Geology and geography.

About north to south and east to west (at its widest), Raasay's terrain is varied. The highest point, at, is Dùn Caan – an unusual, flat-topped peak. The island of Rona lies just off the north coast and the tidal islets of Eilean Fladday and Eilean Tigh are to the northwest. Other smaller surrounding islands are Eilean Aird nan Gobhar, Eilean an Inbhire, Holoman Island, Manish Island, Fraoch Eilean, Glas Eilean, Griana-sgeir and Eilean an Fhraoich. The main village of Inverarish is near the southwest coast.  Geologically interesting, the island is visited by many students engaged in mapping projects. The south is mainly Torridonian sandstone and shale; the north is grey-banded Archaean Lewisian gneiss and granulite. There are also smaller outcrops of Jurassic shales and sandstones occasionally interspersed with limestone. The related ironstone beds contain low grade oolitic siderite and chamosite ores which were worked commercially in the early 20th century. Remaining reserves are estimated at 10 million tonnes. The seas to the east and west are very deep, large troughs having been created by the Skye icecap in the Pleistocene.

Economy and culture.

The primary employment is in tourism, working for the ferry company, crofting and fishing, or commuting to work on Skye. A twenty-five-minute ride by the car and passenger ferry connects the island with Sconser on Skye. There is a primary school, but older students go to Portree High School by the ferry and bus.  Sites of interest include the remains of a broch, the ruins of Brochel Castle, inscribed stones, abandoned crofting communities, and many walking paths.  There is a shop/post office located in Inverarish. Accommodation is available in the old manor of Raasay House, and at various B&Bs. There are significant numbers of incomers and holiday homes especially in the south of the island. This has helped to arrest the population decline from over 900 in 1803 to 194 in 2001. Some inhabitants belong to the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, which strictly observes the Sabbath. On Sundays there are no public services, the playground is closed and, until 2004, the ferry did not run.  In early 2007 the Raasay Community Association signed a contract with a number of building contractors to construct a community centre, which hosted its first céilidh on 29 May 2010. In 2008 construction began on a new £12 million ferry terminal at Churchton Bay, which was officially opened on 17 August 2010. Following the community buyout of Raasay House a £3.5 million refurbishment was undertaken, leading to the temporary closure of the outdoor centre. However, in the early hours of 18 January 2009 the building was severely damaged by fire. Restoration work commenced in August 2010 but was suspended in November when the main contractor, ROK, went into administration. Work restarted with a new contractor, Mansell, in late 2011. Raasay House was officially handed over to the community in March 2013 and in addition to the 4 star accommodation it provides it is also now an outdoor activity centre with a restaurant, bar and cafe. In September 2017 the Isle of Raasay distillery opened after the conversion of Borodale House.

Flora and fauna.

Raasay is home to the Raasay vole ("Clethrionomys glareolus erica"), a subspecies of bank vole, which is darker and heavier than the mainland variety and found nowhere else in the world. It is possibly a survivor of a Scandinavian race. Murray (1973) states that a single specimen of a pine marten, otherwise missing from the Hebrides, was found on the island in 1971. No other records for this species exist. Raasay is one of only four of the Inner Hebrides where mountain hares breed. Raasay is regularly visited by white-tailed sea eagles and golden eagles and there are populations of otter, red deer and European rabbit (which were introduced by the island's proprietor in the 19th century). Stoat and weasel are found in small numbers as are water shrew. It also supports a rich variety of plants, including red broomrape, dark red helleborine, mountain avens and numerous other saxifrages, orchids, alpines and ferns. The carline thistle ("Carlina vulgaris") was apparently extant in the 1970s, but a recent survey found no evidence of its continued existence. There are several stands of mixed woodland.

History.

The spread of Scots culture from Dalriada north of Ardnamurchan is poorly understood and little is recorded of Raasay's early Christian period. The placename "Kilmaluag" suggests the presence of St Moluag in the late sixth century.  Following Viking expeditions to the islands they called the "Suðreyjar" in the eighth century, Raasay became part of the Norse Kingdom of the Isles and for much of the period religious observance came under the jurisdiction of the Bishopric of the Isles. The Hebrides were yielded to the Kingdom of Scotland as a result of the 1266 Treaty of Perth, after which time control of the islands north of Ardnamurchan was in the hands of the Earls of Ross. In addition to the name "Raasay" itself, placenames such as Arnish (eagle headland), Suidhisnis (seething headland) and Eyre (beach or sand spit) are a legacy of the Norse presence.

15th to 17th century.

Tradition has it that Clan MacSween originally held title to Raasay but there is no written record of this. It is known that the island was ruled by the MacLeods from 1518 when Gillecallum, younger son of the MacLeod Chief of Lewis was granted title. Martin Martin visited towards the end of the 17th century and noted:  it has some wood on all the quarters of it, the whole is fitter for pasturage than cultivation, the ground being generally very unequal, but very well watered with rivulets and springs. There is a spring running down the face of a high rock on the east side of the isle; it petrifies into a white substance, of which very fine lime is made, and there is a great quantity of it. There is a quarry of good stone on the same side of the isle; there is abundance of caves on the west side, which serve to lodge several families, who for their convenience in grazing, fishing, &c., resort thither in the summer. On the west side, particularly near to the village Clachan, the shore abounds with smooth stones of different sizes, variegated all over. The same cattle, fowl, and fish are produced here that are found in the isle of Skye. There is a law observed by the natives that all their fishing lines must be of equal length, for the longest is always supposed to have best access to the fish, which would prove a disadvantage to such as might have shorter ones. There are some forts in this isle, the highest is in the south end; it is a natural strength, and in form like the crown of a hat; it is called Dun-Cann, which the natives will needs have to be from one Canne, cousin to the king of Denmark. The other lies on the side, is an artificial fort, three stories high, and is called Castle Vreokle. Brochel Castle, as it is more commonly known, was built by the MacSweens in the 15th century on the north-east coast of Raasay. Latterly, it became a base for the MacLeod of Lewis's pirating activities prior to Calum Garbh's investiture there. The castle was inhabited until the death by drowning of the Chief Iain Garbh in 1671 and is now a ruin sitting atop a pinnacle. In the meantime the Macleods moved their seat to Raasay House at the south end of the island.

18th century.

Although Protestant, the MacLeods of Raasay supported Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1745. After the defeat at the Battle of Culloden, the Prince spent 2 days hiding from the British troops on Raasay and as a consequence of the island's support for the Jacobite cause the original Raasay House and many dwellings were burnt down by government troops. In conversation with Malcolm MacLeod of Raasay during his short stay on the island the Prince confided that although his life on the run was hard, he would rather live that way for ten years than be captured as he feared assassination. He seemed less aware of the risks his supporters ran. The atrocities perpetrated in the aftermath of Culloden were a shock to him. Of Cumberland he said: "Surely that man who calls himself a duke and pretends to be so great a general cannot be guilty of such cruelties. I cannot believe it."  In 1773 James Boswell and Samuel Johnson arrived on the island during their Hebridean tour. They visited Raasay House and Johnson wrote:  Our reception exceeded our expectations. We found nothing but civility, elegance, and plenty. After the usual refreshments, and the usual conversation, the evening came upon us. The carpet was then rolled off the floor; the musician was called, and the whole company was invited to dance, nor did ever fairies trip with greater alacrity. The general air of festivity, which predominated in this place, so far remote from all those regions which the mind has been used to contemplate as the mansions of pleasure, struck the imagination with a delightful surprise, analogous to that which is felt at an unexpected emersion from darkness into light. When it was time to sup, the dance ceased, and six and thirty persons sat down to two tables in the same room. After supper the ladies sung Erse songs, to which I listened as an English audience to an Italian opera, delighted with the sound of words which I did not understand. Boswell went exploring and described the island as follows:  Having resolved to explore the island of Rasay, which could be done only on foot, I last night obtained my fellow-traveller’s permission to leave him for a day, he being unable to take so hardy a walk. Old Mr Malcolm M’Cleod, who had obligingly promised to accompany me, was at my bedside between five and six. I sprang up immediately, and he and I, attended by two other gentlemen, traversed the country during the whole of this day. Though we had passed over not less than four-and-twenty miles of very rugged ground, and had a Highland dance on the top of Dùn Can, the highest mountain in the island, we returned in the evening not at all fatigued, and piqued ourselves at not being outdone at the nightly ball by our less active friends, who had remained at home. My survey of Rasay did not furnish much which can interest my readers; I shall therefore put into as short a compass as I can, the observations upon it, which I find registered in my journal. It is about fifteen English miles long, and four broad. On the south side is the laird’s family seat, situated on a pleasing low spot. The old tower of three stories, mentioned by Martin, was taken down soon after 1746, and a modern house supplies its place. There are very good grass-fields and corn-lands about it, well dressed. I observed, however, hardly any inclosures, except a good garden plentifully stocked with vegetables, and strawberries, raspberries, currants, &c.

19th and 20th centuries.

In 1843 the last laird, John Macleod, was deep in debt and chose to emigrate to Tasmania having sold Raasay for 35,000 guineas to George Rainy. After the failure of the potato harvests in the 1840s, the new owner decided to convert as much arable land as possible to sheep farming. This required the removal of the islanders, and his solution was to ban marriage. Several townships were cleared including Hallaig and Screapadal. Two boatloads of emigrants left for Portland in Australia in 1854 as a result, and another 165 left for the same destination in 1865. The estate was then sold to Edward Wood, and conflicts between the laird and the islanders grew as he decided to turn the island over to sporting purposes. On 20 September 1862 the steamship "Irishman" ran aground on "Skernataid Rock" between Raasay and Scalpay. A vessel "Spindrift" is also recorded as having become jammed under the ferry pier at the sound end of the island and broken in two by the rising tide at an unspecified date.  Near Oskaig, there is a row of six houses which are known as Manitoba. Locals believe that this was a gathering place for people about to embark on emigrating to Canada in the late 19th century.  William Baird and Company signed a deed to purchase the estate of the Island of Raasay on 28 December 1910. The sale completed on 15 May 1911.  In May 1921, a group of crofters from Rona landed on Raasay and attempted to re-occupy their ancestral land. These so-called "Raasay Raiders" were arrested, tried and given prison sentences, but public support for them was strong and they were eventually freed and allowed to remain on Raasay.  The island was purchased by the government in 1922 after the mine closed. In 1949 The Forestry Commission was granted land bringing much-needed employment, and in 1956 The North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board delivered mains electricity to the island. In the 1960s Raasay House and various other properties were purchased by John Green, a doctor residing Sussex who visited the island only once and whose lack of interest in it earned him the sobriquet "Dr No". Having purchased the property for £8,000 he sold it to the Highlands and Islands Development Board in 1979 for £135,000.  Around this time, Manchester-born Alan Evans (who lived in Loanhead and worked for Ferranti, but owned several small properties around Raasay) set up Isle of Raasay Enterprises, a private initiative intended to encourage local enterprise such as the production of tourist postcards. Little progress was made before his death in 1967 but he is remembered by the Allan Evans Memorial Hostel (closed 2014) at Creachan, a remote cottage he had bequeathed to the SYHA.

The Iron Mine.

Nicholson reported an early bloomery on the island. The next record of ironstone on Raasay was by HB Woodward in 1893. Stead investigated the outcrop in 1909 and the subsequent analysis by Tatlock convinced Baird's to buy the island the following year (with completion in 1912).  Baird's original plan was for a railway from the outcrop site down to just south of Suisnish point with the erection of five kilns. Objections led to the plan being revised for two kilns further south, where the current pier is. This pier was a public pier with landing charges regulated by government order. By the outbreak of war Baird's had completed the pier (constructed by Robert McAlpine & Sons), kilns, railway and "other works".  To house the workforce Baird's planned the village of Inverarish Houses, today known as Inverarish Terrace. The village consists of two facing rows of houses, each row being two terraces of 16 houses each. Between the terraces is a broad open area. Numbers 1—32 are the western row, 33—64 the eastern. The lower, southern terraces were built first (1—16 and 33—48) between 1912 and 1913. The first terraces were stone built and by 1914–15 were about half occupied. By the time of the 1915–16 valuation some of numbers 1-16 were unoccupied, just over half of numbers 33—48 were occupied and the newly built brick terrace of numbers 17—32 were also vacant. The unoccupied houses were caused by many of the labour force being called to the colours.  With the introduction of unrestricted submarine warfare in 1916 the Ministry of Munitions became concerned about the availability of foreign iron ore. Baird's were one company amongst others which opened up domestic mines in order to supply the war effort. In May 1916 Baird's signed an agreement to run the mine on behalf of the Ministry, although there was a minor skirmish over the amount of processing to be done on the island. The first prisoners were on the island by June and were housed in the upper part of the village, numbers 17—32 and the now completed 49–64. This northern part of the village was converted into a prisoner-of-war camp by the simple expedient of building a barbed wire fence around it and erecting sentry boxes and arc lamps at the corners.

Population.

In 2001 Raasay had the lowest percentage of children of any populated Scottish island and the island's population fell by over 16% since that time to the date of the 2011 census During the same period Scottish island populations as a whole grew by 4% to 103,702. With 36% in the 2001 census there was still a relatively high density of Gaelic speakers (down from over 75% in 1901 and 1921).

Culture and the arts.

Piping tradition.

John MacKay, born on Raasay in 1767, was supported by the MacLeod Chief as the foremost island piper of his day and an inheritor of the MacCrimmon tradition. His son Angus published a collection of pibroch music in staff notation and was the first Piper to the Sovereign.

Sorley MacLean.

The poet Sorley MacLean was born in Osgaig, a small crofting community on the west coast of the island; perhaps his most famous poem is about "Hallaig", an abandoned community on the east coast. MacLean's writings often combine an ancient traditional awareness, with a modernist political outlook, in which Raasay, and the areas adjacent to it are frequently referenced. But while MacLean's work dwells on the brutality of war, of the Highland Clearances and modern exploitation, he also writes about nature. Thus, although the Clearances leave an empty landscape populated only by the ghosts of those evicted or forced to emigrate, "Time, the deer, is in the Wood of Hallaig".

Calum's Road.

The two miles (3 km) of road between Brochel Castle and Arnish were built using hand-tools by Calum MacLeod BEM over ten years. Only when complete was the road surfaced by the local council; by then Calum and his wife were the last inhabitants of Arnish. "Calum's Road" has been commemorated in music both by Capercaillie on their 1988 album "The Blood is Strong" and by Runrig in "Wall of China" from the album The Stamping Ground, as well as in a book by Roger Hutchinson. The BBC Radio 4 drama "Calum's Road", based on Hutchinson's book and dramatised by Colin MacDonald, was first broadcast on 5 October 2013 starring Ian McDiarmid as Calum MacLeod.

Harrison Birtwistle.

The composer Sir Harrison Birtwistle lived on Raasay from 1975 to 1983. His "Duets for Storab", takes its name from Storab, a Viking prince who was shipwrecked and sought refuge on Raasay. Birtwistle's string quartet, "The Tree of Strings", written in 2007, takes its title from a poem by Sorley MacLean.

Raasay () or the Isle of Raasay is an island between the Isle of Skye and the mainland of Scotland. It is separated from Skye by the Sound of Raasay and from Applecross by the Inner Sound. It is most famous for being the birthplace of Gaelic poet Sorley MacLean, an important figure in the Scottish Renaissance.

Raasay () je jeden z ostrovů, které tvoří souostroví Vnitřní Hebridy. Na západě sousedí s ostrovem Skye, na východě se skotskou pevninou. Jméno Raasay je skandinávského původu a znamená „Srnčí ostrov“. Hlavním střediskem je vesnice Inverarish, která za první světové války sloužila jako tábor pro německé zajatce.


Concept and creation.

Named after creator Satoshi Tajiri, Satoshi, whose name can be taken to mean "wisdom" or "reason", was designed by Ken Sugimori and Atsuko Nishida, and intended to represent how Tajiri was as a child, obsessed with catching bugs. During localization of both for North American audiences, the character's name was changed in the anime to "Ash Ketchum", the first name taken from one of the possible default names players could select for the player character in "Pokémon Red" and "Blue", and the surname tying into the former tagline (and as of Pokémon XY revived) for the series, "Gotta catch ém all!" ("ポケモンGETだぜ!", "Pokémon getto da ze!").  Tajiri noted in an interview that between Japanese and US reactions to the series, Japanese consumers focused on the character Pikachu, while the US purchased more items featuring Ash and Pikachu, his Pokémon, together. He stated that he felt the character represented the concept of the franchise, the human aspect, and was a necessity. The character was given a rival named Gary Oak ("Shigeru Okido" in the Japanese version, after Tajiri's idol/mentor, Nintendo legend Shigeru Miyamoto), loosely based on Red's rival Blue. In an interview Tajiri noted the contrast between the characters' relationship in the games and anime; while in the games they were rivals, in the anime, Shigeru represented Satoshi's master. When asked if either Satoshi would equal or surpass Shigeru, Tajiri replied "No! Never!" Ash's character design was initially overseen by Sayuri Ichishi, replaced by Toshiya Yamada during the "Diamond and Pearl" storyline arc. Ash received a redesign in the "Best Wishes!" series, which included larger brown irises. In the "XY" series, he received minor changes, such as a decrease in the size of the 'birthmarks' on his cheeks. Ash received a major design overhaul for the "Sun" and "Moon" anime series, which started airing in Japan on November 17, 2016.

Voice Actors.

In Japan throughout the anime media, Rika Matsumoto has always provided the original Japanese voice of Ash, and Hana Takeda. For the English dubbing, Veronica Taylor provided the voice of Ash in the first eight seasons of the English adaption of the "Pokémon" anime, which was dubbed by 4Kids Entertainment. At the time of her audition, Taylor stated that the character was temporarily named Casey, which was the name later given to a recurring character in Johto. After the script was translated from Japanese, the lines were adapted to fit the movements of the character's mouth (called "lip flap"). All the voices were recorded separately, so Taylor was the only one in the booth when she recorded her lines, which took approximately six to eight hours per episode. Taylor was often the first person to record, so she had to "imagine how the previous line will be said". "Luckily, I work with a great director who helps with the interpretation of the line, matching of the lip flap, and consistency of the voice". Taylor enjoyed playing Ash because of his "low, husky voice" and "energy and excitement".  Taylor commented that Ash and the other characters "loosened up" after the first ten episodes of the anime; she believed the writers were more relaxed and no longer felt the pressure of making sure everything was done correctly. Taylor commented: "I enjoy playing Ash now much more than I did in the very beginning because I can have fun with him more, and we kind of know him and can work out how he really would react. We have the classic Ash responses and things like that." Sarah Natochenny replaced Taylor in season nine when The Pokémon Company International (known at that time as Pokémon USA) took over the licensing, prompting a shift in recording studios.  For the Korean dubbing, Choi Deok-Hui provided the voice of Ash in the first five seasons and first two movies of the Korean adaption of the "Pokémon" anime, which was dubbed by Seoul Broadcasting System. An Hyeon-Seo replaced Deok-Hui in Pokémon movies three through five. Lee Seon-ho replaced Hyeon-Seo in season 6 and in the sixth Pokémon movie.

Appearances.

Prior to the show.

In episode 28 of the nineteenth season (), 'Seeing the Forest for the Trees!,' It reveals the true story of why Ash Ketchum loved Pokémon, when he was a little boy, Ash went to the forest to look for wild Pokémon. However, during the trip in the woods, it started to rain, and Ash got lost and was so scare to the point of bursting into tears. Ash was forced to take shelter under a hollow tree. However, he noticed a group of Pokémon who were also seeking shelter from the rain. So, he invited them inside the tree and the Pokémon kept him safe and warm. This experience is what inspired Ash into becoming a Pokémon trainer.  In the first episode of the twenty-third season (), Ash at the age of six asked his mother if he can go to Professor Oak's Pokémon Summer Camp which she happily signed him up. However, Ash missed the camp due to breaking his alarm clock and overslept.  In episode 7 of the seventeenth season (), 'Giving Chase at the Rhyhorn Race!,' Ash attend another one Professor Oak's Pokémon Summer Camp, where he had previously met childhood friend Serena. At one point during the camp, Serena had hurt her knee from falling over after being startled by a Poliwag. Ash had used his handkerchief to wrap up her injury, which she had kept, and returns to Ash in this episode.  In episode 58 of the fifth season (), 'The Ties That Bind!,' Ash started his rivalry with Gary, Professor Oak grandson, after they both fished out an old PokéBall then broke it in half. After that, Ash and Gary kept both half as a reminder of the day they started their rivalry.

In the anime.

The series starts with the episode 'Pokémon, I Choose You!', with Ash's tenth birthday, which according to Pokémon trainer registration bylaws allowed him to become a full-fledged Pokémon trainer and obtain a starter Pokémon. As a ten-year-old hailing from Pallet Town in the Kanto region, Ash was offered a choice between three Pokémon as his starter: Bulbasaur, Squirtle and Charmander. While he was planning to choose Squirtle, he received the electric type Pokémon Pikachu from Professor Oak instead in this episode, because he woke up late and all the other starter Pokémon had been taken by other trainers. After receiving Pikachu and a Pokédex, Ash left Pallet Town to start his journey. Since then Ash has traveled the world of Pokémon, competed in many challenges and caught newer Pokémon. He has met many companions, such as Misty and Brock.  Throughout the series, Ash's primary enemies are a criminal organization called Team Rocket, specifically the two comical and bumbling members, Jessie and James, and their talking Meowth, who is essentially the third member of the group. Ever since being defeated by Ash's Pikachu in the second episode, "Pokémon Emergency!", the three of them have obsessively never stopped chasing after them to steal Ash's Pikachu, maintaining the delusion that Pikachu is abnormally powerful and presenting it to their criminal boss would make them very rich. As the enduring comical villains of the series, the Team Rocket trio occasionally show signs of goodness, such as care and friendship with their Pokémon and each other, and despite their constant antagonism, they occasionally put their differences aside and work together with Ash against a common threat, such as in "", where they aid Ash in retrieving the three treasures in order to save the world.  During his travels, Ash still had a lot to learn as a trainer. He caught his Pokémon by merely befriending them, knew absolutely nothing about battling, and many of his gym badges were earned rather controversially. In fact, the only legitimate victories were over Lt. Surge, Koga, and Blaine, while the others were earned on technical convenience or given to him out of gratitude. Ash also shows a deep love for Pokémon in the series, protecting wild Pokémon or his own from getting injured or trying to help them, despite getting significantly hurt himself. He honed his skill as a Pokémon trainer and was able to get all 8 badges, enabling him to compete in the Indigo League. Ash was able to go to the 5th round, and achieve the Top 16 — one round further than his competitive rival Gary, who finished in the Top 32. However, due to his inexperience in handling his more powerful Pokémon, Ash was eliminated from his first Pokémon League competition in a very unflattering manner, which greatly disappointed him but he got over it and vowed to not make the same mistake in a league again.  Ash traveled to the Orange Islands with Misty and Tracey Sketchit, a Pokémon watcher, obtained all 4 badges and competed in the Orange League to battle Drake, the Orange League Champion. Ash was able to win his battle against Drake, giving him his first League Championship as a Pokémon trainer. This particular Pokémon League exists only in the anime series, and not adapted from the video game series.  He then traveled on to the Johto region with Brock and Misty, hoping to meet with Gary and finally defeat him in the Johto League. He won 8 badges and competed in the Johto Conference. Ash beat Gary again, in the 1st round of the conference, and was able to make it to the quarter-finals, and achieve Top 8. However, he lost in the 2nd round.  Ash then moved on and traveled through the Hoenn region, along with Brock and two new characters: May, an aspiring Pokémon coordinator, and her younger brother Max, and together they ended up bringing down the rival teams Team Magma and Team Aqua. He was able to get all 8 badges and then competed in the Hoenn Conference and lost in the 3rd round.  Having gone through several leagues and gotten a lot stronger, Ash decided to challenge the Kanto "Battle Frontier" and its 7 Brains (leaders). Brock, May, and Max accompanied him. Ash defeated all of the Brains and acquired all the 7 Battle Frontier symbols, becoming a "Strong Battle Frontier champion" and qualifying for becoming a Frontier Brain himself. However, Ash, wanting to learn more about Pokémon and get even stronger, decided to continue his journey, not as a Frontier Brain, but as a trainer. However, having acquired all 7 symbols, he left with the privilege of becoming a Frontier Brain if and when he wants in the future.  Ash, along with Brock, traveled to Sinnoh, befriended a new traveling companion, Dawn, and also found a brutal new rival in Paul; and through their journey they encountered and defeated Team Galactic. Ash won all 8 Sinnoh gym badges and competed in the Sinnoh conference at the Lily of the Valley Island. He eventually faced Paul in the quarter-finals of the Sinnoh League Festival and finally defeated him, marking the first time Ash has ever made it into the semi-finals in a Pokémon League. Afterwards, however, Ash was matched against Tobias, a trainer who famously swept all eight Sinnoh League gyms and all other opponents with only his legendary Pokémon Darkrai. Ash was eventually defeated by Tobias, but not without having defeated his Darkrai, as well as his Latios, which is also a legendary Pokémon, whom Ash also defeated in a draw with his final Pokémon, making Ash the only known trainer to have defeated two of Tobias' legendary Pokémon. Ash concluded his participation in the Sinnoh League with an impressive new ranking. He bade farewell with Dawn in Twinleaf Town, and parted ways with Brock for the last time.  Once again, Ash continued his journey to the Unova region, with only his Pikachu. Here, he met and traveled with two new companions: a female trainer named Iris, and a Pokémon Connoisseur named Cilan, who, like Brock before him, is a gym leader. Throughout Unova, Ash met and competed against more rivals than before, including Trip, Bianca, Stephan, Cameron, and Virgil, most of whom he befriended. Unlike previous seasons, Ash notoriously displayed a drop in skill and competence, and instead regressed back to a beginner, showing little of his previous expertise and relearned many of the basics of catching Pokémon (though this may have been due to over-excitement of entering a new region with exclusive Pokémon, and slowly wore off as the seasons went on). However, Ash still managed to win all eight gym badges in Unova and then entered the Unova League, where he defeated his arrogant rival, Trip, in the first match, but was defeated by Cameron in the quarter-finals, one match below his previous Pokémon League ranking. Cameron was then defeated by Virgil, who went on to win the League with his team of Eevee evolutions. Also unlike previous seasons, Ash battled against a much more malevolent Team Rocket, as well as the evil Team Plasma. After his latest attempt to compete in the Unova League, and foiling both Team Rocket and Team Plasma's attempts to enslave Pokémon to conquer the world, Ash's friends traveled with him back to Kanto, where they parted to go own their ways and bade each other farewell.  Ash then ventured to the Kalos region to challenge the Kalos League, as well as learn more about Mega Evolution, a transformation that can take certain fully evolved Pokémon to a more powerful temporary form. While there, he began traveling with the siblings Clemont and Bonnie, along with Serena, whom he had met during a Pokémon summer camp in Pallet Town when they were much younger. Ash gained new rivals like Sawyer and Alain. While in Kalos, Ash befriended and acquired new Pokémon, including Froakie, which later evolved into a powerful Greninja. Although Ash did not yet have a Pokémon that can mega-evolve (at least not in his current party), the group discovered that his Greninja was capable of "Bond Phenomenon", a transformation where Ash and Greninja connect mentally and Greninja's body changes to a color scheme resembling Ash. Like Mega Evolution, the transformation is temporary and makes "Ash-Greninja" much more powerful and well capable of defeating mega-evolved Pokémon. Currently, no other known Pokémon in existence is capable of Bond Phenomenon, and several rivals took great interest in competing with it in the Kalos League with their own mega-evolving Pokémon. Like before, Ash earned all eight gym badges qualifying him to compete in the Kalos League, and with his newest Pokémon, Ash defeated many opponents and their mega-evolved Pokémon, advancing all the way to the finals, breaking his previous highest ranking, but was defeated by Alain. After the tournament, Ash and his friends got involved in Team Flare, the local evil organization, final operation to take over Kalos. During the crisis, Ash and his Pokémon were captured by Team Flare, who unlike Team Rocket and the previous evil organizations, Team Magma and Team Galactic, he dealt with in the past who captured him so he wouldn't meddle in their plans or used him as a hostage, as their leader, Lysandre, wanted to use him alongside Greninja for his plans. Ash's other Pokémon were used by Team Flare as hostages in an attempt to get Ash and Greninja to cooperate. Team Flare used a mini version of their device, capable of controlling Zygarde, in an attempt to control Ash along with Greninja for their Bond Phenomenon while Pikachu and the rest of Ash's Kalos Pokémon watched in shock. However, Ash, who was able to hear Pikachu's voice, and Greninja resisted Team Flare's control as they couldn't break their fighting spirit and the bond they share for their friends and each other then used Bond Phenomenon to break free from their restraints. After Alain freed Ash's Pokémon from their restraints, Ash and his Pokémon were ready to stop Team Flare once and for all with Alain, who was once a Team Flare member, but decided to help stop them as he saw through his mistakes and due to his friendship with Ash as well, helping. Once Team Flare was stopped, Ash released Greninja to help protect Kalos from other threats. Ash and Greninja also wanted to keep themselves and their friends, especially Pikachu and the rest of the Kalos members, out of harm ways knowing that someone like Team Flare would not only try to use their abilities for evil, but would also use anyone close to them as hostages in an attempt to get what they want. Ash then bade farewell to his friends, before returning to Pallet Town once again.  During a vacation with his mother on Melemele Island in the Alola Region, Ash had an encounter with Tapu Koko, one of the local Island Guardian Pokémon, who gave him a Z-Ring, an item that allows a Trainer to bring forth super-powered attacks from their Pokémon. When Ash used the Z-Ring for the first time with Pikachu, it produced a massive surge of energy that overloaded and shattered the Z-Crystal that powered it, making Ash realize that he needed to learn to control it. In order to master the power of the Z-Ring, Ash then decided to stay in Alola and enrolls at the Pokémon School, living with Professor Kukui and studying with his new classmates: Lana, Mallow, Lillie, Sophocles and Kiawe while battling against Team Rocket & Team Skull. During his stay in Alola, Ash not only encountered many new varieties of Pokémon, some of which became part of his new Pokémon team, but also competed in the Alolan Island Challenges, each of which led to a Grand Trial against each of the Island Kahunas; emerging victorious in both the Challenges and Trials, Ash received different Z-Crystals. With the discovery of Pokémon from other dimensions, known as Ultra Beasts, emerging through wormholes, Ash and his classmates became part of the Ultra Guardians team, charged with capturing the Ultra Beasts and returning them to their own dimensions. Ash later participated in the Alola League, resulting in his first Pokémon League conference championship win in his career as a Pokémon Trainer and breaking his last League ranking. After the League was done, Ash decided to go back to Pallet Town once again to continue his journey then bid farewell to his friends before setting off to his hometown.  Ash went to a grand opening of a new research facility in Vermilion City with Professor Oak and his mom. After meeting Lugia and befriending a new Trainer named Goh, Ash accepted the head professor of the new research facility's offer to be a special assistant alongside his new friend. After accepting the offer, Ash decided to stay in Vermilion City as he and Goh will be traveling all over the world to gather information on Pokémon. During his journey, Ash learns about Dynamax and even received a Dynamax band from the current world champion Leon, who is also the Galar Region champion. After seeing that his Pikachu can Gigantamax and losing an unofficial battle against Leon, Ash decided to compete in the World Championships so he can climb up the ranks and have an official battle against the current world champion one day.  Ash has considerably improved his abilities as a trainer over the course of the series. However, his earnestness and determination remain the same. During the first season of the series, Ash trained to catch more Pokémon than his childhood rival, Gary Oak, although he was always shown to be the stronger trainer. He soon began to focus more on each of his Pokémon's abilities. Ash has shown to have the ability to sense and control Aura, which was mainly used with either with Rioul or Lucario. Also, Ash can use Bond Phenomenon, which he used with one of his Pokémon. Through his love for Pokémon, Ash seems to understand the feelings of them as he sometimes shares a link with them as he senses their pain, see their thoughts, memories, have them appear in his dream as a way of asking for his help for various reasons and hear what they are saying, although the abilities are usually shown mainly with Legendary Pokémon but it was once shown with a Mythical Pokémon. Also, Ash has shown to sometimes sense a Pokémon presences or when one is coming. Although he got involved and ended up getting captured by Team Rocket and an evil organization from his past journeys for various reasons, Ash did avoid getting captured or gotten away from a couple of evil organizations, Team Aqua, Team Plasma and Team Skull.

Achievements.

Badges Obtained.

Over his journey so far, Ash has collected 8 badges from each of the major regions of Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, Unova and Kalos. In addition, he has also obtained 4 badges from the Orange Archipelago and defeated the Orange Islands Champion to gain the Winners' Trophy. He has also collected all 7 Frontier Symbols from Generation III's Battle Frontier, and has been offered a position as a future Frontier Brain, which he declined. In the Alola region, he has completed all the Island Grand Trials, Melemele, Akala, Ula'Ula and Poni Island.

Pokémon League Rankings.

Ash has generally improved in his Pokémon League Performances over time, placing in:

Championship Tournament.

Ash also participated in other championships, ash ranking in other championships are:

In the video games.

The only video game Ash has truly appeared in to date is "Pokémon Puzzle League", where he tries to become a Pokémon Puzzle Master. This game was never released in Japan.  In "Pokémon Red", "Blue", "Yellow", and the remakes of "Red" and "Blue", a character very similar to Ash (named Red) appears as a playable character as well as in cameos in "Pokémon Black 2", "White 2", "Gold", "Silver", their remakes, "Sun" and "Moon". The anime re-imagined Red as Ash Ketchum, the same way it re-imagined Red's rival Blue as Gary Oak and Ethan (the protagonist of the second generation Pokémon games as well as their remakes) as Jimmy. Although they are counterparts, they are not the same characters because they originate from different canons and thus developed from different experiences. Though "Pokémon Yellow" has certain plot aspects that were inspired by the anime series, the player character is still named Red rather than Ash.  In "Pokémon Sun" and "Moon"'s demo, the player character, Sun, receives a letter from Ash, along with his Greninja, which is capable of assuming its "Ash-Greninja" form through its ability Battle Bond. Ash also makes a cameo in Ghost Trial of the full game, where one may see a blurry photo of him and his Pikachu in the back room.

Printed adaptations.

The portrayals of Ash in the manga "The Electric Tale of Pikachu", and "Ash & Pikachu", are very similar to the one in the anime. There are key differences in the manga, though. "The Electric Tale of Pikachu" is based on Ash's journey up until the end of the Orange Islands travel. Ash is usually seen traveling by himself during the course of this manga although he is joined by Misty and Brock in Indigo sometimes. Misty is the only one to join Ash in the Orange Islands. The "Ash & Pikachu" manga is similar, although it has the episodes from the anime like "The Fortune Hunters" and "A Goldenrod Opportunity" combined, but with a couple of changes. Manga author Toshihiro Ono cited Ash as one of his favorite characters to draw for the series, stating, "I want to go on a trip with Misty just like him! (And forget about job, rent, etc.)". In "Pokémon Adventures", Red depicts his appearance from what he wore in the games.

In other media.

Although not parodied quite as frequently as the franchise mascot Pikachu, Ash still has many parodies and appearances in various other media, ranging from an unofficial fan-made film to several representations in web media, including many parodies on the YouTube channel Smosh.  Ash makes a brief cameo in the animated series "The Simpsons", when, in the episode "Postcards From the Wedge," the character Bart Simpson is watching TV while doing his homework, and a parody of the "Pokémon" anime appears on TV, starring Ash (in what appears to be a loose parody of his "Diamond & Pearl" outfit) and Pikachu. Bart remarks "Wow, how does this show stay so fresh?", which is both a reference to the length of the anime, as well as referencing the length of "The Simpsons" itself in an ironic way. In the episode "The Perspiration Implementation" of the TV show "The Big Bang Theory", Ash is mentioned by the character Sheldon Cooper when he attempts to ask a girl out by saying "And as Ash Ketchum said to Pikachu, I choose you.", which specifically references how Pikachu was Ash's first Pokémon. In the episode "Chinpokomon" of the animated show "South Park", a parody of Ash makes an appearance, along with a parody of Team Rocket's James, as characters in a TV show parodying Pokémon. The title itself is a reference to Pokémon.  A character wearing Ash's League Expo hat makes a cameo in the 4th episode of the 4th season of "Rick and Morty".  Ash also makes appearances in several segments of the show "Robot Chicken", including "Poké Ball High Life" and "Pokémon Tennis." In the show "The Norm Show", the character Tommy thinks that he is Ash, and faces off against the character Norm in the episode "Artie comes to town." In the Japanese Light Novel series "Highschool DxD", the character of the familiar master Zatouji is a clear parody of Ash, even his catchphrase being ""Gotta catch 'em all!"" Ash also features in an "ADHD Short" segment called "Pikachu gets Pokémon rabies."  A man wearing Ash's original outfit also appears in a few Taiwanese Subway ads teaching passengers basic safety procedures. A man wearing Ash's original League Expo hat is also shown in the third episode of season 4 of the show "Metalocalypse". In the episode "Johnny'mon" of the cartoon show "Johnny Test", the character Blast Ketchup is a blatant parody of Ash Ketchum. The title is also a parody of Pokémon.  A boy wearing Ash's attire from the Original Series can be seen in the episode 'Operation Archive' of. Ash also appears in the Captain Tsubasa (2018) series as a spectator, in his Sun and Moon attire.  In the game "Overwatch", the character Hanzo says the line "I choose you, spirit dragon," which is a reference to the phrase Ash frequently uses when sending out one of his Pokémon to battle, such as "Pikachu, I choose you!"  Ash also made a brief appearance on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," where he has a 'Pokémon battle' against Cartoon Donald Trump with Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller.

Reception.

The book "The Japanification of Children's Popular Culture" cited Ash as an example of cultural identification, with the character going through similar motions players of the games had to in order to progress through them. It additionally emphasized the character's growth and development as the anime series progressed. UGO.com noted his hat as iconic and one of the coolest headgear in gaming, while Jian DeLeon of "Complex" praised him as "stylish," particularly his very first design. "The Guinness Book of World Records 2011 Game Edition" lists Ash as coming 37th out of 50 in a readers' poll of their favorite video game characters. However, he has been criticized by IGN for staying the same age, his lack of success, and the ambiguity about his father.  Ash has also garnered praise for serving as a role-model to children, and for his persistence despite being an underdog by Business Insider Australia. He has also been cited as a character that incentivizes trying to be the best person you can be, rather than the strongest, or most qualified by the BBC.  Ash's Manalo Conference win has been compared to basketball player LeBron James winning his first ring and film director Martin Scorsese winning his first Oscar.

Kalos League controversy.

On August 18, 2016, the episode ("Down to the Fiery Finish!" in the English dub) faced criticism from fans when Ash lost the Kalos League against Alain. The fans specifically criticized the episode due to misleading trailers that suggested that Ash would win the battle and because Ash had lost all of the Pokémon Leagues in past seasons. Fans also disliked the outcome because they believed that Ash's Greninja had many advantages over Alain's Charizard, including the fact that water-type Pokémon are capable of critically defeating fire-type Pokémon, and that the rare Bond Phenomenon Ash's Greninja was subject to was said to be far more powerful than a conventional Mega Evolution. Several animators of the series also expressed disappointment that Ash had lost. TV Tokyo's YouTube upload of the teaser of the next episode received an overwhelming number of dislikes as a result of the outcome. On IMDb, the episode became one of the lowest-rated episodes of the entire anime. A Change.org petition asking that an alternate ending be created in which Ash wins received more than 3,900 signatures.

Ash Ketchum, known as in Japan, is a fictional character in the "Pokémon" franchise owned by Nintendo. He is the protagonist of the "Pokémon" anime and certain manga series as well as on various merchandise related to the franchise. In Japanese, the character is voiced by Rika Matsumoto, and Hana Takeda. In the English dub, he was voiced by Veronica Taylor in the first eight seasons and has been voiced by Sarah Natochenny since season 9. In the Korean dub, he was voiced by Choi Deok-Hui in the first five seasons and first two movies, An Hyeon-Seo in Pokémon movies 3 through 5, and has been voiced by Lee Seon-ho since season 6 and the sixth Pokémon movie.

Ash Ketchum (japonsky "Satoshi") je fiktivní postava ze seriálu "Pokémon". Je trenérem pokémonů narozený v Oblázkovém městě (Pallet Town). V deseti letech se vydal na svou pokémoní cestu s cílem stát se pokémoním mistrem. Jako svého prvního pokémona si chtěl v laboratoři profesora Oaka zvolit Squirtlea. Ten ale nebyl, a jediný pokémon, co v laboratoři zbyl, byl Pikachu. Zprvu si nerozuměli, ale brzy se z nich stali nejlepší přátelé.


Background.

The previous long-duration expedition to Mir, EO-3, was intended to break the record for spaceflight duration of 326 days set by Yuri Romanenko during Mir EO-2. The physician Valeri Polyakov was sent to the station part way through EO-3 so that he could observe the cosmonauts at the end of their record duration flight. Polyakov then stayed aboard Mir to observe the EO-4 crew.

Crew.

Volkov, the only crew member who had been to space before, had one previous spaceflight. It was a two-month mission in 1985 to the space station Salyut 7, launched by the spacecraft Soyuz T-14. This expedition, Salyut 7 EO-4, was intended to be 6 months long, but the Commander Vladimir Vasyutin became ill, and the mission was shortened, forcing the cosmonauts to leave the station unmanned. Volkov became father of the first ever second-generation cosmonaut, when his son Sergey Volkov became Commander of the International Space Station's Expedition 17 in 2008.  This was Krikalev's first spaceflight, and he went on to have a further five missions to space. As of 2010 he holds the record for the longest cumulative time spent in space, at 803 days. His most recent spaceflight was in 2005, as Commander of the International Space Station's Expedition 11.  Polyakov, a physician, arrived at the station part way through the previous expedition, Mir EO-3. He had never been in space before, but would later have one more spaceflight, which would span three Mir expeditions: EO-15, EO-16, and EO-17. His second spaceflight, launched on Soyuz TM-18 in January 1994, would last 437 days, and as of 2010, still holds the record for the longest ever spaceflight.

Mission highlights.

During this mission experiments in 16 different fields were performed as topografic and spectrografic research of the Earth surface, biological and medical research (including blood and heart-tests).

Launch.

The French president at the time, François Mitterrand, insisted on attending the launch of the Soyuz TM-7, of which Frenchman Chrétien was a crew member. This caused the launch to be delayed by four days, and hence reducing Chrétien's time in space. Mitterrand flew to the launch site in Baikonur in a Concorde.  On November 28, two days after launch, the Soyuz TM-7 spacecraft docked to Mir, and for the first time six cosmonauts were simultaneously aboard the complex.

Mir Aragatz.

From November 28 to December 21, 1988, there were six people aboard the station: the three crew members of EO-4, Titov and Manarov who were finishing EO-3, and the visiting French cosmonaut Jean-Loup Chrétien who had launched aboard Soyuz TM-7 on 26 November. Chrétien's flight was referred to as the French "Aragatz" mission. This was Chrétien's second spaceflight, his first was a short mission to Salyut 7, which was launched with the spacecraft Soyuz T-6, and lasted for about a week. After 24.8 days aboard the station, Chrétien returned to Earth aboard Soyuz TM-6 on 21 December.  A highlight of the Aragatz mission was the spacewalk which was performed by Volkov and Chrétien on 9 December 1988, and lasted for 5 hours and 57 minutes. It was the first spacewalk conducted by someone not from the Soviet or U.S. space programs. Its purpose was to install the 240 kg French experimental deployable structure, known as ERA, and a panel of material samples.  On December 15, 1988, Titov and Manarov's 359th day in space, the EO-3 crew officially broke the spaceflight duration record by the required 10%; the record had previously been set by Yuri Romanenko, who had a 326-day spaceflight aboard Mir during EO-2. Both the French mission and EO-3 ended when Chrétien, Titov, and Manarov landed in the spacecraft Soyuz TM-6 on December 21, which occurred six hours after undocking from Mir.

Progress 39.

On December 27, shortly after Soyuz TM-6 departed, the expedition's first Progress resupply spacecraft docked with the station, two days after its launch. This model of resupply spacecraft, Progress 7K-TG, had been used for resupply missions to Soviet space stations since 1978. Progress 39 delivered 1,300 kg of supplies to the EO-4 crew, and remained docked to the station for 42 days.  During this time, Progress 39 was used to boost the orbit of the space station. This was necessary due to the greater than normal atmospheric drag. The extra drag was caused by atmospheric expansion, which in turn was caused by the solar maximum occurring at the time, during solar cycle 22. The boost changed the Perigee and Apogee of the station from 325 km and 353 km AMSL to 340 km and 376 km, respectively. After the boost, Krikalev reported that he was unable to visually detect the change in altitude.  The EO-4 crew filled Progress 39 with waste and excess equipment used during the Aragatz mission, and then the spacecraft undocked on February 7, and was intentionally destroyed during atmospheric reentry later that day.

Progress 40.

On February 10, the next resupply spacecraft, Progress 40 was launched, and it docked with Mir two days later. It remained docked to Mir for 18 days. During this time, it was announced that due to delays in the production of the Kristall module, the launch of the next Mir module, Kvant-2, would also be delayed. It was also announced that as a result, Mir would be left unmanned following EO-4.

Progress 41.

The final Progress resupply spacecraft of the expedition docked with the station on March 19, and remained docked for 33 days. Progress 41 was the second last Progress spacecraft to use the original design (the last being Progress 42, which resupplied Mir EO-6 in 1990). The updated design would be called Progress-M, and its first flight would be Progress M-1 in August 1989, just prior to the arrival of the Mir EO-5 crew in September.

Leaving Mir unmanned.

All three crew members left Mir on board Soyuz TM-7 on 27 April 1989, bringing EO-4 to an end. For Volkov and Krikalev the mission lasted for 151d 11h 08m and for Polyakov 240d 22h 34m.

Mir EO-4 (also called Principal Expedition 4) was the fourth long-duration expedition to the Soviet space station Mir. The expedition began in November 1988, when crew members Commander Aleksandr Volkov and Flight Engineer Sergei Krikalev arrived at the station via the spacecraft Soyuz TM-7. The third crew member of EO-4, Valeri Polyakov, was already aboard Mir, having arrived in August 1988 part way through the previous expedition, Mir EO-3.

4. základní expedice, zkráceně EO-4 (), na Mir byla trvalou (celkově osmou) expedicí vyslanou Sovětským svazem na jeho vesmírnou stanici Mir. Expedice byla zahájena 26. listopadu 1988 startem kosmické lodi Sojuz TM-7 a trvala do přistání téže lodi 27. dubna 1989. Výprava byla tříčlenná a skládala se z velitele Alexandra Volkova, palubního inženýra Sergeje Krikaljova a lékaře-výzkumníka Valerij Poljakov, který do expedice přešel z předešlé 3. základní posádky.


Terminology.

Throughout the world, there are different titles for mine carts. In South Africa a minecart is referred to as a cocopan; in German it is called Hund (alternative spelling "Hunt"), a homonym to hund, meaning dog. In Wales minecarts are known as drams. In the U.S. and elsewhere the term skip is used.

Design and operation.

Minecarts range in size and usage, and are usually made of steel for hauling ore. Shaped like large, rectangular buckets, minecarts ride on metal tracks and were originally pushed or pulled by men and animals (supplemented later by rope-haulage systems). They were generally introduced in early modern time, replacing containers carried by men. Originally, they didn't run on a real "rail", where the wheels would have a rim to fit into the tracks, but with plain wheels on a wooden plank way, hold in track by a pin fitting into a guide groove, or by the underside of the cart itself which was lower than the wheels and fitted between the planks ("Hungarian system").  As mines increased in size and output, the aforementioned methods became impractical because of the distances and quantities of material involved, so larger carts would be used, hauled by narrow gauge diesel and electric locomotives (in coal mining operations, where gas that is flammable would present a problem, the locomotives would be flameproof or battery powered). These were also used to pull trains transporting miners to the workfaces.  Minecarts were very important in the history of technology because they evolved into railroad cars. "See History of rail transport".

In popular culture.

Minecarts have been depicted as a type of thrill ride; for instance Indiana Jones uses one in an escape scene. There are also real roller coasters whose design depict a mine cart track. Minecart levels, a term used for levels in which the player character takes a high-speed ride in a minecart, are one of the most common level types in video games, especially side-scrolling video games such as "Donkey Kong Country". A minecart is also featured in "Hoodwinked". Minecarts and tracks can be crafted by the player in "Minecraft" and used for transportation. They are also found in abandoned mineshafts that generate naturally as a part of the game's procedural generation.  In Great Britain, restored mine carts (known as "tubs") containing floral displays can commonly be seen on village greens and outside pubs in former coal mining areas such as Northumberland and County Durham. Like in Great Britain, old mine carts are common decorations in Germany, sometimes accompanied by old mining tools. Especially in the Ruhr Area those carts can be found in many front yards.

A minecart or mine cart (also known as a mine trolley or mine hutch) is a type of rolling stock found on a mine railway, used for moving ore and materials procured in the process of traditional mining. Minecarts are seldom used in modern operations, having largely been superseded in underground operations (especially coal mines) by more efficient belt conveyor systems that allow machines such as longwall shearers and continuous miners to operate at their full capacity, and above ground by large dumpers

Důlní vozík, slangově hunt, je dopravní prostředek, specializované kolejové vozidlo. Je to otevřený vozík, který se používá pro dopravu materiálu v dole nebo v lomu. Tažen nebo tlačen může být jak lidmi, tak důlními lokomotivami, v dřívějších dobách (zejména v 19. století) se pro tažení vozu používali i důlní koně. Velikost (objem) vozu je zpravidla závislá na rozchodu důlní tratě. Objem se pohybuje od 0,5 m3 až po 1,5 m3 a to nejčastěji od rozchodu trati 450 mm do 600 mm. Důlní vozík se vyznačuje tím, že oproti jiným kolejovým vozidlům má kolečka velmi blízko u sebe v nejmenší vzdálenosti pod těžištěm (malý rozvor). To umožňuje při vykolejení menšího plného vozíku jeho nahození zpět na koleje při využití jen lidské síly, případně jednoduché páky. To dokáže udělat i jen jediný horník, pokud má sílu a zkušenost. Při vykolejení vozu o větším obsahu jeho nasazení na koleje provádí více pracovníků s použitím páky a mechanického hřebenového zvedáku. Každý vozík je na obou čelech opatřen závěsným okem (hákem), vozíky se spojují do souprav 30 až 50 vozy a tyto vlaky pak přemísťují po tratích jednotlivých pater dolu důlní lokomotivy. Důlní vozy jsou schopny přepravovat z dolu na povrch vytěžený nerost a naopak do dolu je jimi přepravován různorodý materiál potřebný k hornické činnosti. Uzavřené chráněné vozy (tzv. pulmany) jsou určeny pro přepravu osob na větší vzdálenosti v podzemí.


Early career.

Malár played on loan at Slavia Prague during the spring part of the 1998–99 Gambrinus liga, scoring four goals.  Malár had a spectacular season in the 1999–2000 Czech 2. Liga, scoring hat-tricks in two consecutive games. The first one, against Prostějov, took 37 minutes, while the second, a week later against Bohdaneč took more than an hour. At the winter break his tally was 16 goals for Synot in the first 15 matches of the competition. This led to him signing a new contract with the club in December 1999, lasting until June 2002. He finished the season as the league's top scorer with 24 goals, helping his club to first place and promotion to the Gambrinus liga.

Late career.

Malár joined Sparta Prague in December 2001, although his spell lasted just half a year and he subsequently returned to Synot.  After two more years at Synot, which changed its name to Slovácko, Malár headed to Zlín, where he continued to play top-flight football, albeit just for one season. Another season at Slovácko followed, before Malár signed a two-year contract with Viktoria Plzeň in September 2006. He later returned to Zlín in 2007 for one last spell in the top flight, leaving half-way through the 2008–09 Gambrinus liga, in which Zlín were ultimately relegated.  Malár went on to play on a non-professional basis for MSK Břeclav in the MSFL in 2009. In 2012 Malár was playing fifth-tier football for FC Kyjov 1919, scoring his first goal for the club in a 1–0 win against IE Znojmo in September 2012.

Vladimír Malár (born 12 February 1976) is a Czech former football player. He played in the top flight of his country, making more than 200 top-flight appearances in the Gambrinus liga.

Vladimír Malár (* 12. února 1976) je český fotbalista, útočník. S fotbalem začínal v Hruškách, putoval přes Sigmu Hodonín, Poštornou, Bardejov a opět Poštornou do Starého Města, v roce 1999 hostoval ve Slávii, ve stejném roce se do Starého Města vrátil. Po postupu mužstva do první ligy se stal kapitánem a v prosinci 2001 přestoupil za 8 milionů korun do AC Sparta Praha. Po půl roce v červnu 2002 se do Starého Města vrátil. Slušný tah na branku, rychlý, úspěšný střelec. V lize odehrál 229 utkání a dal 29 gólů.


Career.

Greg Brown was drafted in the second round, 26th overall, by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft. Brown played his prep hockey career at St. Mark's School in Massachusetts before moving on to Boston College, where he played from 1986–1990 and amassed 120 points in 119 games. Brown skipped his sophomore season at B.C. to play for the American national men's hockey team and in the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta, where he totaled four points in six games for the seventh place US team. Following his junior and senior seasons at B.C., Brown was named Hockey East player of the year and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, given to the top NCAA men's ice hockey player. He was also named 1990 Athlete of the Year by USA Hockey.  Brown moved into the professional ranks for the 1990/91 season, splitting time between the Sabres and their AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans and scoring 26 points in 80 combined games. The 39 games played in Buffalo that season represented a career high, as he would play in only 55 more NHL games over the next three seasons. Most of Brown's time with the Sabres organization was spent in Rochester, where he was part of the team's 1991 and 1993 Calder Cup finalists. Brown left the Americans during the 1992 season to again represent USA Hockey at the Winter Olympics in Albertville, France. Brown appeared in seven games for the US team, which finished a surprising fourth after losing to Czechoslovakia in the Bronze Medal game.  Following the 1992–93 season, Brown was released by the Sabres and signed with the San Diego Gulls of the IHL and later with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Brown scored a career-high 11 points in 36 games for the Penguins during the 1993/94 season. Brown was traded to the Winnipeg Jets during the following season, where he appeared in his final nine NHL contests.  With the exception of two brief stints with USA Hockey, Brown spent the final six seasons of his pro career in Europe, retiring after the 2002/03 season. His stops in Europe included games with Rogle Angelholm and Leksands IF in the Swedish Elite League, Feldkirch VEU of the Austrian National League, the Kloten Flyers of Nationalliga A in Switzerland, and EV Landshut and the Kölner Haie of Germany's Deutsche Eishockey Liga.  Following his playing career, Brown returned to Boston College, where he was named as an Assistant Coach on the Men's Hockey team for the 2004/05 season. On July 17, 2018, the New York Rangers announced that Brown would be joining David Quinn as an assistant coach for the team, along with David Oliver.

Personal.

He is the brother of former NHL winger Doug Brown and uncle of current Carolina Hurricanes player Patrick Brown.  He coached his nephews Patrick and Christopher while they attended Boston College from 2010–2014, and 2015-2019, respectively. Both Patrick and Christopher were captains of the Eagles during their senior years.  Brown has been married to his wife, Katharine Walker Brown, since June 1993. They have two children, Ashley (born 1997) and Peyton (born in 2000).

Gregory Curtis Brown (born March 7, 1968) is an American assistant coach for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL) and a retired professional ice hockey player, most notably for the Buffalo Sabres and the Pittsburgh Penguins. He previously coached at his alma mater Boston College as an Associate Head Coach alongside legendary Jerry York.

Gregory Curtis Brown (* 7. března 1968, Southborough, Massachusetts, Minnesota, USA) je bývalý americký hokejový obránce. Draftován byl v roce 1986 týmem Buffalo Sabres ve druhém kole. V NHL odehrál za Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins a Winnipeg Jets celkem 94 zápasů v základní části a 6 v play-off. Od roku 1995 až do konce kariéry v roce 2003 působil v Evropě.


Biography.

Early life.

Shmelev was born in the Zamoskovorechye to a merchant family; after finishing high school in 1894 he attended the law faculty of Moscow University. His first published story appeared in 1895; in the same year he visited Valaam Monastery, a trip that had a deep spiritual influence on him and resulted in his first book, "Na skalakh Valaama" ['On the cliffs of Valaam'] (1897). After graduating in 1898 he performed military service and spent several years as a civil servant in the provinces while continuing to write; his early stories were published by Maxim Gorky's Znaniye Publishing House. After the Russian Revolution of 1905 his popularity increased, and his 1911 story "Chelovek iz restorana" ['The man from the restaurant'] had tremendous success, making him one of the best known writers of the day; it "depicts, with moments of Dostoyevskyan power, the decadence of the wealthy, as seen by a simple waiter and pious father to whom son and daughter return after disastrous adventures in the world." Shmelyov's story was the basis for Yakov Protazanov's film of the same title, released in 1927, with Mikhail Chekhov in the leading role.

Career.

In 1912 Shmelyov organized the Moscow Writers' Publishing House («Книгоиздательство писателей в Москве»), which published Ivan Bunin, Boris Zaitsev, and other leading writers of the day, as well as his own work. His works from this period on "were remarkable for the richness of their popular (in the sense of "narodnyj") language... Particularly noteworthy was his brilliant use of the "skaz" technique." Shmelev welcomed the February Revolution and the fall of the autocracy; he set off on a series of journeys across Russia to see the effects of the change, and was extremely moved when political exiles returning from Siberia told him how much his writings had meant to them. However, he rejected the October Revolution and moved to the White-held Crimea, and when his beloved son Sergei, an officer in the Volunteer Army who had accepted the Bolsheviks' offer of amnesty and refused to follow P. Wrangel into exile in 1920, was seized by Béla Kun's Revolutionary Committee in the Crimea and shot without trial, he accepted Bunin's suggestion that he join him in exile in France.  Perhaps the most powerful of Shemelev's writings in emigration is "Solntse mertvykh" (1923, tr. as "The Sun of the Dead" in 1927): "In the mosaic of the impressions of the narrator, an elderly "intelligent" stuck in the Crimea after the evacuation of Wrangel's troops from the peninsula, there pass the fates of the inhabitants of the Crimea—"intelligents", workers, peasants—Tatars and Russians—men and women, all equally clutched in the vice of hunger and fear of the Terror... Everything gradually dies against the background of the loveliness of nature, on the shore of the azure sea, under the rays of a golden sun—the sun of the dead, because it illuminates an earth on which everything has been eaten, drunk, trampled—on which poultry, animals, and men are all dying". Another important work of his later period is "Leto Gospodne" ["The Summer of the Lord"] (1933–48), an autobiographical novel full of lovingly drawn characters and beautifully observed details in which "his style reaches a high level of lyrical and epic contemplation.". The tetralogy from which Shmelev has had time to complete only first two volumes of the novel "The heavenly ways" (1937, 1948) has been conceived. Operation of the third part of the novel should occur in deserts Optinoj where after many shocks and irreplaceable losses its hero finds the sincere world and the higher sense of life begins to see clearly.

Later life.

The younger generation of Russian writers, who came of age in exile, sometimes did not appreciate Shmelev's traditionalism and approval of the patriarchal society. Nina Berberova wrote of a reading in Paris in 1942: "Shmelev read as they read in the provinces before the time of Chekhov: with shouts and muttering, like an actor. He read some old-fashioned stuff, churchy, silly, about religious processions and hearty Russian dishes. The audience was ecstatic and clapped." But his rich prose and his deep roots in Russian culture won him many readers when he was finally published in his homeland. Fifty years after his death, in 2000, the remains of Shmelyov and his wife were transferred from the Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois Russian Cemetery to the necropolis of Donskoy Monastery in Moscow.

Ivan Sergeyevich Shmelyov (, also spelled "Shmelev" and "Chmelov") ( – 24 June 1950) was a Russian émigré writer best known for his full-blooded idyllic recreations of the pre-revolutionary past spent in the merchant district of Moscow. He was a member of the Moscow literary group Sreda.

Ivan Šmeljov (celým jménem Ivan Sergejevič Šmeljov, rusky Иван Сергеевич Шмелёв) (3. října 1873, Moskva, Rusko – 24. června 1950, blízko Paříže, Francie) byl ruský spisovatel, člen moskevské literární skupiny "Sreda".


International Style Ballroom: Dance sport.

History.

Formation dancing originated in 1932 in London's Astoria Ballroom. It was Olive Ripman who introduced it under the name "pattern dancing". Soon it became a competitive dance form.  Formation team contests began in the 1930s in England, and spread to many other countries. International matches have taken place. Formation dances were an important part of the BBC TV program "Come Dancing" when Frank and Peggy Spencer's formation teams competed against Constance Millington's team. The peak of popularity was in the 1960s, and is now growing from strength to strength with formation teams from all over the world competing against each other.

Choreography.

The choreography of a formation team includes both choreography of a dancesport routine of an individual couple and the overall pattern of movements of the couples on the floor. All couples are expected to follow the beat of the music and movements should be executed simultaneously. Teams are marked on their synchronicity  Latin Dancesport formation is a medley of dances that include the 5 International Latin dances: Cha Cha, Rumba, Jive, Paso Doble and Samba.  Standard or Ballroom formation is a medley of the 5 international ballroom dances Waltz, Quickstep, Tango, Viennese Waltz and Foxtrot.  The routines generally feature at least some free-form choreography in the walk on and walk off, which may include movements from jazz dance, ballet, or any other type of dance. This is clearly marked by a gong. A complete routine usually lasts a total of 6 minutes.  Formation routines allow dancers to show off their own technique in addition to their ability to move as a team. Unlike individual competitions tricks such as "round abouts", "chain reactions" form a large section of the choreography.  Shapes (also known as patterns or images) that are an accepted part of choreography are diamonds, squares, diagonals, circles and lines. The routine is judged by the distribution of competitors across the floor, how "readable" the patterns are and the transitions between these patterns.  Specialist formation choreographers include Ona Skaistutė Idzelevičienė, Roberto Albanese, Horst Beer, and Rachael Holland.

Competitions.

The international governing body is the International DanceSport Federation (IDSF) (which has Olympic recognition). Competing teams must be a member of one of its member organisations such as the English amateur dancesport association ltd (EADA)  The following is a summary of the IDSF rules for European and World Formation competitions.  In early rounds, judges mark if they believe teams should go through to the next round. In final rounds teams are ranked and the skating system applies.  Other competitions of note are the Blackpool Dance Festival and the Donaupokal Invitational Competition Vienna. Germany is notable in having several leagues of formation teams, and holds several competitions each year.

Formation teams, 2013.

This is a list of Adult Formation Teams competing in 2013 in the IDSF World Ranking Competition. There were 22 Latin Teams and 18 Standard teams that compete annually in the World Cup

Results.

Below are the Winners of IDSF World Championships

Formation dance is a style of ballroom dancing. It is pattern or shadow team dancing by couples in a formation team. The choreography may be based on a particular dance or a medley of dances. Formation dancing may be done for exhibition or for competition between teams. There is also a type of formation in Bhangra.

Formační tanec je stylem společenského tance. Jedná se o choreografii celého formačního týmu, při které nejvíce záleží na dodržení daných útvarů a na jednotě projevu všech tanečních párů. Choreografie může být založena na jednom konkrétním tanci či skupině tanců. Staví se buď za účely exhibice nebo mezi sebou jednotlivé týmy soutěží.


Background and composition.

Rihanna first announced that "Cheers (Drink to That)" would be the next single to be released from "Loud" via her official Twitter account, when she tweeted to celebrity internet blogger Perez Hilton that his "favourite song" from the album would become the next single. The song was sent to mainstream and rhythmic radio in the United States on August 2, 2011. "Cheers (Drink to That)" was written by hip hop production duo Andrew Harr and Jermaine Jackson, Stacey Barthe, Laura Pergolizzi, Corey Gibson, Chris Ivery, Lauren Christy, Graham Edwards, Avril Lavigne and Scott Spock, and the main vocal track(s) were produced by Makeba Riddick, while its instrumental & backing vocal track(s) was produced by Harr and Jackson under their stage name, The Runners.  In an interview with MTV News in late 2010, Rihanna spoke of how "Cheers (Drink to That)" was one of her favorite songs on the album, saying "I love that song ['Cheers']. That is one of my favorite songs on the album. It makes you feel like celebrating... It gives you a great feeling inside, like you want to go out and have a drink... People can't wait for the weekend." Also in an interview with MTV News in late 2010, Avril Lavigne spoke about being included on the song, saying, "It was really exciting because 'I'm With You' is one of my favorite songs that I've done, I always love performing it."  "Cheers (Drink to That)" is a pop rock and reggaeton song. It contains samples of Lavigne's song "I'm with You", which is featured on her album "Let Go" (2002). According to the digital music sheet published at musicnotes.com, the song is written in the key of E major and is set in simple time with a moderated hip-hop groove. Rihanna's vocal range in the song spans from the low note of E to the high note of B. Lyrically, "Cheers (Drink to That)" is a party-drinking song, which is exemplified by the verse "Life's too short to be sittin' around miserable/ People are gonna talk whether you're doin' bad or good/ Don't let the bastards get you down/ Turn it around with another round." According to Ryan Dombal of Pitchfork, the lyrics sum up the general sentiment of "Loud" and there's no tabloid back story, as it was in most cases on her previous release "Rated R" (2009).

Critical reception.

Upon its release as a single, "Cheers (Drink to That)" received positive reviews from music critics. Mark Savage of BBC Music described the song as "a funky, loping guitar groove for to a night out on the town," which Rihanna dedicated to "all the semi-alcoholics in the world." Robert Copsey of Digital Spy praised the use of the interpolation of Lavigne's song, calling it "unbelievably catchy", as well as commenting that it will be a success in bars and clubs, due to the references of alcohol and going out of a weekend in the lyrics. Jon Pareles of "The New York Times" commented that "Cheers (Drink to That)" is written for "barroom singalongs." According to Leah Greenblatt from "Entertainment Weekly", "the Jameson-swilling, TGIF-toasting 'Cheers (Drink to That),' folds a left-field Avril Lavigne sample into a crunked party anthem."  Amy Sciarretto of PopCrush also commended "Cheers (Drink to That)" and its musical style, saying "The song is infused with the tropical, island groove that she has explored on 'Loud' and which harks back to her upbringing in Barbados." Sciarretto also noted that "Cheers (Drink to That)" would be very popular in bars and clubs because of the lyrical content. Andy Gill of "The Independent" called the song an anthem with which the weekend can start. Thomas Conner of the "Chicago Sun-Times" said that "Cheers (Drink to That)" is the best song on the album, saying "[the song is] a wise, world-weary paean from a gal at the bar who's seen some stuff, has moved on and wants to buy everybody a round of fruity shots." However, Chris Richards of "The Washington Post" stated that "Cheers (Drink to That)" did not meet his expectations and commented that the song is a lowlight in Rihanna's career, stating "'Turn it around with another round,' Rihanna bellows over the mid slog, as if setting ad copy to music."

Chart performance.

In the issue dated August 3, 2011, "Cheers (Drink to That)" debuted on the US "Billboard" Hot 100 chart at number 91, and leaped to a new peak of 50 on August 10, 2011. The following week, the song rose to number 25 and by its fourth week, "Cheers (Drink to That)" rose again to number 17, giving Rihanna her twenty-second top-twenty single on the chart. In its fifth week, the song rose to number 11, where it remained in its sixth week. On its seven-week, the song charted at number 10, its current peak. "Cheers" (Drink To That) also debuted on the US Pop Songs chart at number 35 in the issue dated August 3, 2011. The following week, the song climbed ten positions to a new peak of 25, and became that week's "Greatest Gainer" on the chart and Rihanna's 26th song to reach the top 40. In its third week, the song reached a new peak of 16, and rose to number 11 the following week, where it remained for another week. The song has peaked at number seven, making "Cheers (Drink to That)" the singers fourth top ten Hot 100 hit from "Loud" and nineteenth overall top ten song in the US. On December 13, 2011, "S&M" was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), denoting shipments of over two million copies. "Cheers (Drink to That)" ranked at number 77 on "Billboard" magazine's Hot 100 songs of 2011. In Canada, the song debuted at number 89 on August 17, 2011, and advanced to 37 the following week, ultimately peaking at number 6 in its third week on the charts.  In Australia, the song debuted at number 46 on the Australian Singles Chart on August 14, 2011, and peaked at number eighteen the following week. In its seventh week on the chart, the song reached a new peak of number 6. The song has been certified Gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association, denoting shipments of over 35,000 units. In New Zealand, the song debuted at number fourteen on the New Zealand Singles Chart on August 8, 2011 and reached a peak of number 5 the following week, however it fell to number 8 in its third week. In the United Kingdom, the song also debuted inside the top 40 of the UK R&B Chart at number 38 on August 27, 2011, after having charted at number 47 the week before. The following week, the song rose to number twenty-one, sitting one position lower than Rihanna's previous single, "California King Bed." In its sixth week, the song climbed to number 4. The song has so far peaked at number fifteen on the UK Singles Chart. In Ireland, the song debuted at number 30 on the Irish Singles Chart on September 8, 2011, and has peaked at number sixteen. In France, the song debuted at number eighty-eight on September 3, 2011, rose to eighty-two the following week and peaked at 67 in its subsequent week.

Music video.

Background.

During the Loud Tour concert in Kensington Oval, Barbados, on August 5, 2011, Rihanna announced that a taping of "Cheers (Drink to That)" had been recorded during the show for the song's music video. It was later announced that the video would be expected to feature footage of her homecoming, as well as clips of her performing during the North American leg of the tour. Via Rihanna's official Twitter account, she replied to a fan's tweet, announcing that the video would premiere on August 24, 2011, on iTunes. However, it was later announced that the video would premiere the following day on August 25, 2011. The video premiered officially via iTunes and Vevo on August 26, 2011. A 15-second teaser video was released the day before it officially premiered, and featured Rihanna applying make-up before taking to the stage, as well as fans screaming her name while fireworks were launched into the night sky. The video was directed and edited by New York based director Evan Rogers and Ciara Pardo.

Synopsis.

The video begins with Rihanna's fans screaming and cheering her name before a concert is about to start, while Rihanna is shown walking to her dressing room, preparing to perform by doing her make-up and changing outfits. As a firework explodes in the sky, scenes of Rihanna driving through her hometown and having a drink at the bar are intercut. As the song starts to play, Rihanna is seen in a variety of different outfits from various parts of the concert, whilst also showing clips of the audience dancing and singing. Rihanna is also seen holding a handheld camera, which she uses to film herself and other people, as well as goings-on backstage. Avril Lavigne, who makes a cameo appearance in the video, is seen raising her glass to the camera before being pushed fully clothed into a swimming pool while on a skateboard. Jay-Z, Kanye West and CeeLo Green are also featured in the various clips of the video, as the former two were special guests at Rihanna's tour on certain dates, while the latter was an opening act on selected dates during the North American leg of the tour. Shots of Rihanna flying on a private jet, avoiding paparazzi and participating in the Barbados Kadooment Day are also intercut throughout the video. The video ends with Rihanna on a boat shouting "Rihanna Navy!", referring to her fan group.

Reception.

Upon its release, the video received general acclaim from critics. A reviewer from "Rap-Up" praised the video, commenting that it is a "real blast in a glass!" According to PopDash's Giovanna Falcone, the video shows "Rihanna goofing around with friends and family, on stage and loving life, you can't help but smile throughout." Robbie Daw of Idolator commented that the music video looks "like one big, drunken night out." A reviewer from "Rolling Stone" magazine also commented that the video "finds Rihanna in an appropriately celebratory mood... it's mostly a lot of shots of her partying backstage with friends and celebrities." Sarah Maloy of "Billboard" magazine commented "there are no special effects, storylines – and no chance of lawsuits," referring to one of Rihanna's previous music videos, "S&M", which was faced with two lawsuits. Maloy also noted that the video presents Rihanna's ordinary life just as it is.  A reviewer of "OK!" commented that "Rihanna gets buddy Avril Lavigne on board in the video for the track 'which will be our anthem for the Bank Holiday weekend." Brad Wete of "Entertainment Weekly" simply commented that "It's party time, folks! And that's exactly what the video makes apparent." With regard to the cameo appearance of several celebrities and Rihanna's colleagues, Leah Collins of "The Vancouver Sun" stated "Rihanna shows that she has more celebrity friends than hairstyles (which is saying something considering she manages to change her weave approximately every 5 seconds in the clip)." According to William Goodman from "Spin" magazine "Barbadian pop queen Rihanna leads a charmed life. But at heart, she's just a hometown party girl, and her new video for 'Cheers (Drink to That)' proves it." In reference to raising glasses in the video, Rebeca Ford from "The Hollywood Reporter" commented "the singer can also be seen raising a [glass] to her audience, probably thanking them for their support with her own personal 'cheers.'"

Live performances.

"Cheers (Drink to That)" was included on the set list of the Loud Tour (2011). Rihanna also performed the song at V Festival in the United Kingdom on August 20 and 21, 2011.

Credits and personnel.

Credits adapted from the liner notes of "Loud".

"Cheers (Drink to That)" is a song recorded by Barbadian singer Rihanna, from her fifth studio album, "Loud" (2010). The song impacted US mainstream and rhythmic radio on August 2, 2011, as the seventh and final single released from "Loud". The song was written by Andrew Harr, Jermaine Jackson, Stacy Barthe, LP, Corey Gibson, Chris Ivery, Lauren Christy, Graham Edwards, Avril Lavigne and Scott Spock, while production of the song was completed by Harr and Jackson under their stage name, The Runners. The song also contains samples from Lavigne's song "I'm with You," which is featured on her debut album "Let Go" (2002). Lyrically, "Cheers (Drink to That)" is a party-drinking song, with multiple references to drinking alcohol, including Jameson Irish Whiskey.

Cheers (Drink to That) je píseň barbadoské zpěvačky Rihanny z jejího pátého alba nazvaného Loud. Song sampluje úspěšnou píseň Avril Lavigne I’m With You.. Na konci roku 2010 prozradila Rihanna pro stanici MTV, že song je jejím nejoblíbenějším na desce.. Píseň byla hudebními kritiky přijata pozitivně. Robet Copsey ze servery "Digital Spy" napsal o písni, že je neuvěřitelně chytlavá a předpovídal jí úspěch díky svému textu o alkoholu a užívání si víkendu.


Background.

The song was revealed as the first single and music video on September 2, 2011, with the release date set to November 11. A week later, the band released the "Imaginaerum" cover, track list and commentary on each song written by Holopainen, including the first clues concerning the song, hinting on references to yuletide and "The Snowman". On October 26, the first content from the song and video was released in a 50-second teaser video on YouTube.  The single was released as a CD, download and as a video through YouTube on November 9, and the day after, Holopainen featured in a YouTube video talking about the video and the background of the song. After a mere week, the band announced that the single was topping the Finnish single chart. On November 18, the lyrics to the song were released in a YouTube video and on the band's website.

Musical and lyrical content.

Composer and lyricist of the song, Tuomas Holopainen has said that "Storytime" is inspired by the 1982 movie "The Snowman", the theme of which was previously covered by Nightwish for their "Oceanborn" album. The idea for the music of "Storytime" was born when Holopainen wondered why no-one had made a remake of the film, and pondered on what his version of the score to the scene in which "Walking in the Air" plays would sound like.  In a teaser text released prior to the release, Holopainen summarized the song:  The lyrics references several classical pieces of fiction concerning imagination, including the character of Peter Pan and "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" by Lewis Carroll. The lyrics also mention the mythical Gaia, the Greek primordial Earth goddess

Music video.

The music video to "Storytime" features the radio version of the song, which is one and a half minute shorter than the album version. The video shows the band playing the song in the suits they wear in the "Imaginaerum" film, and with characters from the film briefly shown throughout the video. The video cuts between this movie-like scene and footage of the band dressing up, and behind-the-scene footage from the making of the film.  After having done "a few grand fantasy videos" like "Amaranth" and "The Islander", the production team wanted a more down-to-earth video, a making-of clip, which would be "pretty interesting to watch for the fans, even a couple of times."

Packaging.

"Storytime" was released simultaneously as a CD, as a download and as a YouTube video. The cover art was done by Janne "Toxic Angel" Pitkänen, who had previously done the cover art to both "Dark Passion Play" (2007) and "Imaginaerum", as well as all single covers since "Eva". The cover features a book with the emblem from the song "The Crow, the Owl and the Dove" and the text "Storytime" on the side. The book stand beside the roller coaster seen on the "Imaginaerum" cover, and the background has a winter theme to reflect the lyrical content. It is the first single since "Sleeping Sun" to feature the title of the song in another font than Nightwish's traditional.

Track listing.

The track listing was revealed on the website of Nightwish's official fanshop on September 2, as the pre-sales began.

"Storytime" is a song from the Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish's seventh studio album "Imaginaerum", as well as the first single from the album. It was released on November 9, 2011, twenty days prior to the album, along with a music video. The song premiered on Radio Rock, a Finnish radio station at 9.00 GMT +2 on November 7, 2011, two days before its commercial release.

„Storytime“ je první singl ze sedmého studiového alba finské symphonic metalové skupiny Nightwish "Imaginaerum". Singl vyšel 9. listopad 2011. Píseň byla poprvé zahrána ve finské rozhlasové stanici Radio Rock 7. listopadu 2011 v 9:00, tedy dva dny před komerčním vydáním.