Splendid isolation

text: After occupying Egypt in the 1882 Anglo-Egyptian War, Britain negotiated the 1887 Mediterranean Agreements with Italy and Austria-Hungary. These were not considered treaties, simply an undertaking to discuss problems should they arise, and thus did not require approval by Parliament. Since Britain shared Austrian concern over Russian expansion in South-East Europe, and Austria generally followed Germany, it allowed Salisbury and Bismarck to align without a formal alliance.


title: Splendid isolation

text: In the 1885 Panjdeh incident, Russian troops occupied an oasis near the disputed border between Afghanistan and Russian-occupied Turkmenistan. Always sensitive to potential threats in this area, Britain threatened a military response, before both sides backed down, and agreed a negotiated solution. However, the Ottomans refused a British request to allow warships access to the Black Sea, a position strongly supported by all the European powers. Taylor suggests it was "the most formidable display of Continental hostility to Britain between Napoleon's day and Hitler's".


title: Splendid isolation

text: Although concerned by increasing German industrial and military strength post-1871, British politicians were reassured by Bismarck's efforts to maintain the status quo, one example being the 1890 Heligoland–Zanzibar Treaty. His dismissal by Wilhelm II in 1890 introduced greater uncertainty into international politics, at a time when Britain faced numerous foreign policy challenges.


title: Splendid isolation

text: The Near East and the Balkans were destabilised by the decline of the Ottoman Empire, and the expansionist ambitions of other European powers. In East Africa, Britain and France nearly came to blows in the 1898 Fashoda Incident; in Southern Africa, the Boer Republics had become increasingly restive. For domestic political reasons, President Cleveland manufactured a quarrel over Venezuela's border with British Guiana. Russian expansion in Central Asia during the 19th century had brought them to the edge of British India, while the two also competed in nominally independent Persia. In China and East Asia, British economic interests were threatened by powers such as Japan, Russia, and the United States.


title: Splendid isolation

text: The most pressing issue was Germany, caused by Wilhelm's determination to challenge the Royal Navy, which led to the naval arms race. A tendency to make aggressive statements was as much of a problem as his erratic foreign policy. It included securing 'compensation' for Germany in Africa, China and the Pacific, provision of military support for the Boers, and growing economic and military influence in the Ottoman Empire. Wilhelm's aim was to end "Britain's free ride on the coat-tails of the Triple Alliance."


title: Splendid isolation

text: In 1898, the Colonial Secretary, Joseph Chamberlain tried to negotiate an alliance with Germany. He spoke publicly of Britain's diplomatic predicament, saying, "We have had no allies. I am afraid we have had no friends ... We stand alone." While unsuccessful, it reflected a growing realisation that Britain's diplomatic isolation during the 1899–1902 Second Boer War left it dangerously exposed.


title: Splendid isolation

text: According to G. W. Monger's summary of the Cabinet debates in 1900 to 1902:Chamberlain advocated ending Britain's isolation by concluding an alliance with Germany; Salisbury resisted change. With the new crisis in China caused by the Boxer rising and Lansdowne's appointment to the Foreign Office in 1900, those who advocated a change won the upper hand. Lansdowne in turn attempted to reach an agreement with Germany and a settlement with Russia but failed. In the end Britain concluded an alliance with Japan. The decision of 1901 was momentous; British policy had been guided by events, but Lansdowne had no real understanding of these events. The change of policy had been forced on him and was a confession of Britain's weakness.


title: Splendid isolation

text: In 1902, Britain and Japan signed the Anglo-Japanese Alliance; if either were attacked by a third party, the other would remain neutral and if attacked by two or more opponents, the other would come to its aid. This meant Japan could rely on British support in a war with Russia, if either France or Germany, which also had interests in China, decided to join them. With Britain still engaged in the Boer War, this was arguably a defensive move rather than an end to isolation, a view supported by T. G. Otte, who sees it as reinforcing Britain's aloofness from the Continent and the European alliance systems.


title: Splendid isolation

text: The peaceful resolution of the Venezuela issue in 1897 led to the 1901 Hay–Pauncefote Treaty; although this dealt with the Panama Canal, Britain tacitly accepted US supremacy and responsibility for the Americas. Just as the Anglo-Japanese Alliance allowed the Royal Navy to reduce its presence in the Far East, that in the Caribbean was also significantly reduced as a result.


title: Splendid isolation

text: Primarily for domestic British consumption, the 1904 Entente Cordiale with France and the 1907 Anglo-Russian Convention were not formal alliances, and both focused on colonial boundaries in Asia and Africa. However, they cleared the way for co-operation in other areas, making British entry into any future conflict involving France or Russia a strong possibility; these interlocking bilateral agreements became known as the Triple Entente.


title: Splendid isolation

text: In the 1911 Agadir Crisis, Britain backed France against Germany. By 1914, the British army and navy were committed to support France in the event of war with Germany, but even in the government, few were aware of the true extent of these undertakings.


title: Splendid isolation

text: Diplomatic historian Margaret MacMillan argues that by 1897, Britain was indeed isolated, but far from being "splendid" this was a bad thing. Britain had no real friends, and was engaged in disputes with the United States, France, Germany, and Russia.


title: Splendid isolation

text: Historians have debated whether British isolation was intentional, or dictated by contemporary events. A. J. P. Taylor claimed it existed only in a limited sense: "The British certainly ceased to concern themselves with the Balance of Power in Europe; they supposed that it was self-adjusting. But they maintained close connection with the continental Powers for the sake of affairs outside of Europe, particularly in the Near East." For John Charmley, splendid isolation was a fiction for the period prior to the Franco-Russian Alliance of 1894, and reluctantly pursued thereafter.


title: Splendid isolation

text: E. David Steele argues that although Salisbury once referred to 'splendid isolation', he "was being ironical at the expense of those who believed in the possibility." Another biographer claims the term "unfairly affixed itself to (his) foreign policy" and that Salisbury discouraged its use, considering it dangerous to be completely uninvolved with European affairs.


title: Splendid isolation

text: Britain was arguably not isolated during this period, given its informal alignments arising from the two Mediterranean Agreements and the fact that it still traded with other European powers and remained heavily connected with the British Empire.


title: White House Communications Director

text: The White House communications director or White House director of communications, also known officially as Assistant to the President for Communications, is part of the senior staff of the president of the United States. The officeholder is responsible for developing and promoting the agenda of the president and leading its media campaign.


title: White House Communications Director

text: The director, along with their staff, works on major political speeches such as the inaugural address and the State of the Union Address. The communications director, who is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the president, without the need for United States Senate confirmation, is usually given an office in the West Wing of the White House.


title: White House Communications Director

text: The White House Office of Communications was established by Herbert G. Klein in January 1969 during the Nixon administration. It was separate from the Office of the Press Secretary from 1969 to 1974.


title: White House Communications Director

text: Historically, the position of White House communications director is given to a senior public relations staff member of the candidate's campaign staff. Often this is either the deputy campaign manager or the campaign communications director. The communications director works closely with the White House press secretary, who is typically a co-worker in the president's campaign.


title: White House Communications Director

text: As the president's voice and vision must be understood, the communications director ensures that all aspects of communications are covered to ensure that the administration's message has been delivered clearly and successfully. A communications strategy must be devised to promote the president's agenda throughout all media outlets. This can include, but certainly is not limited to, the State of the Union address, televised press conferences, statements to the press, and radio addresses. The communications office also works closely with cabinet-level departments and other executive agencies in order to create a coherent strategy, through which the president's message can be disseminated.


title: White House Communications Director

text: With the growing importance of the internet and new media in terms of presidential communication, the communications office has branched out to utilize the Internet, and more specifically social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter, in order to reach out and convey the president's vision to a larger percentage of the public.


title: 2016 French Open – Men's singles

text: Novak Djokovic defeated Andy Murray in the final, 3–6, 6–1, 6–2, 6–4 to win the men's singles tennis title at the 2016 French Open. It was his first French Open title and twelfth major title overall, completing the career Grand Slam and achieving a non-calendar year Grand Slam. He became the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to hold all four major titles simultaneously and the first man in history to do so on three different surfaces. Additionally, he spent his 200th week at world number 1 in the ATP rankings and his 100th consecutive week at world number one during the tournament. Djokovic also extended his record for the most ranking points ever held by any player to 16,950.


title: 2016 French Open – Men's singles

text: Stan Wawrinka was the defending champion, but lost in the semifinals to Murray. Murray became the first British man since Bunny Austin in 1937 to reach the final. Murray's run meant he had reached the final of all four majors at least once in his career.


title: 2016 French Open – Men's singles

text: This tournament marked the first time in the 21st century that Roger Federer did not play at a main draw singles major, withdrawing prior to the tournament to avoid "unnecessary [fitness] risk" since he was "still not 100%". Thus, he ended a then-record of 65 consecutive major appearances, extending back to the 2000 Australian Open.


title: 2016 French Open – Men's singles

text: Nine-time champion Rafael Nadal withdrew prior to his third-round match due to a wrist injury for the first time since he debuted in 2005.


title: 2021–22 Dallas Mavericks season

text: The 2021–22 Dallas Mavericks season was the 42nd season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). For the first time since 2007–08, Rick Carlisle would not be the head coach of the Mavericks, as he announced his departure from the team on June 17, 2021. It was the first season since 2004–05 without long-time general manager Donnie Nelson, as he announced his departure from the team on June 17, 2021, a day prior to Rick Carlisle's mutual parting with the Mavs. Carlisle and Nelson were part of the Mavs' 2010–11 championship squad, with Nelson being part of the 2005–06 team that made the Finals that year. On June 28, 2021, the Mavericks hired former player and championship member Jason Kidd as their new head coach.


title: 2021–22 Dallas Mavericks season

text: In the playoffs, the Mavericks defeated the Utah Jazz in six games in the first round winning their first playoff series since their 2011 championship run. The Mavericks then upset the top-seeded Phoenix Suns in seven games in the Conference Semifinals, but lost to the eventual champion Golden State Warriors in five games in the Conference Finals.


title: 2021–22 Dallas Mavericks season

text: The national TV games in the first week and the Christmas games were announced on August 17, 2021. The whole schedule was revealed on August 20, 2021.


title: Total War: Shogun 2

text: Total War: Shogun 2 is a strategy video game developed by Creative Assembly and published by Sega in 2011. It is part of the "Total War" series and returns to the 16th-century Japan setting of the first "Total War" game, "", after a series of games set mainly in Europe and the Middle East.


title: Total War: Shogun 2

text: "Shogun 2" is set in 16th-century feudal Japan, in the aftermath of the Ōnin War during the Ashikaga shogunate. The country is fractured into rival clans led by local warlords, each fighting for control. The player takes on the management of one of these clans, with the goal of dominating other factions and establishing rule over Japan. The standard edition of the game features a total of eight factions (plus a ninth faction for the tutorial), each with a unique starting position and different political and military strengths. The limited edition includes an exclusive ninja clan, the Hattori, and a DLC unlocks a tenth clan, the Ikko-Ikki.


title: Total War: Shogun 2

text: The game moves away from the European setting of previous "Total War" games and returns to the first setting in the "Total War" series, but making significant changes to core gameplay elements of "Shogun 2". Compared to "" which spanned almost the entire globe, the new installment focuses only on the islands of Japan (excluding Hokkaido) and on a reduced number of unit types.


title: Total War: Shogun 2

text: "Shogun 2" received critical praise from reviewers, often for its simplification and refinement of the series by returning to its roots. A standalone expansion set, "", was released in 2012.


title: Total War: Shogun 2

text: "Shogun 2's" blend of turn-based strategy and real-time tactics gameplay is a staple of the "Total War" series. The player plays the role of both the clan leader and general, alternating between the campaign, where the player manages land and armies turn by turn, and the battles, where the player takes control of the army on the battlefield in real-time.


title: Total War: Shogun 2

text: In the campaign, the player needs to oversee the development of settlements, military production, economic growth, and technological advancement respectively. The armies and units are organised and moved around the stylised campaign map by the player to carry out battles with other factions. In addition to fighting, the player is able to engage in diplomacy, political manoeuvring and the use of special agents to gain the upper hand. Ninja and geisha are also present in the game as assassins and spies. While religion isn't as relevant as it was in "", it can't be neglected by the player. Greater interaction with the European foreigners (Nanban traders), for example, to enhance trade and acquire firearms, exposes the clan to Christianity, which will seriously increase religious unrest in the provinces. Religious agents, such as monks and priests can be used to convert the enemy population.


title: Total War: Shogun 2

text: There are nine major clans that inhabit the provinces of Japan which the player chooses from. There are others, including the "Akamasu retainer clan". All Clans have particular advantages in certain areas, to give a variety of play style with each.


title: Total War: Shogun 2

text: There are also three factions available as downloadable content (the Hattori faction came complimentary with preorders of the game, however):


title: Total War: Shogun 2

text: In "Total War: Shogun 2", leaders and generals are given personality and depth in gameplay, with high emphasis on role-playing. Generals and agents are portrayed as "larger-than-life" heroes with unique characteristics and powerful abilities. The player is able to improve and unlock traits and special abilities for the characters as they gain experience. However, the player may also be inclined to engage in family politics within the clan to keep its members loyal.


title: Total War: Shogun 2

text: The battles of "Shogun 2" involve large-scale engagements between armies that meet on the campaign map and can take place on land or on water. The developers proclaim they are paying particular attention to re-designing the naval and siege battles appropriate to the new setting. In contrast to European castles and forts, the castles in feudal Japan had multiple tiers, and thus the siege battles in the game put less focus on wall defences but more on courtyard brawls and tactical maneuvering. Also, the players will fight naval battles with unique Japanese ships resembling "floating castles", and take into consideration melees on ships, arrow fire, coastal terrain, and other factors.


title: Total War: Shogun 2

text: Like the recent installments, "Empire" and "", the weather and climatic conditions have an effect on battles. For example, fog greatly reduces visibility, while heavy rain diminishes the effectiveness of missile troops, such as archers or gunners, thus requiring the players to adapt their strategies. Also, as in "Napoleon", armies standing on enemy provinces during winter season or fleets far from the coast suffer attrition.


title: Total War: Shogun 2

text: "Shogun 2" is known for a unique event for the series known as Realm Divide, in which one by one, all computer-controlled surviving clans declare war on the player (or players in coop-campaign mode) and ally with each other, though the player's allies tend to do so later. Realm Divide is triggered when the player captures enough territories or captures Kyoto. The clan's fame shows how close the player is to triggering realm divide.


title: Total War: Shogun 2

text: "Shogun 2" features multiplayer battles with up to 8 players as well as multiplayer campaigns involving competitive or cooperative play with 2 players. In a multiplayer campaign, players can be grouped into different clans, so that for each clan, one player assumes the role of clan leader and others take command of armies. The clan leader has the ability to direct other players and assign rewards based on loyalty and performance, introducing clan politics into multiplayer. As a player's army invades an enemy territory or is attacked by enemy armies, the online matchmaker finds a suitable opponent and initiates a multiplayer battle. When a player defeats enemy armies and conquers territories, the player will gain points and other bonuses for the clan. In addition, an achievement system is designed to provide adhering players with unique abilities and cosmetic upgrades.


title: Total War: Shogun 2

text: A demo became available on Steam on 22 February 2011. The demo covers the campaign tutorial, the historical Battle of Sekigahara and the full game encyclopaedia.


title: Total War: Shogun 2

text: "Shogun 2" was released in four different editions. The "Standard Edition" contains just the game, while the "Limited Edition" additionally makes playable a unique faction with special talents (the Hattori Clan), an additional historical battle scenario 'Nagashino', a complete set of armour for the player's online avatar and a starting bank of experience points to spend on that online character. The "Collector's Edition" includes the "Limited Edition" content as well as a replica bamboo box containing a "Shogun 2" art book and a detailed figurine of Takeda Shingen. The "Grand Master's Edition" consists of the "Collector's Edition", as well as a bamboo "Shogun 2" themed chess set, currently exclusive to select stores in the UK and Australia.


title: Total War: Shogun 2

text: Players who pre-ordered at GameStop (online or in-store) unlocked and can take part in the historic Battle of Kawagoe. Set in 1545, the Battle of Kawagoe saw the Later Hōjō clan launch a successful night time counter-attack against the besieging Uesugi clan, eschewing heavy armour in favour of speed and stealth. Those who pre-ordered at Best Buy (online or in-store only) will unlock 1,000 Koku, the currency used in "Total War: Shogun 2". Player's campaigns will begin with 1,000 Koku, allowing them to purchase new buildings, train new units and upgrade their towns.


title: Total War: Shogun 2

text: As a special pre-order bonus, Steam announced the "Shogun Pack" for "Team Fortress 2". This was given to players who purchased "Total War: Shogun 2" before its release date. The pack consists of eight feudal Japan-themed items, including a sashimono, katana, kunai and gunbai. These items do not affect "Shogun 2" in any way and can only be used in "Team Fortress 2". Steam also released the "Total War Collection" on 10 March 2012. This consisted of "", "Medieval II: Total War", "", and "Napoleon: Total War". It also included "Total War: Shogun 2" which could be preloaded on 14 March.


title: Total War: Shogun 2

text: On 5 March 2013 in North America and on 8 March of the same year in Europe and Australasia (Eu/Au) "Gold Edition" compilations were released. The North American edition contained the base game, the "Rise of the Samurai" campaign and the "Fall of the Samurai" game. The Eu/Au edition contained these as well as all but one of the downloadable content packs (Dragon War Battle, Hattori Clan, Ikko Ikki Clan, Otomo Clan, Saga Clan, Obama Clan, Tsu Clan, Sendai Clan, Saints & Heroes Elite Unit and Sengoku Jidai Elite Unit packs but not the Blood Pack). The Eu/Au version also came in a gold and black wajima-nuri inspired folding case unlike the standard case for the North American version.


title: Total War: Shogun 2

text: On 31 July 2014, "Shogun 2" was released for macOS by Feral Interactive, along with the "Total War: Shogun 2 Collection", which includes all previously released additional content except "Blood Pack". "Shogun 2", "Shogun 2 Collection" and "Fall of the Samurai" were released for Linux on 23 May 2017.


title: Total War: Shogun 2

text: Alan Blair (lead campaign programmer), Kevin McDowell (lead artist) and Scott Pitkethley (lead battle programmer) won British Academy Video Games Awards for "Total War: Shogun 2" for best strategy game.


title: Julia Lester

text: Julia Rose Lester (born January 28, 2000) is an American actress and singer. She is best known for her role as Ashlyn Caswell in the Disney+ series "".


title: Julia Lester

text: Lester is from West Hollywood, Los Angeles. She is Jewish. She is the youngest daughter of Kelly and Loren Lester, granddaughter of Helen and Peter Mark Richman, and niece of Lucas Richman. Her sisters, Jenny and Lily, are also in show business.


title: Ramakien

text: The (, , ; ; sometimes also spelled ) is one of Thailand's national epics, derived from the Buddhist Dasaratha Jataka. Fundamentally, it is a Thai version of the Hindu epic Ramayana. Ramakien is an important part of the Thai literary canon.


title: Ramakien

text: King Rama VI was the person who shed the light first on the Ramayana studies in Thailand, by tracing the sources of the , comparing it with the Sanskrit Valmiki Ramayana. He found that the was influenced by three sources: the Valmiki's Ramayana, the Vishnu Purana, and Hanuman Nataka (all three are from Hinduism), in addition to its core story based on Buddhist Dashratha Jataka. A number of versions of the epic were lost in the destruction of Ayutthaya in 1767. Three versions currently exist, one of which was prepared in 1797 under the supervision of (and partly written by) King Rama I. His son, Rama II, rewrote some parts of his father's version for "khon" drama. The work has had an important influence on Thai literature, art and drama (both the "khon" and "nang" dramas being derived from it).


title: Ramakien

text: While the main story is similar to that of the Dasaratha Jataka, differences in some tales still prevail. Many other aspects were transposed into a Thai context, such as the clothes, weapons, topography, and elements of nature, which are described as being Thai in style. As Thailand is considered a Theravada Buddhist society, the Buddhist history latent in the serves to provide Thai legends with a creation myth, as well as representations of various spirits which complement beliefs derived from Thai animism.


title: Ramakien

text: A painted representation of the is displayed at Bangkok's Temple of Emerald Buddha, and many of the statues there depict characters from it.


title: Ramakien

text: The Jatakas including Dasaratha Jataka came to Southeast Asia by means of Buddhist missionaries, Indian traders and scholars who traded with the Khmer kingdoms (such as Funan and Angkor) and Srivijaya, with whom the Indians shared close economic and cultural ties.


title: Ramakien

text: The Thai adopted from the Khmer people components of Indianized culture such as the Hindu epic, Ramayana.


title: Ramakien

text: In the late first millennium, the epic was adopted by the Thai people. (written as , but read as ) The oldest recordings of the early Sukhothai kingdom, dating from the 13th century, include stories from the Jataka legends. The history of the legends was told in the shade theater (Thai: , ), a shadow-puppet show in a style adopted from Indonesia, in which the characters were portrayed by leather dolls manipulated to cast shadows on a nearby screen while the spectators watched from the other side.


title: Ramakien

text: The Thai version of the legends was first written down in the 18th century, during the Ayutthaya Kingdom, following the demise of the Sukhothai government. Most editions, however, were lost when the city of Ayutthaya was destroyed by armies from Burma (modern Myanmar) in the year 1767.


title: Ramakien

text: The version recognized today was compiled in the Kingdom of Siam under the supervision of King Rama I (1726–1809), the founder of the Chakri dynasty, which still maintains the throne of Thailand. Between the years of 1799 and 1807, Rama I supervised the writing of the well-known edition and even wrote parts of it. It was also under the reign of Rama I that construction began on the Thai Grand Palace in Bangkok, which includes the grounds of the Wat Phra Kaew, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. The walls of the Wat Phra Kaew are lavishly decorated with paintings representing stories from the .


title: Ramakien

text: Rama II (1766–1824) further adapted his father's edition of the for the khon drama, a form of theater performed by non-speaking Thai dancers with elaborate costumes and masks. Narrations from the were read by a chorus to one side of the stage. This version differs slightly from the one compiled by Rama I, giving an expanded role to Hanuman, the god-king of the apes, and adding a happy ending.


title: Ramakien

text: Since its introduction to the Thai people, the has become a firm component of the culture. The of Rama I is considered one of the masterpieces of Thai literature. It is still read and is taught in the country's schools.


title: Ramakien

text: In 1989, Satyavrat Shastri translated the into a Sanskrit epic poem ("mahakavya") named , in 25 s (cantos) and about 1200 stanzas in 14 metres. This work won eleven national and international awards.


title: Ramakien

text: The tales of the are similar to those of the Ramayana, though transferred to the topography and culture of Ayutthaya, where the Avatar of Phra Narai (the Thai incarnation of Vishnu, who is also known as Narayan) is reborn as Phra Ram.


title: Ramakien

text: The text can be split into three logical parts: the first one dealing with the origins of the main characters, the second depicting the dramatic events including the fall of Thotsakan, and the final part describing what happened afterwards.


title: Ramakien

text: The first part begins with the story of Phra Narai in the form of a boar vanquishing the demon Hiranyak. This is followed by an account of the origins of the ancestors of Thotsakan. According to Ramakien, Phra Isuan grants his servant Nonthok a boon which enables him to change his finger into a diamond and destroy anyone at whom he points it. As Nonthok begins to abuse this power, Phra Narai assumes the form of a charming woman who dances in front of Nonthok, who tries to imitate the movement of her hands. At one moment, he points the diamond finger towards himself and instantly dies. Nonthok is later reborn as Thotsakan. He also has four brothers and a sister, as well as half-siblings. Thotsakan first marries Kala Akhi, the daughter of Kala Nakha of the underworld, and later receives Nang Montho as a gift from Phra Isuan. Thotsakan and Nang Montho have a son with the first name Ronapak; after his victory over Indra, he is called Intharachit.


title: Ramakien

text: The text then explains the origins of the simian characters Phali and Sukhrip. They are born to Kala Acana, the wife of king Khodam, as a result of her adultery with Phra In and Phra Athit. When king Khodam immerses them in a lake to test their legitimacy, they turn into monkeys and vanish into the forest. Phra Isuan grants Phali a magic trident which will transfer to Phali half the strength of anyone fighting him. Sukhrip is rewarded with a beautiful young maiden Dara, but Phali takes her for himself. Later, Phali also seizes Thotsakan's consort Nang Montho and they have a son named Ongkhot before she is returned to Thotsakan. Finally, Phali banishes Sukhrip to the forest where he meets Hanuman.


title: Ramakien

text: Hanuman is said to be born after Phra Isuan places his celestial weapons in the mouth of Sawaha, the daughter of Kala Acana. Hanuman at first stays with Phali and Sukhrip, but later decides to join Sukhrip in his banishment in the forest.


title: Ramakien

text: Rama, known in the Ramakien as Phra Ram, has ancestors tracing back to Phra Narai through King Thotsarot. Phra Ram himself is a reincarnation of Phra Narai, and his brothers Phra Lak, Phra Phrot and Phra Satarut are manifestations of Phra Narai's emblems: the serpent, the discus, and the mace, respectively. Phra Ram's consort Nang Sida is a reincarnation of Phra Narai's consort Laksami, but she is born as the daughter of Thotsakan in Lanka and adopted by king Chonok of Mithila.


title: Ramakien

text: Part two deals with the main drama of the story. Phra Ram and Nang Sida fall in love at first sight before an archery contest. A hunchback named Kucci instigates the queen to ask for the banishment of Phra Ram. He sets off to live in the forest with Nang Sida and his brother Phra Lak, where they meet Sammanakha who took on the form of a beautiful maiden. She tries to seduce the two brothers, but they resist and punish her. As revenge, Thotsakan abducts Nang Sida to his palace in Lanka.


title: Ramakien

text: Phra Ram and Phra Lak meet Hanuman, Sukhrip and another monkey, Chomphuphan, and ask them to help find Nang Sida. When Hanuman locates Nang Sida in Lanka, he identifies himself by showing her ring and kerchief and retelling the secret of her first meeting with Phra Ram. Hanuman is then caught by Thotsakan's son Intharachit, but escapes while setting Lanka on fire. On returning to Phra Ram, Hanuman helps build a causeway connecting Lanka to the mainland and the war with Thotsakan begins. After a lot of fighting and attempts of treachery by Thotsakan's allies, Phra Ram manages to kill Thotsakan and Intharachit and free Nang Sida. After she passes a fire ordeal to test her faithfulness, Phra Ram takes her with him to Ayutthaya and grants various parts of his kingdom to his allies.


title: Ramakien

text: After Nang Sida draws a picture of Thotsakan on a slate, Phra Ram orders Phra Lak to take her to the forest and kill her. Instead of doing as commanded, he brings to Phra Ram the heart of a doe to trick him into believing that Nang Sida is dead. In the forest, Nang Sida finds refuge with a hermit named Wachamarik, and she gives birth to two sons: Phra Monkut and Phra Loph. Phra Ram decides to take her back to Ayutthaya, but she refuses and disappears into the Underworld. Finally, Phra Isuan brings Phra Ram and Nang Sida together again.


title: Lead(II) acetate

text: Lead(II) acetate (Pb(CHCOO)), also known as lead acetate, lead diacetate, plumbous acetate, sugar of lead, lead sugar, salt of Saturn, or Goulard's powder, is a white crystalline chemical compound with a slightly sweet taste. Like many other lead compounds, it is toxic. Lead acetate is soluble in water and glycerin. With water it forms the trihydrate, Pb(CHCOO)·3HO, a colourless or white efflorescent monoclinic crystalline substance.


title: Lead(II) acetate

text: The substance is used as a reagent to make other lead compounds and as a fixative for some dyes. In low concentrations, it is the principal active ingredient in progressive types of hair colouring dyes. Lead(II) acetate is also used as a mordant in textile printing and dyeing, and as a drier in paints and varnishes. It was historically used as a sweetener and preservative in wines and in other foods and for cosmetics.


title: Lead(II) acetate

text: Lead acetate can be made by boiling elemental lead in acetic acid and hydrogen peroxide. This method will also work with lead carbonate or lead oxide.


title: Lead(II) acetate

text: Lead(II) acetate can also be made via a single displacement reaction between copper acetate and lead metal:


title: Lead(II) acetate

text: The crystal structure of anhydrous lead(II) acetate has been described as coordination polymer. In comparison, lead(II) acetate trihydrate's structure is a 1D coordination polymer. In the trihydrate, the Pb ion's coordination sphere consists of nine oxygen atoms belonging to three water molecules, two bidentate acetate groups and two bridging acetate groups. The coordination geometry at Pb is a monocapped square antiprism. The trihydrate thermally decomposes to a hemihydrate, Pb(OAc)·½HO, and to basic acetates such as PbO(OAc) and PbO(OAc).


title: Lead(II) acetate

text: Like other lead(II) salts, lead(II) acetate has a sweet taste, which led to its historical use as a sugar substitute in both wines and foods.


title: Lead(II) acetate

text: The ancient Romans, who had few sweeteners besides honey, would boil must (grape juice) in lead pots to produce a reduced sugar syrup called "defrutum", concentrated again into "sapa". This syrup was used to sweeten wine and to sweeten and preserve fruit. It is possible that lead(II) acetate or other lead compounds leaching into the syrup might have caused lead poisoning in those who consumed it. Lead acetate is no longer used in the production of sweeteners because of its recognized toxicity. Modern chemistry can easily detect it, which has almost completely stopped the illegal use that continued decades after its use as a sweetener was banned.


title: Lead(II) acetate

text: The earliest confirmed poisoning by lead acetate was that of Pope Clement II who died in October 1047. A toxicological examination of his remains conducted in the mid-20th century confirmed centuries-old rumors that he had been poisoned with lead sugar. It is not clear whether he was assassinated.


title: Lead(II) acetate

text: In 1787 painter and biographer Albert Christoph Dies swallowed, by accident, approximately of lead acetate. His recovery from this poison was slow and incomplete. He lived with illnesses until his death in 1822.


title: Lead(II) acetate

text: Although the use of lead(II) acetate as a sweetener was already illegal at that time, composer Ludwig van Beethoven may have died of lead poisoning caused by wines adulterated with lead acetate (see also "Beethoven's liver)".


title: Lead(II) acetate

text: In the 1850s, Mary Seacole applied lead(II) acetate, among other remedies, against an epidemic of cholera in Panama.


title: Lead(II) acetate

text: In 1887, 38 hunting horses belonging to Captain William Hollwey Steeds were poisoned in their stables at Clonsilla House, Dublin, Ireland. At least ten of the hunters died. Captain Steeds, an 'extensive commission agent', had previously supplied the horses for the Bray and Greystones Coach. It transpired they had been fed a bran mash that had been sweetened with a toxic lead acetate.


title: Lead(II) acetate

text: Until recently, it was still used in the USA in men's hair colouring products like Grecian Formula. It was not until just a few years ago when the manufacturer removed lead acetate from the hair coloring product, and as of July 2018 the ingredients in Grecian Formula are water, isopropyl alcohol, triethanolamine, bismuth citrate, sodium thiosulfate, fragrance, and panthenol. Lead acetate has been replaced by bismuth citrate as the progressive colorant. Its use in cosmetics has been banned in Canada by Health Canada in 2005 (effective at the end of 2006) based on tests showing possible carcinogenicity and reproductive toxicity, and it is also banned in the European Union and has been on the California Proposition 65 warning list as a carcinogen since 1988.


title: Lead(II) acetate

text: Lead(II) acetate solution was a commonly used folk remedy for sore nipples. In modern medicine, for a time, it was used as an astringent, in the form of Goulard's Extract, and it has also been used to treat poison ivy.


title: Lead(II) acetate

text: Lead(II) acetate paper is used to detect the poisonous gas hydrogen sulfide. The gas reacts with lead(II) acetate on the moistened test paper to form a grey precipitate of lead(II) sulfide.


title: Lead(II) acetate

text: An aqueous solution of lead(II) acetate is the byproduct of a 1:1 ratio of hydrogen peroxide and white vinegar (acetic acid) used in the cleaning and maintenance of stainless steel firearm suppressors (silencers) and compensators. The solution is agitated by the bubbling action of the hydrogen peroxide, and the main reaction is the dissolution of lead deposits within the suppressor by the acetic acid, which forms lead acetate. Because of its high toxicity, this chemical solution must be appropriately disposed by a chemical processing facility or hazardous materials centre. Alternatively, the solution may be reacted with sulfuric acid to precipitate nearly insoluble lead(II) sulfate. The solid may then be removed by mechanical filtration and is safer to dispose of than aqueous lead acetate.


title: Lead(II) acetate

text: It was also used in making of slow matches during the Middle Ages. It was made by mixing natural form of lead(II) oxide called litharge and vinegar.


title: Lead(II) acetate

text: Sugar of lead was a recommended agent added to linseed oil during heating to produce "boiled" linseed oil, the lead and heat acting to cause the oil to cure faster than raw linseed oil.


title: John Swinton of Kimmerghame

text: Major-General Sir John Swinton of Kimmerghame, (21 April 1925 – 4 October 2018) was a British Army officer who served as Major-General commanding the Household Division and General Officer Commanding London District from 1976 until his retirement in 1979. He was the father of actress Tilda Swinton.


title: John Swinton of Kimmerghame

text: Swinton was the son of Brigadier Alan Henry Campbell Swinton of Kimmerghame, MC (born 15 March 1896) and wife, Mariora Beatrice Evelyn Rochfort Alers-Hankey (born 1900). A member of the Swinton family, his paternal grandfather was Scottish politician and officer-of-arms George Swinton. He was educated at Harrow School, London.


title: John Swinton of Kimmerghame

text: Swinton was commissioned into the Scots Guards on 24 March 1944, and was twice wounded towards the end of the Second World War. He was promoted to lieutenant on 8 November 1947. He served in Malaya during the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation and was mentioned in despatches. Swinton was promoted to captain on 21 April 1952. Between 1953 and 1954, he was aide-de-camp to Field-Marshal Sir William Slim, governor-general of Australia.


title: John Swinton of Kimmerghame

text: He was successively promoted to major on 21 April 1959, to lieutenant-colonel on 1 April 1966, commanding the Scots Guards (1970–71), to full colonel on 30 June 1970, and to brigadier on 31 December 1971. He was promoted to major-general and appointed Major-General commanding the Household Division and General Officer Commanding London District in 1976. In 1977, he was appointed Brigadier of the Queen's Body Guard for Scotland (The Royal Company of Archers). He retired from the Army in 1979.


title: John Swinton of Kimmerghame

text: In 1980, he became a deputy lieutenant for Berwickshire: he went on to be Lord Lieutenant of Berwickshire from 1989 to 2000 and escorted the Stone of Scone back to Scotland in 1996.


title: John Swinton of Kimmerghame

text: He married the Australian-born Judith Balfour Killen (1929–2012) on 26 August 1954; they had three sons – James Christopher Swinton, Alexander Harold Swinton, and Lieutenant Colonel William Henry Swinton – and one daughter, actress Tilda Swinton.


title: John Swinton of Kimmerghame

text: As the laird of Kimmerghame, Swinton lived at Kimmerghame House in Duns in Berwickshire. He died there on 4 October 2018 at the age of 93.


title: Yoo Su-bin

text: Yoo made his drama debut in "Prison Playbook" in 2017, as Yang Jung Suk, who was involved in the back story of Jung Hae In's character.


title: Yoo Su-bin

text: In 2019, he had a major supporting role in the short film "The Present". However, it was his role as a North Korean soldier obsessed with South Korean dramas in the dramas "Crash Landing on You" that made a surprising impact. Besides his amusing characterization, he also received strong praise from North Korean defectors who are impressed with his accent.


title: Yoo Su-bin

text: Yoo is the younger brother of director Yoo Soo-min, who directed "Weak Hero Class 1", and Yoo also made a cameo appearance for his older brother.


title: S-300VM missile system

text: The S-300VM "Antey-2500" (Russian: С-300ВМ Антеӣ-2500, NATO reporting name SA-23 Gladiator\Giant) is a Russian anti-ballistic missile system. The system is designed to target short- and medium-range ballistic missiles, aeroballistic missiles, cruise missiles, fixed-wing aircraft, loitering ECM platforms, and precision-guided munitions.


title: S-300VM missile system

text: The 9M82M missile is intended to defeat tactical, theater, and medium-range ballistic missiles, as well as aerodynamic targets at a range of up to 200 km. The Antey-2500 system is mounted on a tracked cross-country vehicle equipped with self-contained power supply and navigation systems, as well as surveying and positioning equipment.


title: S-300VM missile system

text: In early October 2016, a battery of Russian S-300V4 missile system was deployed to Syria, at the Russian naval base in Tartus. In early December 2020, the system entered combat duty on the Kuril Islands.


title: Aksana (wrestler)

text: Živilė Raudonienė (born April 29, 1982) is a Lithuanian fitness model, bodybuilder, and retired professional wrestler. She is best known for her time in WWE, where she performed under the ring name Aksana.


title: Aksana (wrestler)

text: Raudonienė began her career as a bodybuilder at the age of 13, where she began her training. At the age of 17, she was the youngest participant in the 1999 IFBB Arnold Classic Contest. During her time as a bodybuilder, she won three medals in Bodybuilding Amateur World Championships (2 silver, 1 bronze).


title: Aksana (wrestler)

text: Raudonienė signed with the professional wrestling promotion WWE and was assigned to their developmental system, Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), debuting in October 2009. She became the Queen of FCW and won the FCW Divas Championship, and was the first woman to hold both titles simultaneously. In September 2010, she competed in the third season of "NXT", placing fourth. She made her debut on the main roster in August 2011, and remained with the company until her release in June 2014. After leaving WWE, she began to work as a fitness trainer in a gym.


title: Aksana (wrestler)

text: On January 29th, 2022, Aksana was present backstage at the 2022 Royal Rumble, in case any of the women superstars booked to compete in the 30 Women Royal Rumble match weren't able to do so.


title: Aksana (wrestler)

text: Raudonienė worked as a successful bodybuilder, fitness model and personal trainer. Raudonienė began working out in the year 1996, and after a year, she entered her first fitness contest. At the age of 16, she was the youngest participant in the 1999 IFBB European Fitness Championships. She went on to win the 2009 IFBB Arnold Classic Contest, and has competed in numerous other bodybuilding contests.


title: Aksana (wrestler)

text: In an interview that aired in September 2009, Raudonienė revealed that she had been signed by the professional wrestling promotion WWE, and had begun training at their then-developmental territory, Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW). Raudonienė debuted under the ring name "Olga" at a FCW live event in a Divas Halloween Costume contest on October 29, 2009. The following month, her ring name was changed to "Aksana", and she began managing Eli Cottonwood. She was also involved in a storyline where she was kidnapped by Sweet Papi Sanchez, and over the following weeks, videos of Aksana were shown to Cottonwood until she was returned to him.


title: Aksana (wrestler)

text: Aksana made her in-ring debut at an FCW live event on January 15, 2010, when she teamed with AJ Lee, Savannah, and Eve Torres to defeat Serena Mancini, Naomi Knight, Courtney Taylor, and Liviana. She began appearing on "The Abraham Washington Show", Abraham Washington's in-ring talk show segment, where she acted as his sidekick. She continued to wrestle as well, appearing in several multi-Diva tag team matches. When it was announced that there would be a creation of the FCW Divas Championship, Aksana competed in a tournament to determine the inaugural champion, but was defeated in the first round by Serena. In August, she began hosting "The Aksana Show", a spin-off of "The Abraham Washington Show", with guests including Mason Ryan, FCW Florida Tag Team Champions Johnny Curtis and Derrick Bateman, and FCW Divas Champion Naomi Knight. On August 31, 2010, it was announced that Raudonienė would be part of the all-female third season of "NXT", retaining the ring name Aksana, and with Goldust as her storyline mentor. On the September 21 episode of "NXT", Aksana began a storyline where she was having problems with her visa and was facing deportation from the United States. On the October 5 episode of "NXT", Aksana won a challenge for the first time by winning the mechanical bull riding contest. The following week, Goldust proposed to Aksana in the storyline so that she could remain in the United States, which she accepted.


title: Aksana (wrestler)

text: At Bragging Rights, Aksana made her first appearance on WWE's main roster by accompanying Goldust in a loss to Ted DiBiase. On the October 26 episode of "NXT", Aksana teamed up with Goldust to defeat Maryse and DiBiase. On the November 2 episode of "NXT", Goldust and Aksana's storyline wedding took place. As Goldust was about to kiss his new wife, Aksana slapped him and left. The next night on "NXT", Goldust confronted his wife about their wedding. Aksana revealed she only married him to stay in the country, and Goldust responded by putting Aksana in a match with Naomi, which she lost. On November 16, on "NXT", Aksana was eliminated from the competition. She returned for the season finale on November 30.


title: Aksana (wrestler)

text: On the February 3, 2011, episode of "FCW TV", Aksana defeated Rosa Mendes to become the new Queen of FCW. Aksana later joined the villainous group formed by FCW General Manager Maxine, alongside Lucky Cannon, AJ Lee, and Damien Sandow. On the April 7 episode of "FCW TV", Aksana defeated AJ Lee to win the FCW Divas Championship, after interference from Maxine. Her victory made her the first woman to hold the Queen of FCW title and FCW Divas Championship simultaneously. She retained the championship against Naomi Knight, before losing the title to Audrey Marie on the September 1 episode of "FCW TV". On the November 17 episode of "FCW TV", Aksana lost the Queen of FCW crown to Raquel Diaz.


title: Aksana (wrestler)

text: On the October 31 episode of "Raw", Aksana competed in her first match on the main roster, a Divas Halloween Costume battle royal to determine the number one contender for the WWE Divas Championship, but was eliminated. On the January 27, 2012, episode of "SmackDown", Aksana won her first singles match by quickly defeating Natalya.In April, Aksana began a storyline relationship with the debuting Antonio Cesaro, thus turning heel in the process. On the June 29 episode of "SmackDown", Aksana and Cesaro lost a mixed tag team match to The Great Khali and Layla. At SummerSlam, she was present when Cesaro won the United States Championship. However, on the September 21 episode of "SmackDown", Cesaro ended their relationship after an inadvertent distraction from her cost him his non-title match with Santino Marella.


title: Aksana (wrestler)

text: At the Night of Champions pay-per-view, Kaitlyn was attacked by a mysterious person with blonde hair before her Divas Championship match with Layla, which resulted in Eve Torres replacing Kaitlyn and winning the championship. On the October 26 episode of "SmackDown", Aksana was revealed as the attacker, on Torres' orders. Later that night, Aksana and Torres defeated Layla and Kaitlyn in a tag team match. At Survivor Series, Aksana attacked Kaitlyn while disguised, but Kaitlyn fought her off to end the storyline. On the pre-show on December 16, Aksana competed in a "Santa's Little Helpers" battle royal to determine the number one contender to the Divas Championship, which was won by Naomi. Aksana's alliance with Eve Torres ended after Torres left WWE in January 2013.


title: Aksana (wrestler)

text: On September 6, 2013, Aksana aligned herself with Divas Champion AJ Lee, Alicia Fox, and Layla, and the quartet attacked the cast members of "Total Divas". On November 24 at Survivor Series, Aksana participated in a seven-on-seven elimination tag team match against the cast of "Total Divas", where she eliminated Brie Bella before being eliminated by Nikki Bella. Aksana went on to pin the Bellas on two separate occasions; Nikki on the December 30 episode of "Raw" in a ten-Diva tag team match, and Brie in a tag team match on the January 6, 2014, episode of "Raw".


title: Aksana (wrestler)

text: Aksana then formed a regular tag team with Alicia Fox, and the duo began being referred to as "Foxsana" as of the January 22 episode of "Main Event", where they lost to the Bella Twins. Aksana unsuccessfully challenged for the Divas Championship at WrestleMania XXX in the "Vickie Guerrero Divas Championship Invitational" match, which was won by the reigning champion AJ Lee. On the June 2 episode of "Raw", Foxsana faced Nikki Bella in a handicap match in a winning effort when Fox pinned Nikki. Following a loss to Paige on June 9 episode of "Raw", Fox attacked Aksana, provoking a feud between the two. The feud was cut short, however, as on June 12, 2014, WWE announced that Aksana had been released from her contract along with several other talents. Her last match aired on the June 13 episode of "SmackDown", where she lost to Fox.


title: Apache Groovy

text: Apache Groovy is a Java-syntax-compatible object-oriented programming language for the Java platform. It is both a static and dynamic language with features similar to those of Python, Ruby, and Smalltalk. It can be used as both a programming language and a scripting language for the Java Platform, is compiled to Java virtual machine (JVM) bytecode, and interoperates seamlessly with other Java code and libraries. Groovy uses a curly-bracket syntax similar to Java's. Groovy supports closures, multiline strings, and expressions embedded in strings. Much of Groovy's power lies in its AST transformations, triggered through annotations.


title: Apache Groovy

text: Groovy 1.0 was released on January 2, 2007, and Groovy 2.0 in July, 2012. Since version 2, Groovy can be compiled statically, offering type inference and performance near that of Java. Groovy 2.4 was the last major release under Pivotal Software's sponsorship which ended in March 2015. Groovy has since changed its governance structure to a Project Management Committee in the Apache Software Foundation.


title: Apache Groovy

text: James Strachan first talked about the development of Groovy on his blog in August 2003. In March 2004, Groovy was submitted to the JCP as JSR 241 and accepted by ballot. Several versions were released between 2004 and 2006. After the Java Community Process (JCP) standardization effort began, the version numbering changed, and a version called "1.0" was released on January 2, 2007. After various betas and release candidates numbered 1.1, on December 7, 2007, Groovy 1.1 Final was released and immediately renumbered as Groovy 1.5 to reflect the many changes made.


title: Apache Groovy

text: In 2007, Groovy won the first prize at JAX 2007 innovation award. In 2008, Grails, a Groovy web framework, won the second prize at JAX 2008 innovation award.


title: Apache Groovy

text: In November 2008, SpringSource acquired the Groovy and Grails company (G2One). In August 2009 VMware acquired SpringSource.


title: Apache Groovy

text: In April 2012, after eight years of inactivity, the Spec Lead changed the status of JSR 241 to dormant.


title: Apache Groovy

text: Strachan had left the project silently a year before the Groovy 1.0 release in 2007. In Oct 2016, Strachan stated "I still love groovy (jenkins pipelines are so groovy!), java, go, typescript and kotlin".


title: Apache Groovy

text: On July 2, 2012, Groovy 2.0 was released, which, among other new features, added static compiling and static type checking.


title: Apache Groovy

text: When the Pivotal Software joint venture was spun-off by EMC Corporation (EMC) and VMware in April 2013, Groovy and Grails formed part of its product portfolio. Pivotal ceased sponsoring Groovy and Grails from April 2015.


title: Apache Groovy

text: That same month, Groovy changed its governance structure from a Codehaus repository to a Project Management Committee (PMC) in the Apache Software Foundation via its incubator.


title: Apache Groovy

text: Most valid Java files are also valid Groovy files. Although the two languages are similar, Groovy code can be more compact, because it does not need all the elements that Java needs. This makes it possible for Java programmers to learn Groovy gradually by starting with familiar Java syntax before acquiring more Groovy programming idioms.


title: Apache Groovy

text: Groovy features not available in Java include both static and dynamic typing (with the keyword codice_1), operator overloading, native syntax for lists and associative arrays (maps), native support for regular expressions, polymorphic iteration, string interpolation, added helper methods, and the safe navigation operator codice_2 to check automatically for null pointers (for example, codice_3, or codice_4).


title: Apache Groovy

text: Since version 2 Groovy also supports modularity (being able to ship only the needed jars according to the project needs, thus reducing the size of Groovy's library), type checking, static compiling, Project Coin syntax enhancements, multicatch blocks and ongoing performance enhancements using the codice_5 instruction introduced in Java 7.


title: Apache Groovy

text: Groovy provides native support for various markup languages such as XML and HTML, accomplished via an inline Document Object Model (DOM) syntax. This feature enables the definition and manipulation of many types of heterogeneous data assets with a uniform and concise syntax and programming methodology.


title: Apache Groovy

text: Unlike Java, a Groovy source code file can be executed as an (uncompiled) script, if it contains code outside any class definition, if it is a class with a "main" method, or if it is a "Runnable" or "GroovyTestCase". A Groovy script is fully parsed, compiled, and generated before executing (similar to Python and Ruby). This occurs under the hood, and the compiled version is not saved as an artifact of the process.


title: Apache Groovy

text: "GroovyBeans" are Groovy's version of JavaBeans. Groovy implicitly generates getters and setters. In the following code, codice_6 and codice_7 are implicitly generated. The last two lines, which appear to access color directly, are actually calling the implicitly generated methods.


title: Apache Groovy

text: Groovy offers simple, consistent syntax for handling "lists" and "maps", reminiscent of Java's "array" syntax.


title: Apache Groovy

text: Groovy offers support for prototype extension through codice_8, Extension Modules (only in Groovy 2), Objective-C-like Categories and codice_9.


title: Apache Groovy

text: codice_8 offers a domain-specific language (DSL) to express the changes in the class easily, similar to Ruby's open class concept:


title: Apache Groovy

text: Groovy's changes in code through prototyping are not visible in Java, since each attribute/method invocation in Groovy goes through the metaclass registry. The changed code can only be accessed from Java by going to the metaclass registry.


title: Apache Groovy

text: Groovy also allows overriding methods as codice_11, codice_12 among others, enabling the developer to intercept calls to an object and specify an action for them, in a simplified aspect-oriented way. The following code enables the class codice_13 to respond to the codice_14 property:


title: Apache Groovy

text: The Grails framework uses metaprogramming extensively to enable GORM dynamic finders, like codice_15 and others.


title: Apache Groovy

text: Although Groovy is mostly an object-oriented language, it also offers functional programming features.


title: Apache Groovy

text: According to Groovy's documentation: "Closures in Groovy work similar to a 'method pointer', enabling code to be written and run in a later point in time". Groovy's closures support free variables, i.e. variables that have not been explicitly passed as a parameter to it, but exist in its declaration context, partial application (that it terms 'currying'), delegation, implicit, typed and untyped parameters.


title: Apache Groovy

text: When working on Collections of a determined type, the closure passed to an operation on the collection can be inferred:


title: Apache Groovy

text: A group of expressions can be written in a closure block without reference to an implementation and the responding object can be assigned at a later point using delegation:


title: Apache Groovy

text: Usually called "partial application", this Groovy feature allows closures' parameters to be set to a default parameter in any of their arguments, creating a new closure with the bound value. Supplying one argument to the codice_16 method will fix argument one. Supplying N arguments will fix arguments 1 .. N.


title: Apache Groovy

text: Groovy also supports lazy evaluation, reduce/fold, infinite structures and immutability, among others.


title: Apache Groovy

text: On JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) and XML processing, Groovy employs the Builder pattern, making the production of the data structure less verbose. For example, the following XML:


title: Apache Groovy

text: and also can be processed in a streaming way through codice_18. To change the implementation to JSON, the codice_19 can be swapped to codice_20.


title: Apache Groovy

text: A complex expression must be enclosed in curly brackets. This prevents parts of it from being interpreted as belonging to the surrounding string instead of to the expression:


title: Apache Groovy

text: According to Groovy's own documentation, "When the Groovy compiler compiles Groovy scripts and classes, at some point in the process, the source code will end up being represented in memory in the form of a Concrete Syntax Tree, then transformed into an Abstract Syntax Tree. The purpose of AST Transformations is to let developers hook into the compilation process to be able to modify the AST before it is turned into bytecode that will be run by the JVM. AST Transformations provides Groovy with improved compile-time metaprogramming capabilities allowing powerful flexibility at the language level, without a runtime performance penalty."


title: Apache Groovy

text: According to Groovy's documentation, "Traits are a structural construct of the language that allows: composition of behaviors, runtime implementation of interfaces, behavior overriding, and compatibility with static type checking/compilation."


title: Apache Groovy

text: Traits can be seen as interfaces carrying both default implementations and state. A trait is defined using the trait keyword:


title: Apache Groovy

text: class Bird implements FlyingAbility {} /* Adds the trait FlyingAbility to the Bird class capabilities */


title: Apache Groovy

text: assert bird.fly() == "I'm flying!" /* the Bird class automatically gets the behavior of the FlyingAbility trait */


title: PP-2000

text: The PP-2000 (Russian: ПП-2000) is a submachine gun/machine pistol made by the KBP Instrument Design Bureau. It was first publicly displayed at the Interpolytech-2004 exhibition in Moscow even though its patent was filed in 2001 and issued in 2003.


title: PP-2000

text: The PP-2000 is a conventional blowback-operated weapon and weighs 1.5 kg (3.3 lb) empty. The PP-2000 is designed as a close-quarter combat weapon, intended for riot police and special operations forces. In 2008, it was adopted as one of the two standard SMGs of the Russian police (along with the Vityaz-SN).


title: PP-2000

text: It is chambered in 9×19mm Parabellum, and specifically designed to utilize the new Russian 9×19mm 7N21 and 7N31 (Cyrillic: 7Н21 and 7Н31) +P+ armor-piercing versions of the cartridge. This is intended to give the PP-2000 armor-piercing capability comparable to the FN P90 and Heckler & Koch MP7 personal defense weapons while also being able to use common 9mm Parabellum rounds.


title: PP-2000

text: One unusual feature is the ability to store a spare 44-round magazine at the rear of the gun, where it also functions as a stock. A wire folding stock is also available. Another unusual feature is that this firearm's charging handle is located directly behind the front sight and folds out of the way when not in use. A similar folding charging handle can be seen on the Heckler & Koch G36.