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The Mackenzie River flows form which lake to the ocean?

Mackenzie River In Canada - WorldAtlas.com Geography Mackenzie River In Canada Though the longest river in Canada, all of the Mackenize's 1,080 miles are enclosed within the Northwest Territories alone. The Mackenzie River Delta with its twists, turns, channels, and outlying frozen pools of water. 5. Description The Mackenzie River system is the second largest river system in the North American continent, after only the Mississippi-Missouri River system. It is also Canada’s largest and longest river basin. The Mackenzie River system flows along a course of 4,241 kilometers from its headwaters in the Finlay River to its drainage into the Beaufort Sea in the Arctic Ocean. The Mackenzie and its tributaries together drain an area of about 1,805,200 square kilometers, which represents about 20% of Canada’s total land area. Though the Mackenzie River itself flows entirely within the boundaries of the Northwest Territories of Canada, many of its tributaries spread out into adjacent Canadian provinces, such as British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Alberta and Yukon. The Peace, Athabasca, and Liard Rivers are some of the most important tributaries of the Mackenzie. A number of lakes, like the Lake Athabasca, Great Slave Lake, and Great Bear Lake, also form notable parts of the Mackenzie River system. 4. Historical Role The Mackenzie River basin was used as an important trade route by European fur traders since the late 18th Century. The river was named after the Scottish explorer Alexander Mackenzie, who explored the river and traveled along its course to reach the Arctic Ocean in 1789. Soon thereafter, a large number of trade posts cropped up along the river and its tributaries, and York boats began to ply on the river in the early 19th Century. These boats were gradually replaced by steamboats, and the fur trade soon flourished along the river. In the early parts of the 20th Century, mining became another economically significant activity around the Mackenzie River Basin, though in the later half of the 20th Century, profits garnered from mining activities there became marginal at best. 3. Modern Significance The Mackenzie River basin is still one of the most sparsely populated, and pristine, habitats of North America. Through the trapping of animals such as beavers, lynxes, foxes, and martens for fur is still practiced by the indigenous Indians settled along the river, fur trading is no longer a dominant source of economic revenue for this region. Agriculture is not extensively practiced in this region, and is mainly limited to the warmer, southern reaches of the river and its tributaries, where grains and cereals are cultivated and animal ranching is practiced. Commercial fishing is carried out in the lakes of the Mackenzie system like Lake Athabasca and the Great Slave Lake. Oil and petroleum mining is the major profitable activity along the Mackenzie River, with the first oil field being discovered in 1921 at Norman Wells. Uranium, gold, diamond, lead, and zinc have also been mined in and along the Mackenzie River system. Besides its economic significance, the Mackenzie River is also ecologically significant, hosting some of the most pristine habitats of North America, and accounting for 11% of the freshwater entering into the Arctic, thereby influencing the circulation patterns of this northern ocean to a significant degree. 2. Habitat The Mackenzie River flows through a Boreal forest zone in the south, then into an extensive taiga vegetation zone in its middle reaches, and finally drains into the Arctic Ocean via the Arctic tundra zone in its northernmost reaches. Alders, Trembling aspens, birches, Balsam firs, and spruces are some of the important plant species of the Taiga forests along the Mackenzie River system. Further north, cottongrass, feather-moss, bog cranberry, and sphagnum moss cover the landscape along the river basin. The caribou, lynxes, minks, beavers, and muskrats are some of the mammalian species inhabiting the taiga forests along the Mackenzie. Beluga whales can often be spotted in the Mackenzie River Delta, while Mountain whitefish, Northern pike, minnows, Chinook salmon, Cutthroat trout, and other fish species thrive in the waters throughout the Mackenzie River system. The Osprey, geese, Sandhill cranes, Tundra swans, and other spectacular birds populate the watershed wetlands of the Mackenzie River system as well. 1. Threats and Disputes Even though a lot of effort goes into conserving the Mackenzie River Basin, a large number of ongoing problems threaten the river today. One of the major sources of pollution of these river waters involves the production of oil-sands along the river, which in turn produce toxic byproducts composed of mercury, arsenic, lead, and benzene. The water levels in the Mackenzie River system has also been drastically altered by large-scale damming activities along the tributaries and headwaters of the Mackenzie. This has adversely affected the life-cycle of a large number of aquatic fish species. Besides damming, climate change has also triggered changes in the hydrology of the Mackenzie River, affecting its waters' flows into the Arctic Ocean. If this trend continues, it could lead to a transformation in the ocean current patterns of the Arctic, consequently affecting climates and ecosystems worldwide. This page was last modified on June 6, 2016. On WorldAtlas.com

Great Slave Lake

Which Mexican port was seized by US marines in 1914 to prevent the import of German arms for rebel groups?

Where Does the Water Flow? | NWT Water Stewardship Where Does the Water Flow? For a map of all the watersheds in the Northwest Territories (NWT), click here . The majority of rivers and lakes within the NWT are situated within the Mackenzie River watershed, Canada’s largest river basin.  Within the Mackenzie River watershed, the Slave River carries the largest quantity of water into the NWT and 77% of the water entering the Great Slave Lake. The Slave River flows into Great Slave Lake through the Slave River Delta , an area that is rich in wildlife, and both culturally and economically important to residents in nearby communities. Water flows into the lake through a series of channels, including four main channels: ResDelta, Old Steamboat Channel, Middle Channel and East Channel. Access full size map  here . In addition to the inflow provided by the Slave River, the Taltson, Lockhart and Hay Rivers together contribute approximately 11% of water entering Great Slave Lake, while the remaining 12% is provided by ten other smaller drainage areas. At 28,570 km2, Great Slave Lake is North America’s fifth largest lake and is the deepest at 614 m. The Mackenzie River is Canada’s longest river at 1802 km in length, and flows northwest from Great Slave Lake through the NWT to the Beaufort Sea. It is an important transportation corridor for the communities situated in the Mackenzie Valley. Great Bear Lake is the largest freshwater lake located entirely within Canada. Great Bear River originates from Great Bear Lake and flows into the Mackenzie River. The Mackenzie Delta is the world’s second largest arctic delta and provides habitat for many fish, mammal and bird species, including endangered species. North America’s largest freshwater discharge to the Arctic Ocean flows through the Mackenzie Delta. To see a map of the two deltas in the NWT click here . There are many other major rivers within the Mackenzie River Basin including the Liard and Peel Rivers, as well as countless smaller rivers, lakes and wetlands. The headwaters of many important rivers are within the NWT. The Kazan, Dubawnt, Thelon, Back and Coppermine rivers all flow from the NWT into Nunavut, while the Anderson, Horton and Hornaday rivers flow directly into the Beaufort Sea.

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Who was Vice President during WWI?

Woodrow Wilson - U.S. Presidents - HISTORY.com Google Woodrow Wilson’s Early Years Thomas Woodrow Wilson was born on December 28, 1856, in Staunton, Virginia . (Because his mother said he arrived around midnight, some sources list Wilson’s birthday as December 29.) His father, Joseph Ruggles Wilson (1822-1903), was a Presbyterian minister, and his mother, Janet Woodrow Wilson (1826-1888), was a minister’s daughter and originally from England. Tommy Wilson, as he was called growing up, spent his childhood and teen years in Augusta, Georgia , and Columbia, South Carolina . During the American Civil War (1861-1865), Wilson’s father served as a chaplain in the Confederate army and used his church as a hospital for injured Confederate troops. Did You Know? Woodrow Wilson, who had an esteemed career as an academic and university president before entering politics, did not learn to read until he was 10, likely due to dyslexia. Wilson graduated from Princeton University (then called the College of New Jersey ) in 1879 and went on to attend law school at the University of Virginia. After briefly practicing law in Atlanta, Georgia, he received a Ph.D. in political science from Johns Hopkins University in 1886. (Wilson remains the only U.S. president to earn a doctorate degree.) He taught at Bryn Mawr College and Wesleyan College before being hired by Princeton in 1890 as a professor of jurisprudence and politics. From 1902 to 1910, Wilson was president of Princeton, where he developed a national reputation for his educational reform policies. In 1885, Wilson married Ellen Axson (1860-1914), a minister’s daughter and Georgia native. The couple had three daughters before Ellen died of kidney disease in 1914, during her husband’s first presidential term. The following year, Wilson married Edith Bolling Galt (1872-1961), a widow whose husband had owned a Washington , D.C., jewelry business. Woodrow Wilson’s Rise in Politics In 1910, Woodrow Wilson was elected governor of New Jersey, where he fought machine politics and garnered national attention as a progressive reformer. In 1912, the Democrats nominated Wilson for president, selecting Thomas Marshall (1854-1925), the governor of Indiana , as his vice presidential running mate. The Republican Party split over their choice for a presidential candidate: Conservative Republicans re-nominated President William Taft (1857-1930), while the progressive wing broke off to form the Progressive (or Bull Moose) Party and nominated Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919), who had served as president from 1901 to 1909. With the Republicans divided, Wilson, who campaigned on a platform of liberal reform, won 435 electoral votes, compared to 88 for Roosevelt and eight for Taft. He garnered nearly 42 percent of the popular vote; Roosevelt came in second place with more than 27 percent of the popular vote. Woodrow Wilson’s First Administration At the age of 56, Woodrow Wilson was sworn into office in March 1913. He was the last American president to travel to his inauguration ceremony in a horse-drawn carriage. Once in the White House , Wilson achieved significant progressive reform. Congress passed the Underwood-Simmons Act, which reduced the tariff on imports and imposed a new federal income tax. It also passed legislation establishing the Federal Reserve (which provides a system for regulating the nation’s banks, credit and money supply) and the Federal Trade Commission (which investigates and prohibits unfair business practices). Other accomplishments included child labor laws, an eight-hour day for railroad workers and government loans to farmers. Additionally, Wilson nominated the first Jewish person to the U.S. Supreme Court, Louis Brandeis (1856-1941), who was confirmed by the Senate in 1916. When World War I broke out in Europe in the summer of 1914, Wilson was determined to keep the United States out of the conflict. On May 7, 1915, a German submarine torpedoed and sank the British ocean liner Lusitania , killing more than 1,100 people (including 128 Americans). Wilson continued to maintain U.S. neutrality but warned Germany that any future sinkings would be viewed by America as “deliberately unfriendly.” In 1916, Wilson and Vice President Marshall were re-nominated by the Democrats. The Republicans chose Supreme Court Justice Charles Evans Hughes (1862-1948) as their presidential candidate and Charles Fairbanks (1852-1918), the U.S. vice president under Theodore Roosevelt, as his running mate. Wilson, who campaigned on the slogan “He kept us out of war,” won with a narrow electoral margin of 277-254 and a little more than 49 percent of the popular vote. Woodrow Wilson’s Second Administration: World War I Woodrow Wilson’s second term in office was dominated by World War I. Although the president had advocated for peace during the initial years of the war, in early 1917 German submarines launched unrestricted submarine attacks against U.S. merchant ships. Around the same time, the United States learned about the Zimmerman Telegram, in which Germany tried to persuade Mexico to enter into an alliance against America. On April 2, 1917, Wilson asked Congress to declare war on Germany, stating, “The world must be made safe for democracy.” America’s participation helped bring about victory for the Allies, and on November 11, 1918, an armistice was signed by the Germans. At the Paris Peace Conference, which opened in January 1919 and included the heads of the British, French and Italian governments, Wilson helped negotiate the Treaty of Versailles . The agreement included the charter for the League of Nations, an organization intended to arbitrate international disputes and prevent future wars. Wilson had initially advanced the idea for the League in a January 1918 speech to the U.S. Congress in which he outlined his “Fourteen Points” for a postwar peace settlement. When Wilson returned from Europe in the summer of 1919, he encountered opposition to the Versailles treaty from isolationist Republicans in Congress who feared the League could limit America’s autonomy and draw the country into another war. In September of that year, the president embarked on a cross-country speaking tour to promote his ideas for the League directly to the American people. On the night of September 25, on a train bound for Wichita, Kansas , Wilson collapsed from mental and physical stress, and the rest of his tour was cancelled. On October 2, he suffered a stroke that left him partially paralyzed. Wilson’s condition was kept largely hidden from the public, and his wife worked behind the scenes to fulfill a number of his administrative duties. The Senate voted on the Treaty of Versailles first in November 1919 and again in March 1920. Both times it failed to gain the two-thirds vote required for ratification. The treaty’s defeat was partly blamed on Wilson’s refusal to compromise with the Republicans. The League of Nations held its first meeting in January 1920; the United States never joined the organization. However, in December 1920, Wilson received the 1919 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to include the Covenant of the League of Nations in the Treaty of Versailles. Woodrow Wilson’s Second Administration: Domestic Issues Woodrow Wilson’s second administration saw the passage of two significant constitutional amendments. The era of Prohibition was ushered in on January 17, 1920, when the 18th Amendment, banning the manufacture, sale and transportation of alcohol, went into effect following its ratification one year earlier. In 1919, Wilson vetoed the National Prohibition Act (or Volstead Act), designed to enforce the 18th Amendment; however, his veto was overridden by Congress. Prohibition lasted until 1933, when it was repealed by the 21st Amendment. Also in 1920, American women gained the right to vote when the 19th Amendment became law that August; Wilson had pushed Congress to pass the amendment. That year’s presidential election–the first in which women from every state were allowed to vote–resulted in a victory for Republican Warren Harding (1865-1923), a congressman from Ohio who opposed the League of Nations and campaigned for a “return to normalcy” after Wilson’s tenure in the White House. Woodrow Wilson’s Final Years After leaving office in March 1921, Woodrow Wilson resided in Washington, D.C. He and a partner established a law firm, but poor health prevented the president from ever doing any serious work. Wilson died at his home on February 3, 1924, at age 67. He was buried in the Washington National Cathedral, the only president to be interred in the nation’s capital. Access hundreds of hours of historical video, commercial free, with HISTORY Vault . Start your free trial today. Tags

Thomas R. Marshall

In which language did The Singing Nun sing when she topped the singles charts?

World War One Woodrow Wilson   World War One, WOODROW WILSON The president who led the nation through the hard years of World War I was Woodrow Wilson. He was probably the only president who was a brilliant student and teacher as well as a statesman. He had been a college professor, president of Princeton University, and the author of books on American government. He had also been governor of New Jersey. Woodrow Wilson worked out his political beliefs in the classroom. Then he entered politics to put his theories of government into practice. Appearance and Personality Wilson was a slender man, about five feet eleven inches tall. He had a high forehead, high cheekbones, long, thin nose, and long jaw, thrust forward in a stubborn line. His blue-gray eyes, behind rimless nose glasses, had a way of narrowing when he talked, giving him a stern, almost grim expression. He could be cold and disagreeable with men he felt were not sympathetic to him. In fact his greatest fault was his inability to work with those who were not willing to follow his lead completely. He had absolute confidence in his own judgment. His family and his many close friends knew him as a totally different kind of man--affectionate, charming, generous, and full of fun. He might have been a successful vaudeville actor. He could dance a jig and the cakewalk. He told delightful stories in black, Scottish, and Irish dialects and wrote nonsense jingles. His friends went into gales of laughter over his imitations of mutual acquaintances. He sang well and he had a beautiful speaking voice. Above all, he loved good conversation. Clever, well-bred people who understood him brought out the best qualities of his brilliant and witty mind. His friends made up a very important part of his life. Once a friendship with him was broken, however, he could never again resume it. A Family of Ministers and Educators Woodrow Wilson was born into a family of Presbyterian ministers and teachers. His grandfather, James Wilson, migrated to the United States from Ulster, Ireland, in 1807. He married an Irish girl, Anne Adams, who came on the same ship. James Wilson became a newspaper publisher in Steubenville, Ohio. One of his sons, Joseph Ruggles Wilson, was Woodrow Wilson's father. He became a Presbyterian minister. Wilson's mother was Janet (Jessie) Woodrow. She was born in Carlisle, England, just across the border from Scotland. Her father, Thomas Woodrow, was a Scottish Presbyterian minister. In 1836 he brought his family to the United States. In time he settled in Ohio, and there his daughter and Joseph Ruggles Wilson were married. Childhood and Schooling Thomas Woodrow Wilson was born Christmas week, Dec. 28, 1856, in Staunton, Va., where his father was minister of the First Presbyterian Church. He had two older sisters, Marion and Anne. A brother, Joseph Ruggles Wilson, Jr., was ten years younger. Tommy, as he was called in his childhood, was a year old when the family moved to Augusta, Ga. He remembered as a child of four standing beside the garden gate and hearing a man say in great excitement that Mr. Lincoln was elected and there was to be war. He ran into the house to ask his father what it meant. He was to see a great deal of the destruction and waste of war in the South and to learn to hate it. The Wilson family was happy and affectionate. Tommy and his father were unusually close. The boy did not go to school until he was 13. Until then his father had been his only teacher. Dr. Wilson took the boy on visits to the neighboring cotton gin, corn mill, iron foundry, and ammunition plant and explained how they operated. He taught him to look up unfamiliar words in the dictionary and to repeat them until he could use them easily. He taught him how to write simply and express his meaning exactly. This skill with words helped make Wilson famous. Tommy's interest in parliamentary law began when he was a boy. He organized and made himself president of a club, the Lightfoots, which played baseball and engaged in various secret and adventurous activities. They met in the hayloft of Dr. Wilson's barn. Tommy wrote a constitution for the club and conducted its meetings according to 'Robert's Rules of Order'. The boys were impressed with their leader. They would have been more impressed if they could have known that this tall, thin boy with spectacles, big ears, and a pale face would one day write the constitution for the League of Nations. In 1870, when the boy was 14, the family moved to Columbia, S.C. It was a lonely period, and he amused himself by studying nautical terms and writing a fanciful yarn of the sea. He imagined himself to be Admiral Wilson of the United States Navy, whose fleet destroyed a nest of pirates in the South Pacific. The story took the form of daily reports, directed to the Navy Department at Washington, D.C. He began to read books on the science of government. A picture of William Gladstone hung over his desk. He explained to his cousin: "That is Gladstone, the greatest statesman that ever lived. I intend to be a statesman too." The College Student In 1873 he entered Davidson College in North Carolina. He was badly prepared for college. By the end of the term his health broke down from overwork. After 15 months of studying by himself he entered Princeton, then known as the College of New Jersey. Here he discovered the fine qualities of his mind and gained a confidence in himself which he never lost. He studied the art of public speaking and was active in the college debating society. In his senior year he wrote a brilliant essay on "Cabinet Government in the United States." He dropped the name Thomas and signed himself "Woodrow Wilson." After his graduation from Princeton in 1879 he entered the University of Virginia to study law. He took his law degree in 1882 and entered into a partnership, Renick and Wilson, in Atlanta, Ga. A brief struggle to build up a practice convinced him that he would never make a successful lawyer. He returned to the "advantages and delights of study" in 1883. This time he spent two years at Johns Hopkins University studying history and political science. For all his brilliance, Wilson never stood at the top of his class. He refused to study subjects that bored him, and he had great contempt for the pursuit of high marks and academic degrees. He took his degree of doctor of philosophy from Johns Hopkins only at the insistence of friends who pointed out that it meant a higher salary as a teacher. He submitted as his dissertation a book on 'Congressional Government', which was published in 1885, a year after he left the university. In this penetrating study he made the point that congressional government, as practiced in the United States, divides responsibility and thus lends itself to inefficiency and corruption. The College Professor When he was 29 years old he started on his career as an educator. He was associate professor of history at Bryn Mawr College (for women) (1885-88) and then professor of history and political economy at Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn. (1888-90). In 1890 he returned as professor of jurisprudence and political economy to the College of New Jersey. In the next 20 years he was to see it grow into the great Princeton University. For eight years (1902-10) he was president of the university. Year after year the Princeton students elected him their most popular professor. He was an inspiring teacher. He had small respect for the kind of mind that accumulates facts and dates. He believed in the importance of "developing the mind by using it rather than stuffing it." "The essence of the cultured mind is its capacity for relating knowledge," he declared. They were busy years. In addition to teaching he had published 'Congressional Government' (1885), 'The State' (1889), 'Division and Reunion' (1893), 'George Washington' (1896), 'A History of the American People' (1902), and 'Constitutional Government in the United States' (1908). He wrote many essays and book reviews and was in great demand as a lecturer. He was always overworked and suffered repeated sick spells which required long periods of rest. Historians have suspected that he suffered perhaps as many as three strokes--two minor and one more serious--during the 1890s. In 1906 he was told that he must retire and lead a very quiet life, but he kept on going. Without the help and sympathy of his wife, he could never have accomplished all that he did. Marriage and Family Life He had married Ellen Axson of Rome, Ga., in 1885. They had three daughters--Margaret (born in 1886), Jessie (1887), and Eleanor (1889). His wife saw that he had quiet for his working hours, freedom from money worries, and the frequent association of intellectual friends. On the small salary of a teacher they managed to help their younger relatives get a college education by opening their home to them. A friend of later years wrote, "The more I am with the Wilsons the more I am struck by their unrivaled home life. I have never dreamed such sweetness and love could be." President of Princeton University As president of Princeton, Wilson launched his first reform crusade--to build a university that would produce leaders and statesmen. The first problem was to get rid of the upper-class eating clubs. "The side-shows are swallowing up the circus," he remarked. The second was to establish a stronger graduate college. He proposed a plan in which graduates and undergraduates should live together in small colleges presided over by teachers and tutors. Students and professors would benefit by the mutual stimulation of cultured, scholarly ideals. He succeeded in reorganizing the courses of study and in adding to the faculty 47 young scholars, called preceptors. Their duty was individual supervision of the students and the development of small discussion groups. But on the major issues he failed. Students and alumni opposed elimination of social clubs. A group in the faculty was determined to place the graduate college under a separate administration and to house its students in a quadrangle far removed from the undergraduate campus, libraries, and laboratories. Wilson was convinced that such plans reduced the graduate college to little more than an expensive hall of residence. When two alumni willed several million dollars to the graduate college on condition that the opposition's plans be carried out, Wilson was defeated. He felt that the issue was between democracy and the power of money and special privilege. Reform Governor of New Jersey The Princeton battle attracted wide publicity and led to his election as governor of New Jersey in 1910. He showed his independence and his capacity for getting things done. Again, as at Princeton, he plunged into battle with forces he was convinced opposed the public good. New Jersey was run by a group of political bosses who thought they could use Wilson as a respectable front. He side-stepped the Democratic party machine and appealed directly to the voters for support of his program. In a little over a year he put through a public utility control act, a corrupt political practices act, a workmen's compensation act, and a direct primary act. These bold reforms attracted national attention to the college president turned politician. In 1912 he won the Democratic party's nomination for president of the United States. Theodore Roosevelt split the Republican party and Wilson won the election. The electoral vote was 435 for Wilson, 88 for Roosevelt, and 8 for Taft. But Wilson won only 42 percent of the popular vote. The combined vote for Roosevelt and Taft exceeded Wilson's by more than 1,300,000. Life in the White House The Wilson family was far from happy about the prospect of going to the White House. The outgoing president, William Howard Taft, said to them, "I'm glad to be going--this is the lonesomest place in the world." Eleanor Wilson wrote in her memoirs that the day before her father's inauguration she wept until she was exhausted, crying, "It will kill them--it will kill them both." Yet the Wilson family adapted themselves very quickly to life in the White House. Mrs. Wilson made a simple and democratic home, as she had done wherever they went. Two weddings took place in the White House in the first two years. Jessie married Francis B. Sayre on Nov. 26, 1913, and Eleanor married William Gibbs McAdoo on May 7, 1914. Mrs. Wilson's health began to fail early in 1914. Her ability to endear herself to everyone was indicated by an action of Congress. Informed that she was sinking, they hastily passed a bill for slum clearance in Washington, which she had very much at heart, so that she might be told of it before she died, in August of that year. Dependent as he had always been on his wife's companionship, the president became lonely and depressed. Through his personal physician, Col. Cary Grayson, he met a beautiful and gracious widow, Mrs. Edith Bolling Galt. Wilson and Mrs. Galt were married in December 1915. A Political Reformer in the White House Wilson called his philosophy of government the "new freedom." "What I am interested in is having the government of the United States more concerned about human rights than about property rights," he declared. Convinced that strong executive leadership was necessary for progress, he went further than any other president in forcing his wishes on Congress. He called Congress in extra session early in April 1913 and addressed the two houses in person. This broke a precedent of long standing. From time to time after that he went before Congress with parts of his program. The result was a mass of progressive legislation unequaled in any administration up to that time. Tariff reform. The Underwood-Simmons tariff lowered duties on more than a hundred items. A tariff commission was established in 1916 to study tariffs and make recommendations. Income tax. To offset the loss in revenue from tariff reductions, a graduated income tax law was enacted as authorized by the newly adopted 16th Amendment to the Constitution. It was levied according to wealth. Currency and credit reform. The Federal Reserve banking system was established, and a board of control was set up to administer the system. For the first time in American history, finance and credits were placed under government direction. The Federal Farm Loan Act created 12 farm loan-banks to give cheap and easy credit to farmers and tenants. Regulation of business. The Federal Trade Commission was created, with power to forbid unfair business practices. The Clayton Act, designed to strengthen the Sherman Anti-Trust Act, defined the methods of competition that the Commission was empowered to forbid. It made officers of corporations liable for illegal acts of those corporations, exempted labor unions from antitrust acts, and forbade the use of labor injunctions except where necessary to protect property. Other social legislation. The La Follette Seamen's bill required better living and working conditions for ocean and lake sailors. The Adamson Act set an eight-hour working day for railroad workers. Diplomacy in Latin America Congress in 1912 had enacted a Panama tolls law that violated the Hay-Pauncefote Treaty of 1901 with Great Britain, guaranteeing equal treatment in the use of the canal. Wilson persuaded Congress to repeal the act. American businessmen were investing heavily in the mines, railroads, and other resources of Latin America. Wilson announced soon after his inauguration that he would abandon "dollar diplomacy." This meant that investors could no longer expect the United States government to protect their interests. Nevertheless, Wilson permitted United States intervention to restore order in Nicaragua, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic. In 1914 the Marines seized the port of Veracruz, Mexico, when Mexican police arrested several American sailors. Mediation by the "A B C powers" (Argentina, Brazil, and Chile) averted war. In March 1916 a Mexican rebel, Francisco (Pancho) Villa, raided Columbus, N. M., killing 17 Americans. With the permission of President Carranza of Mexico, the United States sent an expedition into Mexico under Gen. John J. Pershing. They failed to catch Villa and were withdrawn in January 1917. Wilson and World War I In the summer of 1914 all Europe was plunged into war. Wilson called upon the United States to be neutral "even in spirit," but few Americans were able to remain impartial. For two years the president made every effort to avoid war. Even after the unarmed British liner Lusitania was sunk by a German submarine with a loss of almost 1,200 lives including 124 Americans, he argued: "There is such a thing as a man being too proud to fight." In 1916 he was reelected. He defeated the Republican candidate Charles Evans Hughes by an electoral vote of 277 to 254. The campaign slogan "He kept us out of war" probably won him more popular votes than any other factor. After the election Wilson tried to end the war by active mediation. The Germans, however, resumed unrestricted submarine warfare. On April 2, 1917, the president asked Congress for a declaration of war. Before a joint session of the two houses he read the solemn words, "The present German submarine warfare against commerce is a warfare against mankind. It is a war against all nations. . . . We are accepting this challenge. . . . The world must be made safe for democracy." On April 6, Congress declared war. In the next 18 months the United States built an army of 4 million men by conscription, sent 2 million men overseas to France, and united the entire population behind the war effort. A vast propaganda machine was created under the title of the Committee on Public Information. The words of Wilson reached the German people by radio for the first time in history. Leaflets were scattered from airplanes, shot from guns and rockets, and smuggled behind the enemy lines. Wilson said that this was a "war to end war." He spoke of "peace without victory" and without revenge. On Jan. 8, 1918, he announced his Fourteen Points as the basis for a peace settlement. They were more than peace terms; they were terms for a better world. He followed this speech with his famous "self-determination" speech on February 11 in which he said: "National aspirations must be respected; people may now be dominated and governed only by their own consent. 'Self determination' is not a mere phrase; it is an imperative principle of action. . . . " The Battle for the Peace Treaty The war came to an end on Nov. 11, 1918. The German proposals for peace came in the midst of the Congressional elections. Wilson appealed to the people to support his policies by returning a Democratic majority to both houses. The party was defeated, however, and with a Republican majority in control he was no longer able to lead the Congress. Against the advice of those close to him, the president decided to attend the peace conference in Paris and fight for his policies in person. He took with him few advisers, and none from the Republican party. On December 13 he arrived in Europe. Probably no man has ever been given such an ovation. Wherever he went enormous crowds gathered, sobbing, cheering, shouting his name. The peace conference dragged on week after weary week. David Lloyd George of England, Vittorio Orlando of Italy, Georges Clemenceau of France, all were experienced and shrewd diplomats and each was determined to have his own way. The endless arguing and the official receptions and banquets frayed Wilson's nerves. He suffered a brief but severe illness. Thereafter he was more tense, nervous, and irritable. The peace as agreed upon in June 1919 did contain many of his ideas. His greatest success was in writing into the Versailles Treaty the Covenant (constitution) of a League of Nations. On July 10, 1919, he laid it before a hostile Senate, led by Henry Cabot Lodge and a "little group of willful men," as Wilson called them. They were especially opposed to the League of Nations, but Wilson refused to compromise his dream. In search of popular support that would overwhelm the Senate, he toured the country in defense of the League. Exhausted, he collapsed in Pueblo, Colo., late in September. A stroke left him paralyzed. For a month only his wife and his doctor were allowed to see him. Then, with his wife guiding his hand, he placed a wobbly signature on major bills. Only a strong will kept him alive. When Secretary of State Robert Lansing presumed to call Cabinet meetings, Wilson promptly dismissed him. He refused to let his vice-president, Thomas R. Marshall, take charge. In her memoirs Edith Wilson said that the president remained the active head of state, making decisions on the basis of digests that she had prepared. Wilson was unable to participate in the 1920 presidential campaign, and the Democratic candidate, James M. Cox, was overwhelmingly defeated by the Republican Warren G. Harding. Wilson died on Feb. 3, 1924. He was buried in the National Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul in Washington, D.C.  

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Who recorded the albums Blue and Court And Spark?

Joni Mitchell - Court and Spark Court and Spark Release date:  January 17, 1974 Buy Music Album Notes Drums and percussion - John Guerin Bass - Max Bennett (on Trouble Child), Jim Hughart (on People's Parties and Free Man In Paris), Wilton Felder Chimes (on Court and Spark) - Milt Holland Woodwinds & reeds - Tom Scott Trumpet (on Twisted and Trouble Child) - Chuck Findley Piano - Joni Mitchell Electric Piano - Joe Sample Clavinet (on Down To You) - Joni Mitchell Background voices - Joni Mitchell, David Crosby and Graham Nash (on Free Man In Paris), Susan Webb and David Crosby (on Down To You), Cheech and Chong (on Twisted) Electric Guitar - Wayne Perkins (on Car On A Hill), Dennis Budimir (on Trouble Child); Robbie Robertson (on Raised on Robbery), Jose Feliciano and Larry Carlton (on Free Man in Paris), Larry Carlton on all others Joe Sample appears courtesy of The Crusaders and Chisa/Blue Thumb Records Inc. Larry Carlton appears courtesy of Chisa/Blue Thumb Records Inc. Jose Feliciano appears courtesy of RCA Records Cheech & Chong appear courtesy of Ode Records Robbie Robertson appears courtesy of Capitol Records. The strings on the 'Same Situation' were arranged by Tom Scott; 'Down To You" arranged by Joni Mitchell and Tom Scott; 'Car On A Hill' arranged by Joni Mitchell Sound Engineer - Henry Lewy Mastering Engineer - Bernie Grundman All songs composed by Joni Mitchell, © 1973 Crazy Crow Music/BMI. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Except 'Twisted,' written by Ross and Grey, © 1965 Prestige Music/BMI. All rights reserved. Used by permission Art Direction / Design - Anthony Hudson Photography - Norman Seeff Cover Painting - Joni Mitchell © 1974 Asylum Records. Mfg. by Elektra / Asylum / Nonesuch Records, a division of Warner Communications Inc., 15 Columbus Circle, New York, N.Y. 10023. Printed USA

Joni Mitchell

Where was the world's largest telescope until 1948?

Joni Mitchell | New Music And Songs | Joni Mitchell About Joni Mitchell No female artist better typified the singer/songwriter movement of the '70s than Joni Mitchell, though her public image as the serious, sensitive woman with a guitar shortchanged her abilities, ambitions, and accomplishments. Mitchell's gift for writing personal, folk-inspired songs about the thorny side of life and love was inarguable (particularly on albums like 1970's Ladies of the Canyon and 1971's Blue), but Mitchell also brought the same smarts and eloquence to glossy pop on her commercial breakthrough, 1974's Court & Spark, and she was incorporating jazz and world music into her work long before either was fashionable in American pop music (and she also collaborated with respected jazz artists such as Charles Mingus, Pat Metheny, and Jaco Pastorius, something none of her peers accomplished). At her best, Mitchell was one of the finest and most adventurous artists of her generation, and a key inspiration to many women in music as a talent who refused to be hemmed in by boundaries of genre or gender. Born Roberta Joan Anderson in Fort McLeod, Alberta, Canada, on November 7, 1943, she was stricken with polio at the age of nine; while recovering in a children's hospital, she began her performing career by singing to the other patients. After later teaching herself to play guitar with the aid of a Pete Seeger instruction book, she went off to art college, and became a fixture on the folk music scene around Alberta. After relocating to Toronto, she married folksinger Chuck Mitchell in 1965, and began performing under the name Joni Mitchell. A year later the couple moved to Detroit, Michigan, but separated soon after; Joni remained in the Motor City, however, and won significant press acclaim for her burgeoning songwriting skills and smoky, distinctive vocals, leading to a string of high-profile performances in New York City. There she became a cause célèbre among the media and other performers; after she signed to Reprise in 1967, David Crosby offered to produce her debut record, a self-titled acoustic effort that appeared the following year. Her songs also found great success with other singers: in 1968, Judy Collins scored a major hit with the Mitchell-penned "Both Sides Now," while Fairport Convention covered "Eastern Rain" and Tom Rush recorded "The Circle Game." Thanks to all of the outside exposure, Mitchell began to earn a strong cult following; her 1969 sophomore effort, Clouds, reached the Top 40, while 1970's Ladies of the Canyon sold even better on the strength of the single "Big Yellow Taxi." It also included her anthemic composition "Woodstock," a major hit for Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Still, the commercial and critical approval awarded her landmark 1971 record Blue was unprecedented: a luminous, starkly confessional set written primarily during a European vacation, the album firmly established Mitchell as one of pop music's most remarkable and insightful talents. Predictably, she turned away from Blue's incandescent folk with 1972's For the Roses, the first of the many major stylistic turns she would take over the course of her daring career. Backed by rock-jazz performer Tom Scott, Mitchell's music began moving into more pop-oriented territory, a change typified by the single "You Turn Me On (I'm a Radio)," her first significant hit. The follow-up, 1974's classic Court and Spark, was her most commercially successful outing: a sparkling, jazz-accented set, it reached the number two spot on the U.S. album charts and launched three hit singles -- "Help Me," "Free Man in Paris," and "Raised on Robbery." After the 1974 live collection Miles of Aisles, Mitchell emerged in 1975 with The Hissing of Summer Lawns, a bold, almost avant-garde record that housed her increasingly complex songs in experimental, jazz-inspired settings; "The Jungle Line" introduced the rhythms of African Burundi drums, placing her far ahead of the pop world's mid-'80s fascination with world music. 1976's Hejira, recorded with Weather Report bassist Jaco Pastorius, smoothed out the music's more difficult edges while employing minimalist techniques; Mitchell later performed the album's first single, "Coyote," at the Band's Last Waltz concert that Thanksgiving. Her next effort, 1977's two-record set Don Juan's Reckless Daughter, was another ambitious move, a collection of long, largely improvisational pieces recorded with jazz players Larry Carlton and Wayne Shorter, Chaka Khan, and a battery of Latin percussionists. Shortly after the record's release, Mitchell was contacted by the legendary jazz bassist Charles Mingus, who invited her to work with him on a musical interpretation of T.S. Eliot's Four Quartets. Mingus, who was suffering from Lou Gehrig's disease, sketched out a series of melodies to which Mitchell added lyrics; however, Mingus died on January 5, 1979, before the record was completed. After Mitchell finished their collaboration on her own, she recorded the songs under the title Mingus, which was released the summer after the jazz titan's passing. Following her second live collection, 1980's Shadows and Light, Mitchell returned to pop territory for 1982's Wild Things Run Fast; the first single, a cover of the Elvis Presley hit "(You're So Square) Baby I Don't Care," became her first chart single in eight years. Shortly after the album's release, she married bassist/sound engineer Larry Klein, who became a frequent collaborator on much of her subsequent material, including 1985's synth-driven Dog Eat Dog, co-produced by Thomas Dolby. Mitchell's move into electronics continued with 1988's Chalk Mark in a Rain Storm, featuring guests Peter Gabriel, Willie Nelson, Tom Petty, and Billy Idol. Mitchell returned to her roots with 1991's Night Ride Home, a spare, stripped-down collection spotlighting little more than her voice and acoustic guitar. Prior to recording 1994's Turbulent Indigo, she and Klein separated, although he still co-produced the record, which was her most acclaimed work in years. In 1996, she compiled a pair of anthologies, Hits and Misses, which collected her chart successes as well as underappreciated favorites. A new studio album, Taming the Tiger, followed in 1998. Both Sides Now, a collection of standards, followed in early 2000. Two years later, Mitchell resurfaced with the double-disc release Travelogue. She announced in October 2002 that this would be her last album ever, for she'd grown tired of the industry. She told W magazine that she intended to retire. She also claimed she would never sign another corporate label deal, and in Rolling Stone blasted the recording industry for being "a cesspool." By the time Travelogue appeared a month later, Mitchell had simmered down and her plans to call it quits had been axed. Numerous compilations and remasters appeared between 2002 and 2006, culminating in the release of the independent Shine in 2007. In 2014, Mitchell helped compile her first box set anthology, Love Has Many Faces: A Quartet, A Ballet, Waiting to Be Danced, which featured remastered versions of 53 songs from her back catalog, all dealing with some aspect of love and relationships. ~ Jason Ankeny, Rovi

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How many Madison Square Gardens have there been before the existing one?

Here’s What the Renovated Madison Square Garden Looks Like October 24, 2013 10/24/2013 4:33 p.m. Here’s What the Renovated Madison Square Garden Looks Like Print One of the two bridges spanning the length of Madison Square Garden. Madison Square Garden has undergone major renovations — or a “transformation,” to use their preferred word — over each of the past three summers. The finished product will be unveiled to the public tomorrow night, when the Knicks take on the Bobcats in a preseason game, but officials showed off the building’s new look earlier today. The Seventh Avenue entrance was totally redone this summer. The arena doors are now located at the top of these steps, in front of the entrance to the theater. (Previously, the doors were located closer to the box office.) Beyond those doors is an area called Chase Square, which is more open than this space was pre-renovation. On the right of this photo — taken from the south side of the lobby area — is a Madison Square Garden store. To orient yourself: In the back of this photo is the box office, and the ramp that leads to the turnstiles is to the left of the ticket windows. On both the north and south sides of Chase Square, just beyond the arena doors, there’s a video board built into the ceiling. This photo was taken during a video presentation shown during today’s press conference. It’s just like looking up at the real skyline, in a horrifying version of the city where all the buildings are covered with ads for Eagles concerts! The new, larger center-hung scoreboard. During the press tour, that Knicks logo was the only image shown, but at first glance it appears to be a big improvement over the old scoreboard. Photo: Joe DeLessio Smaller screens are built into the bottom of the scoreboard for fans with seats near the ice or court — and for the players themselves to look at, if necessary. All the Rangers banners are grouped together on the Seventh Avenue side of the arena. (At least some of these banners appear to be updated versions of the ones that had been hanging in the Garden. Curiously, there’s no banner for the Rangers’$2 1994 Eastern Conference title.) There’s also a second LED ribbon board on both the Seventh Avenue and Eighth Avenue ends of the arena. (Update: We reached out to the Garden and learned that they decided not to include conference title banners for either the Knicks or Rangers if the team also won the championship that year.) There are new versions of the Knicks’ banners, as well. Note the era-specific logos. (The use of the old Father Knickerbocker logo is particularly awesome.) Photo: Joe DeLessio The Garden added ten more “Defining Moments” displays in the concourses this year. This one commemorates the Rangers’$2 1994 Stanley Cup title. (That’s the jersey Craig MacTavish was wearing when he took the final face-off in game seven of the finals.) Other new displays include Larry Johnson’s four-point play in 1999, and Syracuse’s six-overtime win over UConn in the 2009 Big East Tournament. This is a photo of Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist and Justin Bieber. (It’s part of a series of photos, on the eighth floor concourse, of players away from the ice or court.) The good news is the Garden has added a bunch of cool displays, like this one with Wayne Gretzky’s locker. The bad news is you need to have a ticket on the Signature Suite Level to see them. Photo: Joe DeLessio The walkway on one of the two Chase Bridges that span the length of the arena. The bridges actually blend in better than we expected them to. (You can get a sense of this from the photo at the top of this post.) Photo: Joe DeLessio The first row of seats on the northern Chase Bridge. Photo: Joe DeLessio The view from the northern Chase Bridge. We only spent a few seconds in these seats during the tour, but when facing the court, it didn’t feel drastically different than sitting in the front row of the upper level in any other arena. (The major difference is that, instead of looking over a railing, you’re looking through a pane of glass, similar to the design of the West Balcony seats installed last year.) Photo: Joe DeLessio Our biggest concern about the bridges is that they’d obstruct the views of the seats in the back rows of the main seating bowl. But the views from these seats weren’t as bad as we expected. This photo was taken from the last row, and though the main scoreboard is blocked, it doesn’t feel as cramped as we feared. (There are smaller video boards built onto the back of the bridges.) The real test will be whether fans walking along the bridge will be a distraction during an actual game. For what it’s worth, Garden officials insist it won’t be. Today’s tour didn’t include a visit to the blue seats on the Eighth Avenue side of the building, though Hank Ratner, CEO of the Madison Square Garden Company, said that there are no obstructed views there, even in the back rows. The new capacity for hockey will be 18,006; for basketball, it’ll be 19,812. That hockey capacity is roughly 200 seats fewer than the pre-renovation number of 18,200, though a Garden spokesperson says the actual capacity has been fluctuating in recent years, so the building hadn’t necessarily held that many for Rangers games in recent seasons. Tags:

3

Which road bisects the Balboa Park in San Diego?

| Billy Joel at Madison Square Garden 3 CONSECUTIVE YEARS! 36 SELLOUTS! BILLY JOEL AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN | 37TH SHOW ADDED November 18th, 2016 MADISON SQUARE GARDEN The Madison Square Garden Company announced today the 37th consecutive show by legendary musician and MSG franchise Billy Joel. The January 11th show is part of his residency at The World’s Most Famous Arena which began in January 2014 with Joel playing one show per month at The Garden as part of the Time Warner Cable Concert Series, for three consecutive years. The January show will be Joel’s 83rd all-time performance at The Garden.  Citi cardmembers will have exclusive access to presale tickets for the January 11 show from Monday, November 14 at 10:00AM (EST) through Thursday, November 17 at 10:00PM (EST) via www.citiprivatepass.com . Tickets for the January 11 show will be available for purchase by the general public beginning at 10:00AM (EST) on Friday, November 18 via ticketmaster.com and by calling Ticketmaster at 866-858-0008. Tickets will also be available at the Madison Square Garden box office on Saturday, November 19. Prices range from $65.50 to $129.50. The concerts are being promoted by The Madison Square Garden Company in association with AEG Live and Q104.3 as a media partner.  In December 2013, Billy Joel became Madison Square Garden’s first-ever music franchise, joining the ranks of the storied venue’s other original franchises – the New York Knicks, Rangers and Liberty. Since January 2014, Joel has played one show per month at The Garden as part of the Time Warner Cable Concert Series. This unprecedented and wildly successful residency has led to 36 sold-out shows through December 2016. Having sold 150 million records over the past quarter century, Billy Joel ranks as one of most popular recording artists and respected entertainers in history. The singer/songwriter/composer is the sixth best-selling recording artist of all time, the third best-selling solo artist and is one of the highest grossing touring artists in the world. Joel is also one of the biggest live performing artists in the world and his concerts continue to break records in both arenas and baseball stadiums. In November 2014, Billy Joel received both The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song which honors living musical artists’ lifetime achievement in promoting the genre of song as a vehicle of cultural understanding; entertaining and informing audiences; and inspiring new generations, and the once-in-a-century ASCAP Centennial Award, which is presented to American music icons in recognition of their incomparable accomplishments in their respective music genres and beyond. In December 2013, Joel received The Kennedy Center Honors, one of the United States' top cultural awards. He is also the recipient of six GRAMMY® Awards, including the prestigious Grammy Legend Award. Joel has been inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and has received numerous industry awards including a TONY AWARD for "Movin' Out," a Broadway musical based on Joel’s music. For his accomplishments as a musician and as a humanitarian, Joel was honored as the 2002 MusiCares Person Of The Year by the MusiCares Foundation and the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences. Joel has also performed alongside other music greats at two of Madison Square Garden’s most extraordinary benefit concerts – “12-12-12, The Concert For Sandy Relief,” which raised awareness and money for those affected by Hurricane Sandy and “The Concert for New York City,” which was held to help aid 9/11 victims and heroes. Billy Joel received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, adding another milestone to his brilliant career.  MSG now offers a rich visual history of Billy Joel and his many Garden performances through a scrollable timeline featuring archival images, video insights from Billy, sharable images and lyrics, plus direct links for ticketing. Visit billyjoelmsg.com for more information. Join the conversation with #BillyJoelMSG. MADISON SQUARE GARDEN ANNOUNCES BILLY JOEL AS FIRST-EVER MUSIC FRANCHISE “BILLY JOEL AT THE GARDEN” December 3rd, 2013 MADISON SQUARE GARDEN BILLY JOEL IS “MOVING IN” TO THE GARDEN ALONGSIDE THE KNICKS, RANGERS AND LIBERTY Madison Square Garden announced today that legendary music icon Billy Joel will become the first-ever music franchise of “The World’s Most Famous Arena.” Joining the ranks of The Garden’s other original franchises – including the New York Knicks, Rangers and Liberty – Billy Joel will kick off this franchise at The Garden performing a show a month, as long as there is demand, starting January 27, 2014. The first four previously announced shows -- January 27, February 3, March 21, April 18 are sold out. The just announced May 9 show, which is also Billy’s 65th birthday, will be available to Citi cardmembers during an exclusive presale from December 4th at 10am (EST) through December 6th at 10pm (EST). Tickets will then be available for purchase by the general public beginning at 10am (EST) on Saturday, December 7th.  Madison Square Garden announced today that legendary music icon Billy Joel will become the first-ever music franchise of “The World’s Most Famous Arena.” Joining the ranks of The Garden’s other original franchises – including the New York Knicks, Rangers and Liberty – Billy Joel will kick off this franchise at The Garden performing a show a month, as long as there is demand, starting January 27, 2014. The first four previously announced shows -- January 27, February 3, March 21, April 18 are sold out. The just announced May 9 show, which is also Billy’s 65th birthday, will be available to Citi cardmembers during an exclusive presale from December 4th at 10am (EST) through December 6th at 10pm (EST). Tickets will then be available for purchase by the general public beginning at 10am (EST) on Saturday, December 7th.  “Since his first show in 1978, Billy has performed 46 shows at Madison Square Garden, including an unprecedented 12 consecutive sold-out shows that have earned Billy a spot among the Garden greats with a banner raised in his honor. Today, we take that relationship even further and are extremely honored to have Billy as The Garden’s first music franchise,” said James L. Dolan, executive chairman, The Madison Square Garden Company. “This new partnership will ensure that someone who has been such an important figure in our past, will also be a major part of our future. We welcome Billy home and look forward to many unforgettable nights of music at the Garden.”  “Today’s announcement that Billy Joel is joining the Madison Square Garden family as their first music franchise is truly a momentous occasion,” said Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of New York. “It is particularly fitting that these two great icons are coming together to make entertainment history right here in New York. I offer my congratulations to Billy Joel and Madison Square Garden and the millions of fans worldwide who will benefit from this collaboration for years to come.”  “Performing at Madison Square Garden is a thrilling experience. I’ve played different venues all over the world, but there’s no place like coming home to The Garden. Since my first show in 1978, I’ve always looked forward to the energy of the crowd. I’m honored to be joining the Madison Square Garden family and look forward to taking the stage of the newly transformed Garden to create many more memorable nights.”  Over its 130-year history, Madison Square Garden has become known as the preeminent venue for legendary artists and athletes. Billy Joel’s first concert at The Garden was held on December 14, 1978 and, since then, he has performed an astounding 46 concerts at the Arena. In 2006, with 12-consecutive performances, Billy Joel broke the Garden’s record for “Longest Run of a Single Artist.” To commemorate this historical moment, a banner featuring “Joel – 12” was raised to The Garden rafters, and now hangs alongside other Garden legends such as Mark Messier, Rod Gilbert, Walt “Clyde” Frazier, Bill Bradley and Willis Reed.  Billy Joel is one of the highest grossing touring artists in the world. Having sold more than 150 million records over the past quarter century, Billy Joel ranks as one of most popular recording artists and respected entertainers in history. Throughout the years, Joel's songs have acted as personal and cultural touchstones for millions of people, mirroring his own goal of writing songs that "meant something during the time in which I lived ... and transcended that time.” The singer/songwriter/composer is the sixth best-selling recording artist of all time and the third best-selling solo artist.  In December, Billy Joel will receive The Kennedy Center Honor, one of the United States' top cultural awards. New York’s quintessential son performed at the historic 12.12.12 The Concert For Sandy Relief, joining other music greats to raise awareness and money to help those affected by Hurricane Sandy. Billy Joel was honored by Steinway & Sons with a painted portrait that hangs in Steinway Hall in Manhattan, making him the first non-classical pianist to be immortalized in the collection. He played to more than 110,000 fans when he performed the final concerts at Shea Stadium, featured in the 2010 documentary film "The Last Play At Shea.”  Billy Joel has received six GRAMMY® Awards, including the prestigious Grammy Legend Award. He has been inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and has received numerous industry awards. His music has also served as the inspiration and score for the hit Tony Award-winning Broadway play “Movin’ Out.”  MSG now offers a rich visual history of Billy Joel and his many Garden performances through a scrollable timeline, featuring archival images, video insights from Billy, sharable images and lyrics, plus direct links for ticketing. Visit billyjoelmsg.com for more information. Join the conversation with #BillyJoelMSG.  Tickets for the May 9, 2014 Billy Joel performance at Madison Square Garden will be available to Citi cardmembers during an exclusive presale from Wednesday, December 4 at 10am through Friday, December 6 at 10pm. Tickets will then be available for purchase by the general public beginning at 10am on Saturday, December 7 via ticketmaster.com and by calling 800.745.3000. Prices range from $64.50 to $124.50. The remaining shows will be announced later this year. Tickets will also available at the Madison Square Garden Event box office on Sunday, December 8, 2014. The concerts are being promoted by MSG Entertainment in association with AEG and Q104.3 as a media partner. Billy Joel to Make 'Historic Announcement' Next Week November 26th, 2013 Rolling Stone Billy Joel just announced that he will hold a press conference at Madison Square Garden on December 3rd to make an "exclusive and historic announcement." Neither he nor the arena have given indication of what they are going to announce, but the moment will be broadcast live on Fuse, the MSG Network and BillyJoel.com. 

i don't know

In which city was the pinball machine invented?

The History Of Pinball Machines | Worldwide Pinball Machine Delivery From BMI Gaming                       "Virtual Pinball", TAB Austria, 2002                                  "UltraPin" Digital Pinball, Global VR, 2006                                       Pinball has now become a "in" item with high-profile celebrities, baby boomers, business exec's & families, and has become a fixture on many TV shows and commercials, movie sets and many magazine shoots, perhaps due to the "nostalgia factor" and the advent of personal home game rooms, or realization that a individual can now easily purchase a pinball machine, or the fact that playing a few good games of pinball after a hard day's work can be a tremendous stress-reliever!                                                                                                                     Coke commercial with David Arquette shown                                                                    playing one of three classic pinballs in his                                                                    actual home collection in the foreground. Iy 2002, the industry was left with just one major designer and manufacturer, Stern Pinball, based in the Chicagoland area and run by Gary Stern, the son of Stern Electronics' founder Sam Stern. Stern has released quite a few interesting and collectable titles over the past few years, and hopefully will continue on in the tradition of great firms like Williams and Bally on future releases.                                                                                                                 "Iron Man", Stern Pinball, 2010                                     Stern Pinball's ratio of "home sales" to commercial sales has risen from practically zero to an estimated 35% - 60% of their total sales in just the last 3 years, which is an encouraging new market for them to sell into in the coming years as operator and commercial account orders continue to dwindle. There have been some rumblings of other firms within the coin-op industry having aspirations of jumping into the pinball machine game, but nothing seriously has been reported or announced to date. It will be very interesting to see what the future holds for pinball over the course of the next century... However, in late 2008, Stern announced, for the first time in its history, a major layoff of many in-house pinball designers, engineers and technical staff, due to declining sales because of the current economic climate, which questions the future of Stern Pinball, and new pinball machines in doubt - So it you want to purchase a new pinball machine, buy one as soon as possible, because we predict that if Stern actually goes out of business, the price of all remaining pinball machines will skyrocket after the economy improves. As for the state of used or "pre-owned" machines, supplies are very tight and getting tighter, with ASP (average selling price) of good quality of pre-owned pinball machine of popular titles from the late 80's to 90's now appreciating at a rate of 10% - 25 % or more per year, even in this economic climate, as more and more individuals discover (or re-discover) the pleasures of pinball ownership and supplies dry up. Just a few years ago, America had all the machines it ever needed to meet domestic supply; but now it is estimated that over 70% of all preowned pinball machines now sold in the US come from overseas sources in countries such as Western Europe and Latin America, due to the increasingly high demand from Americans, even now in this depression-like economic climate. But in 2013-2015, new pinball developers are now starting to enter into the pinball machine "arena" and challenge the "old guard" maker Stern Pinball. with new and very exciting innovations, from embedded LCD Monitors and Backboards to multi-colored LED playfield lighting, and one of the most promising new players to hit the scene this year (with products) is Jersey Jack Pinball, with the introduction of their radically designed "new-age" pinball machine called "Wizard Of OZ"                                                                                       "Wizard Of Oz - Emerald City Edition", Jersey Jack Pinball, 2013             What will this decade hold for pinball machine development? Stay tuned and find out..! Surprising Pinball Machine Fact : Did you know that it was illegal to own a pinball machine in New York and in many other states at one point in time? Pinball machines were officially banned in New York in 1942 until the late 1970's, because the city administration viewed the game as a "game of luck" rather than a "game of skill"...  Mayor La Guardia was quoted before the ban saying he believed the machines "robbed the pockets of schoolchildren in the form of nickels and dimes given them as lunch money". Given his statement, it came as no shock when a pinball machine "ban" was carried out in dramatic fashion in New York - In 1942, Mayor Fiorello La Guardia started executing a massive prohibition-style raid across the city by issuing an ultimatum to the NYPD that their "top priority" would be to round up all the pinball machines in the city and arrest their owners - The raid resulted in thousands of machines being confisticated, then smashed with sledgehammers by the Mayor and the NYPD before being dramatically dumped into the city's rivers. But pinball in New York City did not disappear - it simply moved to low-key locations in "sketchy" areas.. From the Las Vegas Mercury Newspaper, Thursday, March 28, 2002 - "In their earliest incarnations, some pin games (so named for the pins that dotted the playfield, guiding the ball into holes with point values) such as Bally's 1933 Rocket offered cash payouts to the player if he landed the ball in certain holes. It wasn't unusual to see such games taking their place next to conventional slot machines. The advent of payout machines, versus nonpaying "novelty" machines manufactured by many of the same companies, raised some sticky questions about this new form of entertainment: Was pinball a game of skill or luck? The answer would mean the difference between a harmless game and a form of gambling- even if the "payout" was a free game. Some states decided the latter and banned pinball machines. In January 1942, for instance, New York Mayor Fiorello Henry LaGuardia banned pinball as a form of gambling, smashing several machines in a publicity stunt. Also, the passage of the Johnson Act in 1950 outlawed interstate shipping of certain types of pinball machines, as they were deemed gambling devices. Pinball manufacturers such as Williams and Gottlieb responded by mounting a campaign of their own under the aegis of the Coin Machine Institute; these pinball makers eliminated payout machines and sought to show that pinball was a wholesome pastime that had no connection to gambling--especially with the advent of flippers in 1947, which turned pinball, more than ever, into a game of skill. Still, the ban in New York lasted until 1976; free games in the form of  awarded replays are still illegal in New York and in other cities, though the laws are rarely enforced." Modern Pinball History Timeline The first commercially successful pinball machine, " Baffle Ball " is introduced by Gottlieb.   1933 - The first mechanical "tilt" mechanism is introduced by Gottlieb in " Broker's Tip ", and the             very first electrical tilt mechanism is introduced by ABT Manufacturing in " Autocount ". 1936 - The first "bumpers" in a pinball machine are introduced by Bally in " Bumper ". 1947 - The first pinball machine to to use ball "flippers" is seen in " Humpty Dumpty " by Gottlieb. 1948 - The first use of "active" or rebounding bumpers is introduced by Williams in " Rainbow ". 1951 - The first playfield "slingshot" kickers (mostly triangular shaped in modern games) were             introduced with the " Double Feature " pinball machine made by Gottlieb 1953 - The first two-player pinball machine is released. (pinball machines before this were             strictly one player affairs) and the first use of "score wheels" (" Army Navy " - Williams)             and also the first use of "ramps" on playfields (" Nine Sisters " from Williams Mfg.) 1954 - The first multiple player pinball machine, " Super Jumbo ", is released by D. Gottlieb. 1956 - The first "multiball" feature is featured on Bally's " Balls-A-Poppin " pinball machine. 1957 - The first use of a "match" bonus feature (a number in your final score is matched at             random to a number the machine picks, resulting in a free game, or "credit") in             pinball is introduced. 1960 - The first moving target in pinball is introduced with the " Magic Clock " from Williams.            The first "add-a-ball" (extra ball) game called " Flipper " is developed by D. Gottlieb.            The add-a-ball award was developed to counter various laws in effect during this            period that made it illegal for a game to award replays in certain parts of the country            because it was consider a "gambling" activity, especially in New York City 1962 - The first "drop targets" were introduced by Williams Manufacturing in " Vagabond ". 1963 - The first "spinners" on a pinball playfield are introduced. 1964 - The first "mushroom" bumper (common in all of today's modern games) was             introduced by Bally. 1966 - The first digital scoring pinball machine, " Rally Girl " is produced by a French             company called Rally, using " Nixie Tube " (cold-cathode) glowing display tubes. 1968 - The first modern flippers (3 inches) are introduced on " Hayburners II " by Williams. 1975 - The first solid-state, or electronic pinball machine, " Spirit of 76 ", was first introduced             by Micro Games. It marks the beginning of the switch from electromechanical ( EM )             machines to electronic (or "solid-state") pinball machines. And the first pinball             to be based on a licensed movie "theme", " Wizard ! ", is introduced by Bally.            The Magnificent Marble Machine, the largest non-commercial pinball machine ever             made (20' high x 12' long) was introduced on a NBC TV show of the same name.                1976 - The first widely available "solid state" pinball machine was introduced by Bally and             is called "Freedom". Many of the games from the mid 70's were produced in two             separate versions (both electronic and electromechanical), including Freedom.                          The first "wide-body" pinball, " The Atarians " is introduced by Atari. Also in this year,              the long-time pinball machine manufacturer Chicago Coin makes its very last game,              and Chicago Coin is taken over by Sam Stern (father of Gary Stern), and renamed              "Stern Electronics" (now Stern Pinball ). Also, Gottlieb is sold to Colombia Pictures. 1977 - The first electronically produced sounds in a pinball machine were introduced, and the             first photographic / "3D" backglass display is introduced by Bally on " Lost World ". 1979 - The first "talking" or electronic speech game, which included 7 words, was introduced             by Williams and was called " Gorgar ", along with the first pinball machines to have a             continuous electronic background "soundtracks". This was also the year in which the             very last electro-mechanical (EM) pinball machine was made by Gottlieb. And finally,             the largest commercially-produced pinball machine, " Hercules " is introduced by Atari              1980 - The first "multi-level" pinball machine, along with the first "magna-save" player-controlled             ball magnet feature is introduced by Williams in " Black Knight ", along with the first "lane             advance" feature introduced in " Firepower ", also by Williams Manufacturing. 1982 - The first combination of a mechanical pinball machine with a video arcade game is             introduced in a hybrid pinball machine game called " Caveman " by Gottlieb.              1984 - Colombia Pictures, owner of D. Gottlieb, decides to close the firm. The company is             then taken over by Premier Technology, but the Gottlieb name remains alive. 1985 - The first "alphanumeric" digital pinball machine scoring display is introduced by            Gottlieb in the " Chicago Cubs Triple Play " pinball machine 1986 - The first automatic replay percentage feature, along with the first use of a commercial             soundtrack and songs, and the first "jackpot" to carryover between games is introduced             in " High Speed " by Williams. Also, the first pinball machine to use an actual photograph             duplicated on the pinball backglass is introduced with " Raven " by Premier Technology 1987 - The first pinball machine with digital stereo sound (" Laser War ") is introduced by Data-             East, and the first automatic ball-save feature is seen in " F-14 Tomcat " by Williams. 1988 - Bally Manufacturing is taken over by Williams Electronics, but the two companies            continue to produce separate lines of pinball machines under both names.             Also in this year, the first pinball machine with a video scoring display monitor is seen             in the " Dakar " pinball machine made by Mr. Game, a firm based in Bologna, Italy. 1989 - The first "wizard" (or expert) mode is introduced in " Black Knight 2000 " by Williams 1990 - The first solid-state (electronic) flippers are introduced by Data-East. 1991 - The first "dot-matrix" scoring display is introduced by Data-East in " Checkpoint "             along with video "modes" that animate certain parts of the game part on screen.             Also in the year, electronic plungers become common and the "ball-saver" feature             is introduced, in part due to laws in the UK (England) governing games of chance. 1993 - The first use of a ceramic, or non-magnetic pinball, called the " Powerball " is first             introduced in the " Twilight Zone " pinball machine from Bally Manufacturing. Also             in this year, the first player-controlled "mini playfield" is seen in "Indiana Jones". 1994 - Sega buys out Data-East and is renamed "Sega Pinball". 1996 - Gottlieb (Premier Technology) goes out of business for good. 1998 - The first pinball machine with a video screen integrated into the playfield design             is introduced by Williams in their new " Pinball 2000 " series pinball machines.              1999 - After just two Pinball 2000 releases, Williams Manufacturing (WMS) exits the pinball            machine business for good, but continues on as a maker of gaming devices for the            global gambling industry. Also in this year, Gary Stern buys Sega Pinball, renames            the combined firms as Stern Pinball and continues on as the only large scale            commercial pinball producer in the world in for most of the new decade. 2002 - A prototype of the first truly digital pinball machine, "Virtual Pinball" is introduced            at the 2002 IAAPA Amusement Show in Orlando by TAB Austria, and comes with a            a flat panel monitor replicating the playfield and housed in a non-standard cabinet. 2006 - The first digital video pinball machine that replicates the look, play and feel of a             traditional pinball machine on a flat screen monitor that replaces the traditional             playfield called " UltraPin ", is introduced by UltraCade (GlobalVR), and features             12 digitally re-created classic pinball machine playfields from Funhouse, Eight Ball,             Pin-Bot, Medieval Madness, Black Knight 2000, Attack from Mars, F-14 Tomcat,             Fathom, Firepower, Strikes and Spares, Sorcerer and Xenon, all in one unit.            2013 - The first "new age" pinball machine that replaces the static "backboard" or marquee             of a pinball machine with a LCD Monitor and also introduced full, multi-colored LED             lighting throughout the entire playfield along with other innovative pinball machine              enchantments is introduced by Jersey Jack Pinball, and called the "Wizard Of Oz".           

Chicago

What was the name of the first Hollywood movie released by D W Griffith in 1910?

Pinball Machine History - ARCADE UNBELIEVABLE.COM ARCADE UNBELIEVABLE.COM The History of Pinball Machines and Pintables                                           The Birth Of Pinball : 1800s - 1900 The "ancestor" of all pinball machines is acknowledged to be the 19th century "Bagatelle-Table", a sort of hybrid between a "pin table" and pool table. Players tried to hit balls with cue sticks and get them into pockets or slots surrounded by nails and pins. Another step towards the modern pinball form occurred sometime at the end of 19th century, when inventor Montague Redgrave patented a device called a "ball shooter", which was based on the recently invented steel spring.                                                                                                                "Ball-Shooter" Drawing, Circa 1830's Games similar to this pictured below were first popular in bars and cafes in France and America, but they were not coin operated - Players first exchanged money for balls to play with, then if players obtained a high enough score, they would be awarded free drinks, meals and or cigarettes. Soon after came the introduction of the first coin-operated Bagatelle and "Bingo" pin tables.                                                                                Bagatelle Table Ad                      Bingo Pinball Ad Pinball - The Early Years : 1930s - 1950s The first coin-operated "pinball machine" was invented in 1931 by Automatic Industries and was called "Whiffle Board". But the gaming industry really began in the mid 1930's with the production of a game called "Ballyhoo". It was invented by one Raymond Maloney, who later started the Bally Manufacturing Company of Chicago, IL.                            "Whiffle Board", Automatic Ind., circa 1931                          "Ballyhoo", Bally Mfg, circa 1934                                                              The pinball machines of this era had wooden legs and wooden rails on the sides of the machine, not like today's modern marvels of chrome and steel.                                                                                           "Ballyhoo" Ad, Circa 1934  It is thought the term "pinball" came into play at this time most likely due to the fact that the all the machines of this era had many holes and pins in them. In 1933, electricity was first introduced to pinball by adding a battery to the machine and in 1934, the first automatic scoring mechanism would appear in the form of a "clock" counter, as well as the first "sounds" in a pinball machine by way of electromechanical chimes, bells and buzzers. The popularity of the pinball machine rose dramatically during the mid to late 1930's in part due to the Depression and the need for low-cost entertainment for the masses. Since many pinball operators in the 1930's gave away prizes based on high scores, some players tried to cheat by shaking and lifting the game, so in 1935, the "tilt" mechanism (a control that determine how hard a pinball machine can be "shaked") was thought up by Harry Williams, founder of the famous Williams Manufacturing Company, in response to players learning how to control the game to their advantage. Modern day pinball machines employ two such "tilt devices", one that measures the movement of the game side to side, and another called the "slam tilt" that is used to movement up and down and prevents such acts as "slamming" your hand into the machine or trying to drop the machine. The "slam tilt" consists of a couple of "leaf switches" that detect a slam when they touch each other, while the "movement tilt" uses a pendulum and bob device that freely hangs inside a metal detection ring. A tilt warning occurs when either the leaf switches meet or if the free-swinging pendulum rod touches the metal ring. Most modern machines give one to three warnings (user adjustable) before ending the game. Also in 1935, the first "backglass" appears with lighted scoring. As more features were added, pinball machines are then outfitted with electrical transformers so they could be plugged into standard 110V electrical outlets; with that advance, in 1937, the first "coil bumpers" were introduced on Bally's "Bumper" pinball machine. In 1939, "disc bumpers" are then introduced to the game. Pinball From The 50's to the 90's       Pinball machines really grew in popularity after World War II. The ten year period of 1948-58 is referred to by some as the "Golden Age" of pinball, due to the invention of flippers in 1947 by the D. Gottlieb Co. in a game called "Humpty Dumpty", and was one of the main reasons for the renewed interest in pinballs at the time.                                              "Humpty Dumpty" Gottlieb, circa 1947                      "Humpty Dumpty" Sales Flyer, circa 1947 In 1948, a firm called Genco placed one set of flippers at the very bottom of the playfield in a machine called "Triple Action" - But the setup was still a little unusual by today's standards; the flippers were facing outwards, not inwards like today's models. See the picture below:                                                                                                              "Triple Action", Genco Mfg., circa 1948                                       The first game that had a modern flipper arrangement was the "Spot Bowler", a 1950's D. Gottlieb Co. machine. Take a look at the picture below if you have not seen any of these games - you will be surprised at the smaller size and position of the flippers - it was not until the mid 70's that most pinball machines adopted the longer 3 inch flippers we play with on today's modern machines.           "Spot Bowler" Playfield,  D. Gottlieb, circa 1950                      "Spot Bowler" Ad,  D. Gottlieb, circa 1950      It was also in the mid 70's that solid-state (or electronic) pinball machines were first introduced, starting yet another huge wave of public popularity due to new games innovations, features, Game reliability and cool design features like electronic scoring, alphanumeric scoring, electronic sounds and finally electronic speech, which lasted well into the late 80's.                                                       "Spirit Of 76" Ad, Micro Games, circa 1975                        "Joker Poker", D. Gottlieb, circa 1978 The late 80's saw Williams and Bally merge to become the dominant player in the market, and in the 90's they both produced some of the most amazing pinball machines concepts ever dreamed of like Medieval Madness, Cirqus Voltaire, Twilight Zone, Theatre Of Magic, Monster Bash, Scared Stiff, Tales Of The Arabian Nights and the most popular pinball machine in modern history, Addams Family (with over 20,000 produced), along with many other modern-day collectible classics, and finally the last pinball machines of the golden era of pinball manufacturers, Cactus Canyon and the "Pinball 2000" machines, which combined video movies over standard pinball action.                           "Virtual Pinball", TAB Austria, 2002                     "Ultrapin" Digital Pinball, Global VR, 2006 Pinball has now become a "in" item with high-profile celebrities, baby boomers, business exec's & families, and has become a fixture on many TV shows and commercials, movie sets and many magazine shoots, perhaps due to the "nostalgia factor" and the advent of personal home game rooms, or realization that a individual can now easily purchase a pinball machine, or the fact that playing a few good games of pinball after a hard day's work can be a tremendous stress-reliever!                                                                                                       Coke commercial with David Arquette shown                                                    playing one of three classic pinballs in his                                                     actual home collection in the foreground. In 2009, the industry is left with just one major designer and manufacturer, Stern Pinball, based in the Chicagoland area and run by Gary Stern, the son of Stern Electronics' founder Sam Stern. Stern has released quite a few interesting and collectable titles over the past few years, and hopefully will continue on in the tradition of great firms like Williams and Bally on future releases.                                                                                                                "Indiana Jones", Stern Pinball, 2008 Stern Pinball's ratio of "home sales" to commercial sales has risen from practically zero to an estimated 35% - 60% of their total sales in just the last 3 years, which is an encouraging new market for them to sell into in the coming years as operator and commercial account orders continue to dwindle. There have been some rumblings of other firms within the coin-op industry having aspirations of jumping into the pinball machine game, but nothing seriously has been reported or announced to date. It will be very interesting to see what the future holds for pinball over the course of the next century... However, in late 2008, Stern announced, for the first time in its history, a major layoff of many in-house pinball designers, engineers and technical staff, due to declining sales because of the current economic climate, which questions the future of Stern Pinball, and new pinball machines in doubt - So it you want to purchase a new pinball machine, buy one as soon as possible, because we predict that if Stern actually goes out of business, the price of all remaining pinball machines will skyrocket after the economy improves. As for the state of used or "pre-owned" machines, supplies are very tight and getting tighter, with ASP (average selling price) of good quality of pre-owned pinball machine of popular titles from the late 80's to 90's now appreciating at a rate of 10% - 25 % or more per year, even in this economic climate, as more and more individuals discover (or re-discover) the pleasures of pinball ownership and supplies dry up. Just a few years ago, America had all the machines it ever needed to meet domestic supply; but now it is estimated that over 60 % of all preowned pinball machines now sold in the US come from overseas sources in countries such as Western Europe and Latin America, due to the increasingly high demand from Americans, even now. Surprising Pinball Facts: Did you know that it was illegal to own a pinball machine in New York and other states at one point in time? Pinball machines were officially banned in New York by Mayor LaGuardia on January 21, 1942 because the administration viewed the game as a "game of luck" rather than a "game of skill", hence making a pinball machine a gambling device (in their eyes). To celebrate the new ban, Mayor LaGuardia proceeded to smash a large number of pinball machines directly in front of large crowd of welcoming onlookers!  From the Las Vegas Mercury Newspaper, Thursday, March 28, 2002 - "In their earliest incarnations, some pin games (so named for the pins that dotted the playfield, guiding the ball into holes with point values) such as Bally's 1933 Rocket offered cash payouts to the player if he landed the ball in certain holes. It wasn't unusual to see such games taking their place next to conventional slot machines. The advent of payout machines, versus nonpaying "novelty" machines manufactured by many of the same companies, raised some sticky questions about this new form of entertainment: Was pinball a game of skill or luck? The answer would mean the difference between a harmless game and a form of gambling- even if the "payout" was a free game. Some states decided the latter and banned pinball machines. In January 1942, for instance, New York Mayor Fiorello Henry LaGuardia banned pinball as a form of gambling, smashing several machines in a publicity stunt. Also, the passage of the Johnson Act in 1950 outlawed interstate shipping of certain types of pinball machines, as they were deemed gambling devices. Pinball manufacturers such as Williams and Gottlieb responded by mounting a campaign of their own under the aegis of the Coin Machine Institute; these pinball makers eliminated payout machines and sought to show that pinball was a wholesome pastime that had no connection to gambling--especially with the advent of flippers in 1947, which turned pinball, more than ever, into a game of skill. Still, the ban in New York lasted until 1976; free games in the form of  awarded replays are still illegal in New York and in other cities, though the laws are rarely enforced." Modern Pinball History Timeline 1951 - The first "slingshot" kickers were introduced. 1953 - The first two-player pinball machine is released. (pinball machines before this were              strictly one player affairs) 1954 - The first multiple player pinball machine, "Super Jumbo", is released by D.Gottlieb. 1956 - The first "multiball" feature is featured on Bally's " Balls-A-Poppin " pinball machine 1957 - The first use of a "match" bonus feature (a number in your final score is matched at              random to a number the machine picks, resulting in a free game, or "credit") in              pinball is introduced. 1960 - The first "add-a-ball" (extra ball) game called " Flipper " is developed by D. Gottlieb.             The add-a-ball award was developed to counter various laws in effect during this             period that made it illegal for a game to award replays in certain parts of the             country because it was consider a "gambling" activity. 1962 - The first drop target was introduced by Williams Manufacturing in the " Vagabond "              pinball machine. 1963 - The first "spinners" were introduced. 1964 - The first "mushroom" bumper (common in all of today's modern games) was              introduced by Bally 1966 - The first digital scoring pinball machine, "Rally Girl" is produced by a French              company called Rally. 1968 - The first modern flippers (three inches) are introduced on Hayburners II by Williams 1975 - The first solid-state, or electronic pinball machine, " Spirit of 76 ", was first introduced              by Micro. It marks the beginning of the switch from electromechanical (EM) machines              to "solid-state", or electronics-based pinball machines. 1976 - The first widely available solid state pinball machine was introduced by Bally and is              called "Freedom". Many of the games from the mid 70's were produced in two              versions (both electronic and electromechanical), and the first "wide-body" pinball,              "The Atarians" is introduced by Atari. Also in this year, the long-time pinball machine              manufacturer, Chicago Coin, makes it last game - The company is taken over by              Sam Stern and renamed "Stern Electronics". Gottlieb is sold to Colombia Pictures. 1977 - The first electronically produced sounds in a pinball machine were introduced. Also              the first photographic backglass display is introduced by Bally on " Lost World " 1979 - The first "talking" or electronic speech game was introduced by Williams and was             called "Gorgar", along with the first machines to have a continuous electronic             background "soundtracks". This was also the year in which the very last electro-             mechanical pinball machine is made by Gottlieb 1980 - The first "multi-level" pinball machine is produced by Williams as "Black Knight: 1984 - Colombia Pictures, owner of Gottlieb, decides to close. Company is taken over             by Premier Technology. 1985 - The first "alphanumeric" game display is introduced 1986 - The first automatic replay percentage feature is introduced. Also the first pinball             machine that uses a actual photo on the glass is introduced by Gottlieb on " Raven " 1987 - The first pinball machine with stereo sound ( Laser War ) is produced by Data-East. 1988 - Bally Manufacturing is taken over by Williams Electronics, but the two companies             continue to produce separate lines of pinball machines under both names. 1990 - The first solid-state (electronic) flippers are introduced by Data-East . 1991 - The first "dot-matrix" game display is introduced by Data-East in " Checkpoint "              along with video "modes" that animate certain parts of the game part on screen.              Also in the year, electronic plungers become common and the "ball-saver" feature              is introduced, in part due to laws in the UK (England) governing games of chance. 1994 - Sega buys out Data-East 1996 - Gottlieb goes out of business for good. 1998 - The first pinball machine with a video screen integrated into the design is introduced              by Williams in their new " Pinball 2000 " series machines. 1999 - After just two Pinball 2000 releases, Williams Manufacturing (WMS) exits the pinball             machine business for good, but continues on as a maker of gaming devices for the             global gambling industry. Also in this year, Gary Stern buys Sega Pinball, renames             the combined firms Stern Pinball and continues on as the only pinball producer             in the world today (as of early 2004). 2002 - A prototype of the first truly digital pinball machine, Virtual Pinball, is  introduced at             the 2002 IAAPA Amusement Show in Orlando by TAB Austria , and comes with a             a flat panel monitor replicating the playfield and housed in a non-standard cabinet. 2006 - The first digital video pinball machine that replicates the look, play and feel of a              traditional pinball machine, UltraPin , is introduced by GlobalVR , and features              twelve re-created classic pinball machine playfields from Funhouse, Eight Ball,              Pin-Bot, Medieval Madness, Black Knight 2000, Attack from Mars, F-14 Tomcat,              Fathom, Firepower, Strikes and Spares, Sorcerer and Xenon all in one unit.      

i don't know

In Chaplin's The Great Dictator, what was the dictator's name?

Charlie Chaplin : The Final Speech from The Great Dictator The Final Speech from The Great Dictator Transcript of Charlie Chaplin’s Final Speech in The Great Dictator I’m sorry, but I don’t want to be an emperor. That’s not my business. I don’t want to rule or conquer anyone. I should like to help everyone - if possible - Jew, Gentile - black man - white. We all want to help one another. Human beings are like that. We want to live by each other’s happiness - not by each other’s misery. We don’t want to hate and despise one another. In this world there is room for everyone. And the good earth is rich and can provide for everyone. The way of life can be free and beautiful, but we have lost the way. Greed has poisoned men’s souls, has barricaded the world with hate, has goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed. We have developed speed, but we have shut ourselves in. Machinery that gives abundance has left us in want. Our knowledge has made us cynical. Our cleverness, hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery we need humanity. More than cleverness we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost…. The aeroplane and the radio have brought us closer together. The very nature of these inventions cries out for the goodness in men - cries out for universal brotherhood - for the unity of us all. Even now my voice is reaching millions throughout the world - millions of despairing men, women, and little children - victims of a system that makes men torture and imprison innocent people. To those who can hear me, I say - do not despair. The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed - the bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress. The hate of men will pass, and dictators die, and the power they took from the people will return to the people. And so long as men die, liberty will never perish. ….. Soldiers! don’t give yourselves to brutes - men who despise you - enslave you - who regiment your lives - tell you what to do - what to think and what to feel! Who drill you - diet you - treat you like cattle, use you as cannon fodder. Don’t give yourselves to these unnatural men - machine men with machine minds and machine hearts! You are not machines! You are not cattle! You are men! You have the love of humanity in your hearts! You don’t hate! Only the unloved hate - the unloved and the unnatural! Soldiers! Don’t fight for slavery! Fight for liberty! In the 17th Chapter of St Luke it is written: “the Kingdom of God is within man” - not one man nor a group of men, but in all men! In you! You, the people have the power - the power to create machines. The power to create happiness! You, the people, have the power to make this life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure. Then - in the name of democracy - let us use that power - let us all unite. Let us fight for a new world - a decent world that will give men a chance to work - that will give youth a future and old age a security. By the promise of these things, brutes have risen to power. But they lie! They do not fulfil that promise. They never will! Dictators free themselves but they enslave the people! Now let us fight to fulfil that promise! Let us fight to free the world - to do away with national barriers - to do away with greed, with hate and intolerance. Let us fight for a world of reason, a world where science and progress will lead to all men’s happiness. Soldiers! in the name of democracy, let us all unite! Final speech from The Great Dictator Copyright © Roy Export S.A.S. All rights reserved You might also want to read...

The Great Dictator

To which conductor did Vaughan Williams dedicate his 8th Symphony?

Charlie Chaplin - The Great Dictator - Full Documentary - YouTube Charlie Chaplin - The Great Dictator - Full Documentary Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Sep 1, 2014 Category

i don't know

"What did critic John Mason Brown describe as ""chewing gum for the eyes?"""

Television Is Chewing Gum for the Eyes | Quote Investigator Television Is Chewing Gum for the Eyes Frank Lloyd Wright? John Mason Brown? Henri Peyre? Fred Allen? Dick Cavett? Anonymous? Dear Quote Investigator: The most acerbic criticism I have heard directed at TV was attributed to the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright: Television is just chewing gum for the eyes. However, I recently saw the remark credited to a drama critic named John Mason Brown. Could you explore this saying? Quote Investigator: The earliest evidence of this vivid metaphor located by QI appeared in a 1944 book by Henri Peyre who was a Professor of French at Yale University. In 1944 television sets were still very expensive, and the industry was immature in the U.S. The metaphor was applied to movies and radio broadcasts instead. Boldface has been added to excerpts: 1 Yet there is no sorrier sight to watch then the vacant faces of those former high school and college students when, at thirty-five or fifty, all their mental alertness having vanished, the spark gone from their eyes, they dutifully chew their gum to keep from yawning, while absorbing the chewing gum for the eyes of the movies or the chewing gum for the ears of the radio. The same men who once read Shakespeare, Molière, Byron glance at the headlines of their tabloid papers, turn straight to the page of the funnies, to devour them with the same dutiful sense of boredom as they swallow their hamburger at lunchtime and their highball after dinner. More than a decade later this figurative language was applied to another communication medium. In January 1955 Steven H. Scheur who was a well-known film critic visited the “book-lined New York apartment” of John Mason Brown who was a prominent theater critic. They discussed the quality of the programs broadcast on television. Brown applied the chewing-gum metaphor to TV: 2 Although Brown is generally recognized as our most eminent theater essayist—Saturday Review of Literature—he confesses to a special partiality for TV news shows. “So much of TV seems to be chewing gum for the eyes. … TV desperately needs more self-reliance and pride in the medium.” By 1958 the remark was being credited to the architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Details are given further below. Here are additional selected citations in chronological order. In June 1955 “Time” magazine wrote about a radio program called “Invitation to Learning” featuring three participants: critic John Mason Brown, essayist Clifton Fadiman and moderator Lyman Bryson. During the show Brown repeated his harsh characterization of TV: 3 Talk is cheap, the three decided, but conversation has a different price tag on it. “There must be mind in talk to make it conversation,” said Moderator Bryson. “Television programs are so much chewing gum for the eyes,” said Critic Brown. “A conversation has to be more than just chewing gum or wastage.” Essayist Fadiman urged intellectual exercise. Brown’s remark was memorable, and it was included in a collection titled “Best Quotes of ’54 ’55 ’56” compiled by James Beasley Simpson. Brown used the saying when he was interviewed by the compiler in July 1955, but this time he credited another unnamed person: 4 “Some television programs are so much chewing gum for the eyes.” John Mason Brown, quoting a friend of his small son, interview with James Simpson, July 28, 1955. In October 1955 the popular columnist Walter Winchell printed a version of the saying with a similar indirect attribution: 5 John Mason Brown’s quipper-snapper: “I heard someone (a young man of 17 but of great wisdom) define many television programs as being just so much chewing gum for the eyes.” In January 1958 the saying was attributed to Frank Lloyd Wright by the columnist Ed Sullivan who stated that Wright employed the expression during a dinner. This is the earliest evidence of this common ascription located by QI: 6 Frank Lloyd Wright’s definition, at a Chicago dinner: “TV is chewing gum for the eyes,” would be applauded by Clement Attlee, who explains his refusal to buy a TV set: “I don’t want it. I don’t like it. I won’t have it.” In February 1958 a popular syndicated columnist Larry Wolters writing in the Chicago Tribune credited Wright: 7 CHICAGO: Definition of television from Frank Lloyd Wright: “Chewing gum for the eyes!” In October 1958 a writer in a West Virginia newspaper connected the saying to a manipulative press agent: 8 Some poor press agent has succeeded in getting his client credit with saying: “Television is chewing gum for the eyes.” We’ll go along that. Especially the endless and tiresome series of adult and adolescent westerns that smoke up our screens nightly. Wright died in 1959 and a short Washington Post article reviewing his career credited him with a version of the quotation: 9 But Mr. Wright did not merely express an opinion; he threw off remarks like a porcupine shedding quills. His barbs struck home. One recalls the remark credited to him that television “is chewing gum for the eyes.” Surely this was ungrateful from a man who came over television with so unblurred and memorable an image. In 1960 the indefatigable quotation collector Bennett Cerf ascribed a variant of the remark to Wright in his syndicated column: 10 No TV addict was the late Frank Lloyd Wright. “Television,” was his dictum “is nothing more than chewing gum for the eyeballs.” In 1961 the columnist Larry Wolters published the saying again, but the phrasing was slightly altered: 11 The late Frank Lloyd Wright on TV: “It’s only chewing gum for the eyes.” In 1962 a newspaper in Montana printed a variant in which the word “eyes” was replaced with “mind”: 12 It’s called idiot box, Cyclops, chewing gum for the mind, the mind-seduction machine, conversation killer, a wasteland and television. The connection to Brown was not forgotten, and in 1968 “Time” magazine credited him with the saying: 13 A dozen years ago, Critic John Mason Brown defined television as chewing gum for the eyes. Now the record industry has come up with bubble gum for the ears. Set to a chink-a-chink beat, bleated out with pep-rally fervor, it goes like this: Yummy, yummy, yummy, I got love in my tummy, And I feel like a-lovin’ you; Love, you’re such a sweet thing, good enough to eat thing, And that’s just a-what I’m gonna dooooo. In 1974 the prominent talk show host Dick Cavett writing in “New York Magazine” ascribed the saying to the popular comedian Fred Allen 14 Fred Allen called TV chewing gum for the eyes. Although many people write me after a show and thank me for educating and stimulating them, my guess is that a larger number of people want TV to be a visual Muzak, a mind deadener. In conclusion, QI believes that Henri Peyre deserves credit for originating this striking metaphor by 1944. He applied it to movies and radio and not TV. By 1955 John Mason Brown adapted the metaphor to television. However, he did not credit himself with the coinage; instead, he ascribed to words to an unknown young person. Evidence also suggests that Frank Lloyd Wright employed the expression during a dinner circa January 1958 though it is unlikely that he coined it. The ascription to Fred Allen is not well-supported at this time. Notes: 1944, Writers and Their Critics: A Study of Misunderstanding by Henri Peyre (Sterling Professor of French at Yale University), Quote Page 291, Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York. (Verified with scans) ↩ 1955 January 21, Syracuse Herald-Journal, Ed Murrow To Call on Critic Brown by Steven H. Scheur, Quote Page 32, Column 1, Syracuse, New York. (NewspaperArchive) ↩ 1955 June 6, Time, Radio: Conversation Piece, Time Inc., New York. (Accessed time.com on September 12 2013; Online Time Magazine Archive) ↩ 1957, Best Quotes of ’54 ’55 ’56, Compiled by James Beasley Simpson, Section: Radio and Television, Quote Page 233, (Quotation spoken by John Mason Brown is from interview dated July 28, 1955), Thomas Y. Crowell Company, New York. (Verified on paper) ↩ 1955 October 10, Springfield Union, Walter Winchell on Broadway, Quote Page 13, Column 8, Springfield, Massachusetts. (GenealogyBank) ↩ 1958 January 10, The Morning Herald (Uniontown Morning Herald), Little Old New York by Ed Sullivan, Quote Page 22, Column 4, Uniontown, Pennsylvania. (NewspaperArchive) ↩ 1958 February 22, Chicago Daily Tribune, TV Ticker by Larry Wolters (TV Radio Editor), Quote Page C4, Chicago, Illinois. (ProQuest) ↩ 1958 October 8, Charleston Gazette Wednesday, The Gazetteer by George Lawless , Quote Page 17, Column 1, Charleston, West Virginia. (NewpaperArchive) ↩ 1959 April 10, The Washington Post, Frank Lloyd Wright, Quote Page A12, Column 2, Washington, D.C. (ProQuest) ↩ 1960 April 22, Greenville Delta Democrat Times, Try and Stop Me by Bennett Cerf, (Syndicated Column) Quote Page 4, Column 7, Greenville, Mississippi. (NewspaperArchive) ↩ 1961 August 20, Chicago Daily Tribune, Radio TV Gag Bag: Culled by Larry Wolters, Quote Page B19, Column 2, Chicago, Illinois. (ProQuest) ↩ 1962 July 1, Billings Gazette, The New Books: Writer Wonders if Television Has Lost Its Way Permanently Quote Page 6, Column 1, Billings, Montana. (NewspaperArchive) ↩ 1968 July 19, Time, Pop: Tunes for Teeny-Weenies, Time, Inc., New York. (Online Time magazine Archive; accessed content.time.com on September 12, 2013) ↩ 1974 July 22, New York Magazine, Volume 7, Number 29, Dick Cavett Bares All by Dick Cavett and Christopher Porterfield, Start Page 27, Quote Page 34, Column 1, New York. (Google Books Full view) link ↩

Television

Who wrote the book on which the musical Whistle Down the Wind was based?

Misophonia treatment: What If Chewing Sounds Ruined Your Life? | New Republic By Charles Bethea July 19, 2013 Lunch at the Marriott hotel in Mesa, Arizona, was southwestern style: a buffet tray of overcooked chicken breasts and soggy enchiladas. I had recently made the acquaintance of a friendly man in his late thirties with a shaved head and a pale oblong face named Paul Tabachneck, and we navigated the lines for food and utensils, then sat down at a lunch table together to eat our meal. Tabachneck, I noticed, ate carefully, eyes trained either on his own plate or a single spot on the beige walls. But his conversation was lively. He was telling me about busking as a guitarist in the New York subway while trying to achieve a lifelong dream of becoming a professional musician. And then, when we’d been talking for about ten minutes, I scraped my knife against the plate trying to cut the dry chicken. Tabachneck whipped his head around to look at me, his eyes suddenly cold. “Did you have to do that?” he snapped. “And did you know that your jaw pops when you eat?” We’re all annoyed by annoying sounds: fingernails on chalkboards, car alarms, Gilbert Gottfried’s screech . But some people are more than merely annoyed—certain sounds can send them into an agonized frenzy. There’s the journalist from Atlanta who wanted to reach across the dinner table to strangle his loudly chewing father; the computer scientist from Arizona who hated the sound of knives so much his girlfriend developed a phobia, too; the housewife from Oregon who moved her whole family out of her home so she wouldn’t have to listen to them. One teen couldn’t stand the sound of her mother sighing and, after going on anti-depressants, attempted suicide three times. Psychologists have begun to call them misophones—people with an acute reaction to specific, usually low-volume sounds. But because the condition is still poorly understood, sufferers struggle to convince their families, friends, and employers that their problem isn’t just a heightened form of neuroticism. In this hotel, however, where the first-ever scientific conference on misophonia was being held, tales of extreme aural agony were pouring forth, and sufferers who thought they were alone in their misery were finally meeting others of their kind. You just had to be very, very careful with your cutlery. When Tabachneck was 14, he and his father were watching a movie together in their living room in Pittsburgh; Tabachneck’s dad started pushing all his ice-cream melt together into a puddle, repeatedly clinking his spoon against the bowl. Up to that point in his life, Tabachneck’s relationship with sound had been normal. He loved music, enjoyed the sound of laughter. He found sirens and the trains that passed within earshot of his bedroom to be somewhat grating. But this clinking was something different—it provoked a combination of anxiety and nearly physical agitation that he couldn’t ignore. “Are you done with that yet?” he remembers shrieking at his father. It was the beginning of a lifetime of noise-related misery. Tabachneck went to Carnegie Mellon to study computer science but dropped out because the clicking keys in the computer clusters made him so tense. He took a job in customer service for a cellular provider, where a co-worker had a habit of chewing ice. One day, unable to control himself, Tabachneck lunged at him. He actually enjoyed working at call centers and found he had a knack for calming people down over the phone. But interacting with certain colleagues face to face made him crazy: One spat chewing tobacco into a cup, another talked with his mouth full, and a third brought in an old Dell keyboard because he liked the sound of clicking keys. After hearing problems had been ruled out—Tabachneck’s only obvious aberration was perfect pitch—his parents were convinced that his issues were psychological. Over the years, a rotating cast of mental health specialists offered a variety of diagnoses—attention-deficit disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, delusional personality disorder. One psychiatrist told Tabachneck that he was trying to exert a narcissistic level of control over noises, because he was disappointed with his struggling singing career. (Since 1995, when he put out his first tape, Tabachneck has released six full-length albums, mostly in the folk-pop category. He has opened shows for a young John Mayer and an old Ted Nugent, but he hasn’t been successful enough to quit his day jobs.) To remove the need for control, the psychiatrist prescribed anti-depressants and anti-psychotics. The drugs didn’t help much with Tabachneck’s relationships. He loved one girlfriend enough to consider marrying her, but still had to eat in a separate room to avoid hearing her chew. A later romance ended because the woman smacked her gum. He’s now dating a social worker who occasionally cracks her joints. They argue about how he handles his problems, and she sometimes feels exhausted by them. “Most people can’t be in a relationship with a misophone,” he says, “because they don’t want to feel guilty for eating cereal in a porcelain bowl.” Through all of this, Tabachneck continued to seek help—scouring the Internet for clues, querying various medical professionals. In recent decades, researchers have discovered a deeper relationship between sound and psychology—the mental effects of noise pollution, the ways in which certain kinds of sonic disturbances can hinder cognitive development. But the closest condition Tabachneck could find to his own was called hyperacusis—increased sensitivity to all sound. That still didn’t exactly fit his symptoms; many sounds didn’t bother him at all. Nothing made sense until the e-mail he received on April 13, 2010—he still remembers the date—from an audiologist he’d reached out to in New York. She told him he sounded like he had a textbook case of an emerging sound- sensitivity disorder called “misophonia.” In 1997, in a far corner of the world of sound, Oregon audiologist Marsha Johnson came across a girl who couldn’t bear the noise her father made when he chewed his fingernails. Similar cases started trickling into her small clinic in Portland—people who, around puberty, had developed acute problems related to specific noises. She began to talk to fellow audiologists about it, including the eminent Professor Pawel Jastreboff of the Emory School of Medicine. Johnson initially named this condition “soft sound sensitivity,” because that’s exactly what it seemed to be: low-decibel sounds that were both common and unbearable. (She still thinks that’s a more precise term than misophonia, which means hatred of sound.) Having seen hundreds of misophones since then, Johnson has become a leading advocate for the disorder, creating an online forum for sufferers and helping to organize the Arizona conference. Johnson and a half-dozen other experts in this country view misophonia as an “old brain” problem, likely located in the part of the cortex that processes emotion and that evolved long ago. “When people hear these sounds, they react with intense emotion,” she says. “It isn’t a higher cognitive function where you’re going, I don’t like white chocolate lattes. This is like a yellow jacket sting: You immediately slap, jump, run, and scream.” In 2002, Jastreboff and his wife, Margaret, published a paper with the respected Australian and New Zealand Journal of Audiology that introduced the term “misophonia.” The condition still isn’t widely understood, and there are audiologists who prefer to lump it in with hyperacusis and other hearing disorders. Still, soft sound sensitivity is gradually getting wider recognition. In 2012, talk-show host Kelly Ripa came out on television as a sufferer. She told ABC News, “The sounds of swallowing and chewing make me insane.” It’s impossible to know how many people suffer from misophonia, and Johnson guesses that many misophones have been given other, incorrect diagnoses. But of the 4,000 misophones who post on her Web forum , “Sound Sensitivity,” a half-dozen were at the Marriott Hotel this March, along with about 25 psychologists and audiologists. And among that group, Tabachneck—now a paunchy 38-year-old I.T. specialist—was a sort of star. His plaintive song “ Misophone ” (lyrics: “It wasn’t quirky / It wasn’t funny / It wasn’t something any drink could wash away”) had circulated online before the conference, and a few misophonic groupies had shown up. Scott, a fortysomething electrical engineer, approached Tabachneck during a break between talks. “It’s a work of art,” he said, about the song. Soon, they started talking sonic triggers. Scott had a problem with sniffling. “Burping has always bothered me,” Tabachneck responded. “And my girlfriend does this thing where she cracks her neck ...” “Oh God, no ...” “Yeah, where you snap back like that.” He silently imitated the maneuver. “There’s a woman here who does that,” said Scott. “There’s also where you hear something that sounds like somebody cracking knuckles and all of a sudden you’re hypervigilant.” “You’re looking to find who cracked their knuckles,” said Tabachneck, nodding. “Always looking. It never ends.” I heard more than a few conversations like this at the misophonia conference—Seinfeldian discussions of the most teeth- jarringly annoying noises in the world—between misophones speaking with the enthusiasm of people meeting a fellow traveler for the first time. (Seinfeldian, or perhaps Silvermanian: Based on some of the comedian’s public comments, Tabachneck believes that Sarah Silverman—who has tweeted , “I very much do not want to hear your skeleton breaking down food in your mouth please”—is a misophone, too.) Misophonia isn’t included in the so-called bible of psychiatric diagnoses, which came out on May 18—it’s too recently observed, for one thing. But many of the new disorders in the DSM-V—including hoarding, skin-picking, and in a category for “further research,” Internet gaming disorder and caffeine use disorder—sound a little like misophonia: conditions you might have, or could imagine having, personal quirks viewed in an extreme light. Critics of the new DSM-V argue that everyday life is being pathologized: According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 25 percent of adults have a diagnosable mental disorder in any given year. “Trying to establish when something crosses the line from normality to illness is a total rat’s nest,” says Gary Greenberg, a psychotherapist, author of Book of Woe, and vocal critic of the new DSM-V. “People have been trying to figure out this distinction for centuries, and nobody has done it.” In the post-Freudian era, psychiatry has essentially punted on the question, coming up with a definition that doesn’t really work: A mental disorder causes people distress or impairment. But sometimes people don’t know they’re impaired, like schizophrenics. Or—in the case of homosexuality, once considered a disorder—the distress is caused by prejudice. “So,” says Greenberg, “the attempt to define ‘mental disorder’ is as doomed as the attempt to define ‘disease.’ ” In reality, you start to identify a disorder both when there’s a demand for services, or a market, as is beginning to be the case with misophonia (which, Greenberg thinks, will probably wind up in the dsm someday because of the specificity of its symptoms). Whether that makes it mental illness in some abstract sense or not doesn’t really matter for sufferers like Tabachneck, who experience life-altering discomfort on a daily basis. At the end of the conference, Tabachneck performed an acoustic version of “Misophone” for the group of audiologists and psychologists. They gathered around and asked what kind of guitar he uses and how he first realized music was a refuge from his condition. As I stood behind him, taking notes, I absentmindedly sucked on a peppermint, which clicked against my teeth once or twice, the sound barely registering above the level of the pleasant chitchat. Tabachneck wheeled around in the middle of a sentence, his face shifting from warmth to disgust: “What are you doing? Didn’t we talk about this?” he yelled. Johnson says that misophones will try anything to relieve their pain: “You could say, ‘I’ll hit you on the head with a guitar and it will cure you,’ and you would have a hundred people lined up to pay you five thousand dollars to hit them on the head.” She’s testing a program that uses sound-generating equipment—creating various types of ambient and white noise—to help weaken the individual’s abnormal connection between certain sounds and the autonomous nervous system, paired with cognitive behavioral therapy. Other experimental approaches include neurological feedback, counseling, chiropractic work, acupuncture, dietary changes, and a new-agey serenity prayer. But, desperate for help, misophones often take more practical steps, drowning out the irritating soft sounds with an ocean of ambient noise. At the conference, Johnson mentioned some misophones who work as Zumba instructors or in bowling alleys; others use iPods, MP3 players, fans, water fountains, bubbling fish tanks, air filters, sound pillows, Pandora stations, YouTube channels, expensive hearing aids that block specific frequencies, and headsets that play white noise, lower-frequency “pink noise,” and the lowest-frequency “brown noise.” In March, Tabachneck conducted his own, small-scale experiment: He went to see The Call at the Magic Johnson theater in Harlem. The Halle Berry thriller was so-so, but the experience was a personal breakthrough. Tabachneck remembers going to see The Artist with his girlfriend and having a terrible time. A couple sitting behind them were talking during the movie. After he scolded them, they started eating popcorn so loudly it seemed to him like a deliberate provocation: “animated smacking off the lips and loud attacks on the crunch.” This time, however, taking advice from one of his new misophonic buddies from the conference, Tabachneck was able to get a headset for the hearing-impaired and a seat toward the back of the theater. With the headset’s thick padding, the popcorn-chomping sounds were dampened, disappearing once the film filled his ears. He relaxed. “People eat popcorn until they get sick of it,” he told me later, “which is usually a half-hour in. So toward the end, I actually removed the headphones to hear the audience’s reaction to the last few scenes. And it was totally worth it.” Charles Bethea is a journalist based in Atlanta. He has written for The New Yorker, The New York Yimes Magazine, and GQ, among others. Read More Sign up for your daily dose of politics, culture, and big ideas. Sign Up

i don't know

In what country was British choreographer Sir Frederick Ashton born?

Sir Frederick Ashton | British choreographer | Britannica.com British choreographer Alternative Title: Sir Frederick William Mallandaine Ashton Sir Frederick Ashton Sir Frederick William Mallandaine Ashton born Christopher Wheeldon Sir Frederick Ashton, in full Sir Frederick William Mallandaine Ashton (born September 17, 1904, Guayaquil , Ecuador —died August 18, 1988, Sussex , England ), principal choreographer and director of England’s Royal Ballet , the repertoire of which includes about 30 of his ballets. Frederick Ashton (left) and Robert Helpmann rehearsing their roles as the Ugly Sisters in … Central Press/Pictorial Parade Ashton studied dancing in London under Léonide Massine , Nicholas Legat, and Marie Rambert, who encouraged his first choreographic efforts, The Tragedy of Fashion (1926) and Capriol Suite (1930). Ashton joined the Vic-Wells (later the Sadler’s Wells and then the Royal) Ballet in 1933 and distinguished himself as a mime and character dancer in such roles as Carabosse in The Sleeping Beauty and the gigolo in Façade and as the versatile choreographer of ballets that include Cinderella, Sylvia, and Daphnis and Chloë and the film Tales of Hoffmann (1951). He was the Royal Ballet’s principal choreographer from 1933 to 1970, during which time he also served as its associate director (1952 to 1963) and its director (1963 to 1970). In 1970 he retired from his administrative position in order to devote his time exclusively to choreography . In 1963 Ashton created Marguerite and Armand especially for the new partnership of Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev . Others included The Dream (1964), a one-act ballet based on Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Monotones (Part I, 1965; Part II, 1966), to music of Erik Satie; Jazz Calendar (1968); Enigma Variations (1968); A Month in the Country (1976); and Rhapsody (1981), based on music by Sergey Rachmaninoff . In 1970 Ashton choreographed and danced in the motion picture Tales of Beatrix Potter. His major works include such enduring favourites as Façade (1931), Les Rendezvous (1933), Les Patineurs (1937), Symphonic Variations (1946), Illuminations (for the New York City Ballet , 1950), Homage to the Queen (1953), Romeo and Juliet (for the Royal Danish Ballet , 1955), Birthday Offering (1956), Ondine (1958), and La Fille mal gardée (1960). Ashton was knighted in 1962. Learn More in these related articles:

Ecuador

Which director's autobiography was called The Name Above the Title?

Sir Frederick Ashton - Genealogy.com Sir Frederick Ashton By Sebasti Donoso February 08, 2005 at 02:17:14 Hello to all Ashtons around the world. I am lloking for all genealogical information available on the ASHTON family branches of Perú, Bolivia and Ecuador, and tracing their family roots back to England. My wife is María Gracia Fonseca Ashton, great grand niece of the famous English Choreographer and ballet dancer Sir Frederick ASHTON, who was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on September 17, 1904, and died in Sussex, England, in August 18, 1988. His parents were: George ASHTON, born in England, who died in Perú in 1922, and Georgiana Fulcher. There is some information about them in the following web page: http://members.shaw.ca/mallandaine/h21.html http://members.shaw.ca/mallandaine/h21.html Unfortunately, I do not have information on George ASHTON's ancestors. I would thank for information on his parents and grandparents. Best regards to all ASHTONS, Sebastián.

i don't know

Where was blues singer Leadbelly when he was 'discovered' musically?

Roots of Blues -- Lead Belly „ Goodnight Irene" - YouTube Roots of Blues -- Lead Belly „ Goodnight Irene" Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Uploaded on Jul 18, 2008 „Goodnight Irene" Austin -- University of Texas, June 15, 1949 Lead Belly (vcl) (g) Huddie William Ledbetter, (January, 1888 -- December 6, 1949) was an American folk and blues musician, notable for his clear and forceful singing, his virtuosity on the twelve string guitar, and the rich songbook of folk standards he introduced. He is best known as Leadbelly or Lead Belly. Though many releases list him as "Leadbelly," he himself spelled it "Lead Belly." This is also the usage on his tombstone, as well as the Lead Belly Foundation. Although he most commonly played the twelve string, he could also play the piano, mandolin, harmonica, violin, concertina, and accordion. In some of his recordings, such as in one of his versions of the folk ballad "John Hardy", he performs on the accordion instead of the guitar. In other recordings he just sings while clapping his hands or stomping his foot. The topics of Lead Belly's music covered a wide range of subjects, including gospel songs; blues songs about women, liquor and racism; and folk songs about cowboys, prison, work, sailors, cattle herding and dancing. He also wrote songs concerning the newsmakers of the day, such as President Franklin Roosevelt, Adolf Hitler, Jean Harlow, the Scottsboro Boys and multi-millionaire Howard Hughes. Fame in 1986. The day of his birth has also been debated. The most common date given is January 20, but other sources suggest he was born on January 21 or 29. The only document we have that Ledbetter, himself, helped fill out is his World War II draft registration from 1942 where he gives his birth date as January 23, 1889 Lead Belly's boastful spirit and penchant for the occasional skirmish sometimes led him into trouble with the law, and in January 1918 he was thrown into prison for the second time, this time after killing one of his relatives, Will Stafford, in a fight. He was incarcerated in Sugar Land, Texas and it is there that he got the inspiration for the song Midnight Special. It is said that he was released two years into his 35-year sentence after writing a song appealing to Governor Pat Morris Neff for his freedom. Lead Belly had swayed Governor Neff by appealing to his strong religious values. That, in combination with good behavior (including entertaining by playing for the guards and fellow prisoners), was Lead Belly's ticket out of jail. In 1930, Lead Belly was back in prison, this time in Louisiana for attempted homicide. It was there, three years later, that he was "discovered" by musicologists John and Alan Lomax, who were enchanted by his talent, passion and singularity as a performer, and recorded hundreds of his songs on portable recording equipment for the Library of Congress. The following year Lead Belly was once again pardoned, this time after a petition for his early release was taken to Louisiana Governor O.K. Allen by the Lomaxes. The petition was on the other side of a recording of one of his most popular songs, "Goodnight Irene". The state's prison records, however, show he was released due to for more Information see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_Belly Category

Prison

Most of the Three Tenors come from which country?

The Blues . The Songs & the Artists . Biographies . Alphabetic | PBS Born: June 26, 1893, Scott, Mississippi Died: August 15, 1958, Chicago, Illinois Also known as: William Lee Conley Broonzy As a young boy Big Bill Broonzy would return home from a day's fieldwork with cornstalks, which he'd rub together as a homemade fiddle while his many brothers and sisters — 16 — danced to the music he made. By the age of 14 he was performing as a professional fiddler, and after moving to Chicago as an adult he switched to guitar. He became a prolific songwriter as well as a performer and recording artist and was a foundational contributor to the pre-war Chicago blues scene. He was a clever lyricist with a flair for narrative, and is known for having one of the largest and most versatile repertoires on record, from a slick urban blues sound to his acoustic country blues roots as well as folk and traditional spirituals. Broonzy also acted as a mentor to younger musicians, helping many of them secure performing dates and recording sessions. When the Chicago blues sound was transformed by the emergence of the electric guitar, Broonzy kept performing as a more itinerant folk-blues act, paving the way for the future of blues in Europe and the U.K. As he aged he continued to perform, even as he suffered from throat cancer, to which he succumbed in 1958. Essential listening: " When Will I Get to be Called a Man ," "Key to the Highway," "Big Bill Blues," "All by Myself" Ruth Brown Born: January 1, 1928, Portsmouth, Virginia Ruth Brown's smooth vocals made the rhythm and blues charts regularly between 1949 and 1955, and helped a then-fledgling Atlantic Records establish itself as a formidable presence in the R&B world. Later in her long and versatile career she became known as a rock and roll and pop singer as well as a stage and film actress, winning a Tony award on Broadway. She has influenced many R&B and soul artists, and her enduring talent is evidenced by her recent solo recordings and guest appearances with artists such as Bonnie Raitt, Shemekia Copeland and B.B. King, as well as a Grammy win in the late 1980s. Brown continues to perform. Essential listening: "(Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean," "Teardrops From My Eyes," "Don't Deceive Me," "Mambo Baby" Willie Brown Born: August 6, 1900, Clarksdale, Mississippi Died: December 30, 1952, Tunica, Mississippi Willie Brown was an outstanding guitarist as well as vocalist who had an enormous influence on the origination and development of Delta blues. Brown performed regularly with blues legends Charley Patton, Son House and Robert Johnson, and also backed Patton and House on recordings. He is known as an accompanist rather than a soloist, although he did record three extraordinary solo performances. Later in his career he primarily performed with Son House. Both Brown and House disappeared from the music scene during the 1940s, and, sadly, Brown died before the blues revival of the 1960s, when many of his contemporaries were rediscovered by blues scholars. Essential listening: "M & O Blues," "Make Me a Pallet on the Floor," "Future Blues" Paul Butterfield Blues Band Born: December 17, 1942, Chicago, Illinois Died: May 3, 1987, Los Angeles, California At the age of 16, harmonica player Paul Butterfield regularly sat in with blues legends Otis Rush, Magic Sam, and Howlin' Wolf, among others, at Chicago clubs. Butterfield formed his own soon-to-be-legendary band in 1963 with guitarist Elvin Bishop and eventually drummer Sam Lay and bassist Jerome Arnold. This lineup was one of the first racially integrated blues bands in the city. Their 1965 self-titled release, featuring the additions of guitarist Mike Bloomfield and keyboardist Mark Naftalin, had a huge impact on the 1960s blues revival, and they also broke ground backing Bob Dylan's legendary performance at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival (the electric sound outraged many purist folk fans). Later the band changed personnel again, eventually including jazz great David Sanborn (in his early years) on saxophone. Their success began to wind down in the late sixties, although they did appear at Woodstock and released two final albums in 1968 and 1969. Paul Butterfield continued to perform throughout the seventies. Essential listening: "I Got My Mojo Working," "Blues With a Feeling," "Born in Chicago," "Shake Your Money Maker," "Mellow Down Easy," "Two Trains Running" Ray Charles Born: September 23, 1930, Albany, Georgia Died: June 10, 2004, Beverly Hills, California Ray Charles is known for his innovative blend of genres — his enormously popular body of work reflects inspiration from gospel, blues, jazz, pop, R&B, soul and country. As a vocalist he was originally inspired by Nat King Cole, and his early recordings reflect this smooth influence. Charles later came into his own with 1954's "I've Got a Woman," which marked a dramatic change in his style — it reflected a heavy gospel influence integrated with pop and his vocals were suddenly uninhibited and raw. This trend in Charles's music would continue, culminating in his 1959 signature hit and timeless classic "What'd I Say." His ability to bring together many influences, infusing them all with a gospel core, has had a huge impact on both soul and rock and roll music, influencing Steve Winwood, Joe Cocker, Stevie Wonder, and others. Charles is often referred to as the Father of Soul. He is a legendary musical figure and continues to tour. Essential listening: "Losing Hand," "I've Got a Woman," "Unchain My Heart', "What'd I Say," "Drown in My Own Tears," "Hit the Road Jack" Sam Chatmon Born: January 10, 1897, Boltmon, Mississippi Died: February 2, 1983, Hollandale, Mississippi Sam Chatmon was born into a highly musical family — reportedly there were 11 sons, all of them musicians. As a boy Sam often played with the Chatmon Family String Band, and when three of his brothers formed the Mississippi Sheiks, who became very popular, he sometimes played with them as well. But Sam Chatmon was a multi-instrumentalist in his own right — playing mandolin, bass, guitar and banjo — and worked as a traveling musician with a wide repertoire that included blues until the early 1940s. He became a plantation worker until the 1960s blues revival, at which point, like many of his contemporaries, he embarked upon a second career as a musician, performing and recording until his death in 1983. Essential listening: "My Little Woman," "Shake 'Em All Down," "God Don't Like Ugly," "Hollandale Blues," "Sitting on Top of the World" Marshall Chess Born: March 13, 1942, Chicago, Illinois Marshall Chess is the son of Leonard Chess who, along with his brother Phil, co-founded the legendary Chicago blues label Chess Records. Chess released some of the greatest blues ever recorded by legends such as Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, Muddy Waters, Koko Taylor, and many others, and Chess box sets are among the finest collections of blues available today. Marshall Chess grew up, literally, with the blues, hanging out at the Chess offices to be near his father, surrounded by blues greats and learning the finer points of recording. He later dropped out of college to work for Chess. After many years as a producer he started his own label, Cadet Concept, for which he produced the departure release Electric Mud, which featured Muddy Waters in a more electric, psychedelic blues arena. Despite initially strong sales, the album was widely panned by critics. After his father's death in 1969, Chess co-founded Rolling Stones Records and served as executive producer on the group's releases from 1971 through 1976 (or Sticky Fingers through Black and Blue, to be more specific). He has also worked as a film producer. One of his most admirable qualities is his confidence and resilience as a producer — in spite of its lukewarm reception, Chess still considers Electric Mud to be a great piece of work, and as he says in the film Godfathers and Sons, "I'm still not afraid to make the worst blues album ever made." Essential listening: Electric Mud Born: March 30, 1945, Ripley, England Also known as: Eric Patrick Clapp Eric Clapton's talent has graced some of the best bands in rock and blues history: the Yardbirds, John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers, Cream and Blind Faith. He is a rock and blues star in his own right, maintaining a reputation for decades as one of Great Britain's finest guitarists. Clapton reportedly left the Yardbirds in order to immerse himself in blues with the Bluesbreakers ; his subsequent forays into blues-rock with Cream and Blind Faith did a lot to merge the two genres in popular music. He has moved between rock, blues and pop throughout his career, but his major influences include Muddy Waters, B.B. King, and Robert Johnson, and his renditions of blues classics — especially his cover of Johnson's "Crossroads" — are among his best-known recordings. He is a master of painfully expressive guitar work, matched by his emotional vocal delivery. Although much of his work is outstanding, he is probably best known for the album Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, which is commonly considered to be a masterpiece. Among other brilliant work, that album includes the rock classic "Layla." Essential listening: "Have You Ever Loved A Woman," "Bell-Bottom Blues," "Crossroads" "Key to the Highway," "Layla" Shemekia Copeland Born: 1979, New York, New York Shemekia Copeland began appearing on stage with her father, Texas bluesman Johnny Copeland, as a child, and as a teenager she toured with him as his opening act, stunning audiences with a confident stage presence which seemed to belie her youth. Her vocal prowess matches her charisma as a performer. At the age of 19, Copeland released her debut album, inspiring comparisons to blues legends Etta James and Koko Taylor. By 2002 Copeland had released two more albums to critical acclaim, and won three of the blues' prestigious W.C. Handy awards. She has worked with Ruth Brown, one of her original influences, as well as Dr. John and others. Read an archived version of Shemekia Copeland's USAToday online chat . Essential listening: " The Other Woman ," "I Always Get My Man," "Have Mercy," "Your Mama's Talking," "Not Tonight," "The Push I Need" Ida Cox Born: February 25, 1896, Toccoa, Georgia Died: November 10, 1967, Knoxville, Tennessee Also known as: Ida Prather Ida Cox was one of the great 1920s blues singers. She began her career as a teenager, traveling throughout the south as a singer with tent and vaudeville shows. Cox was also a versatile businesswoman — for a time she ran her own touring company, working as a producer and manager as well as performer. She was a prolific and popular recording artist throughout the 1920s who wrote many of her own songs, one of which is the well-known "Wild Women Don't Have the Blues." Cox tended to direct her shows toward black female audiences, with songs that examined various issues from a female perspective. Cox's career was active throughout the 1930s, when health problems reportedly forced her into retirement, although she did manage an additional recording session in the early 1960s. Essential listening: "Wild Women Don't Have the Blues," "Last Mile Blues," "Pink Slip Blues," "Cemetery Blues" Cream Eric Clapton, born March 30, 1945, Ripley, England; Ginger Baker, born August 19, 1939, Lewisham, England; Jack Bruce, born May 14, 1943, Lanarkshire, Scotland Cream combined the superb musicianship of bassist Jack Bruce, drummer Ginger Baker, and guitarist Eric Clapton, and became a powerhouse of blues-rock that had an enormous influence on the future of rock and heavy metal. They were all groundbreaking musicians known for their innovative, aggressive styles, and when they played together as a band they inspired one another to new heights of brilliance. They brought to the blues a jazz-inspired flair for improvisation, and although they were sometimes criticized for their seemingly endless jam sessions, at their best their competitive instrumental assaults showcased their unique gifts. Eric Clapton raised the blues guitar solo to a high art form; Jack Bruce's fervent and often melodic bass playing could pass for a second lead guitar; and rock had never seen the likes of Ginger Baker's percussive mastery (and it's possible that no one has matched him to this day). The trio covered blues classics from legends such as Albert King, Skip James, and Willie Dixon in addition to original material, and in the process introduced the blues to a new audience and broke ground for subsequent heavy blues-rock bands such as Led Zeppelin. Cream formed in 1966 and broke up in 1968. All of their releases are classics. Essential listening: "Sunshine of Your Love," "Crossroads," "Strange Brew," "Tales of Brave Ulysses" Bo Diddley Born: December 30, 1928, McComb, Mississippi Also known as: Otha Ellas Bates McDaniels Like many bluesmen, Bo Diddley has his deepest musical roots in gospel. He also studied classical music in his youth, but turned to blues after he was introduced to the music of John Lee Hooker. Reportedly it was Hooker's classic "Boogie Chillen" that had such a dramatic impact. Diddley's music is definitely blues-based, however he has had a more profound impact on rock and roll, especially through the beat he's known for, which became foundational in the genre. He influenced the Yardbirds, the Rolling Stones and the Beatles, among many others, with his particularly lighthearted, rhythm-based brand of blues. Diddley grew up in Chicago and began his blues career playing on the street, eventually forming his own band — which included harmonica master Billy Boy Arnold — and signing with record label Chess. Many of his songs are blues and rock and roll classics. Diddley further influenced rock and roll with his design of a square guitar, one of his trademarks. He continues to tour and record. Essential listening: "Who Do You Love," "You Can't Judge a Book by its Cover," "Mona," "I'm a Man" Willie Dixon Born: July 1, 1915, Vicksburg, Mississippi Died: January 29, 1992, Burbank, California Willie Dixon is best known for his songwriting prowess, although his influence on the blues includes his superb work as a producer, arranger, session musician and performer. Dixon began performing in Chicago in the late 1930s; his career was interrupted briefly in the early 1940s when he was jailed for refusing the draft as a conscientious objector. He later worked for the blues label Chess, where his songwriting gave a significant boost to the careers of Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter and others. Howlin' Wolf had such success with his rendition of Dixon's tunes that for years they were his primary recording and performance efforts. As a mentor to vocalist Koko Taylor, Dixon had her record "Wang Dang Doodle," which became a huge hit and is still her signature classic. Later in his life Dixon had to fight to reap the financial rewards of his art and subsequently worked on behalf of other artists to assist them in securing publishing royalties. He influenced not only his contemporaries, but countless blues and rock and roll artists, including Led Zeppelin, the Doors and Cream. His body of work as a songwriter boasts many blues standards and rock and roll classics. Essential listening: "Back Door Man," "I Can't Quit You Baby," "The Seventh Son," "You Shook Me," "The Little Red Rooster" Fats Domino Born: February 26, 1928, New Orleans, Louisiana Also known as: Antoine Domino Fats Domino began performing at the age of 14. His music combines classic "boogie woogie" piano with a New Orleans beat and flavor and R&B and jazz roots, expressed through his signature warm, easygoing vocals. Domino was enormously popular throughout the fifties and into the early sixties, hitting the R&B charts time after time with his original songs (often co-written with manager Dave Bartholomew) and eventually crossing over onto the pop charts. He made rhythm and blues music palatable to a wider audience, as his style represented the calmer edge of the spectrum, in contrast to incendiary rock artists such as Little Richard. As a performer his shy charm and warm grin reflected the mood of his music. Domino's wide popularity helped black music reach a white audience. Most of his numerous hits have become classics. Essential listening: "Walkin' to New Orleans," ""Blueberry Hill," "Ain't It a Shame," "I'm Walkin'," "Blue Monday", "The Fat Man" Dr. John Born: November 21, 1940, New Orleans Also known as: Malcolm John Rebennack, Jr. Dr. John combines the roots of New Orleans blues with jazz, funk, rhythm and blues, pop and rock, infused with his sense of humor and particularly original and inventive artistic sensibility. He grew up in New Orleans and was exposed to the city's music early on — his father owned a record store and repaired equipment in local nightclubs. Dr. John became a session musician, where he worked with such local legends as Allen Toussaint and Professor Longhair. He eventually moved to Los Angeles and continued doing session work. Legend has it he recorded his first album with excess studio time donated by Sonny & Cher. That first release, Gris Gris, along with a later release, Gumbo, are two examples of his finest work, although an even later album contained his 1973 chart hit "Right Place, Wrong Time." Dr. John is a charismatic performer who in his heyday outfitted himself in Mardi Gras regalia as a witch doctor of sorts to perform a show that was part theatric ritual. He has collaborated with many notable artists and is an accomplished producer and arranger. He continues to record, perform and work as a highly respected producer. Essential listening: "Such A Night," "Right Place, Wrong Time," "Makin' Whoopee" Rosco Gordon Born: 1934, Memphis, Tennessee Died: July 11, 2002, New York, New York Rosco Gordon was an integral part of the Memphis Beale Street blues scene during the forties and fifties. He created a shuffle rhythm on piano known as "Rosco's rhythm" that influenced blues, and, in the opinion of some historians, also inspired the creation of the distinctive rhythm of Jamaican ska, itself a precursor of reggae. On Beale Street Gordon worked with Johnny Ace, Bobby Blue Bland and others, and in the early fifties his song "Booted" hit number one on the R&B charts. That same year he had another hit with "No More Doggin'." Throughout his career he never matched that early success, but he did continue to record and perform. Like many bluesmen he took an extended hiatus from music to earn an alternative living, but later in his life he began performing again, and continued to do so until his death in 2002. Essential listening: "Booted," "I'm Gonna Shake It," "No More Doggin'," "She's My Baby" Buddy Guy Born: July 30, 1936, Lettsworth, Louisiana Also known as: George Guy Buddy Guy's name has become synonymous with Chicago blues. A dramatic, buoyantly joyful performer with a voice that can be at once smooth and gritty, Guy is also an esteemed guitarist. He has been idolized by the idols themselves for his superb musicianship — Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jeff Beck, Johnny Winter and even, reportedly, Jimi Hendrix have all acknowledged him as an inspiration. Guy's style of playing was heavily influenced by B.B. King, to whom he is often compared. Early in his career he worked with many of Chicago's blues legends as a session player for Chess records and teamed up with harmonica player Junior Wells; the two were a popular duo in the city for many years. Guy was more popular as a live act than as a recording artist until he teamed up with Eric Clapton in the early 1990s, which precipitated a successful and enduring comeback. In Chicago he is known as the King of the Blues. His talent and influence, his long history with the city's blues greats and his successful local blues club "Legends," contribute to his own legend. Essential listening: "Broken Hearted Blues," "Stone Crazy," "Mary Had a Little Lamb," "Try to Quit You, Baby" W.C. Handy Born: November 16, 1873, Muscle Shoals, Alabama Died: March 28, 1958, New York, New York Also known as: William Christopher Handy W.C. Handy is widely recognized by his self-proclaimed moniker, "Father of the Blues" due to his steadfast and pioneering efforts to document, write and publish blues music and his life-long support of the genre. Although much of his musical taste leaned toward a more sophisticated and polished sound, Handy was among the first to recognize the value of the blues, and Southern black music in general, as an important American legacy. Handy was an accomplished bandleader and songwriter who performed throughout the South before continuing his career in New York. He came across the Delta blues in the late 1890s, and his composition "Memphis Blues," published in 1912, was the first to include "blues" in the title. Some historians don't consider "Memphis Blues" to be an actual blues song, however it did influence the creation of other blues tunes, including the historic "Crazy Blues," which is commonly known as the first blues song to ever be recorded (by Mamie Smith in 1920). A Memphis park was named after Handy in recognition of his contribution to blues and the Blues Foundation recognizes the genre's achievements annually with the prestigious W.C. Handy award. Essential listening: "St. Louis Blues," "Yellow Dog Blues," "Beale Street Blues" Corey Harris Born: February 21, 1969, Denver, Colorado Corey Harris can play and sing like a classic bluesman — his first album was a thorough exploration and interpretation of Delta blues. Since then he has incorporated the influence of rich musical traditions from New Orleans to Africa to the Caribbean, all while maintaining his reputation as a first-class performer and recording artist. Harris learned how to play the guitar when he was 12, and was originally inspired by Texas blues legend Lightnin' Hopkins. As a student he traveled to Africa and later moved to New Orleans where he performed on the streets before signing a recording contract. Each of Harris's albums has received critical acclaim, and he continues to draw from a wide range of influences, including hip hop, reggae, funk, jazz, blues, R&B and Latin music. Essential listening: "Black Maria," "Feel Like Going Home," "Keep Your Lamp Trimmed and Burning," "Bound to Miss Me," "Capitaine" Alvin Youngblood Hart Born: March 2, 1963, Oakland, California Alvin Youngblood Hart is a contemporary bluesman whose original music and cover interpretations are infused with a pure Delta blues influence. A native of California, Hart's family roots are in Mississippi, and he grew up visiting the area annually, falling in love with the rural lifestyle and hearing stories of blues patriarch Charley Patton. The influences of legendary bluesmen such as Bukka White, Son House, Howlin' Wolf, and Muddy Waters can be heard in Hart's many classic interpretations of blues standards as well as his original material. His additional influences include the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, and B.B. King as well as formidable vocalists Jimmy Witherspoon and Jimmy Reed. While living in California as a teenager, Hart taught himself to play guitar and spent a lot of time immersed in the Delta blues and its history. Ironically, his performance career began when he just happened to be stationed in Natchez, Mississippi as a member of the Coast Guard. He eventually began playing gigs in California, and ended up with a record deal after a stint opening for Taj Mahal brought him wider visibility. In 1997 Youngblood won the W.C. Handy award for Best New Artist. Essential listening: "Devil Got My Woman," "Things "Bout Coming My Way," "That Kate Adams Jive," "Jinx Blues," "Motherless Child" Jimi Hendrix Born: November 27, 1942, Seattle, Washington Died: September 18, 1970, London, England Seattle-born lead guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist Jimi Hendrix created an amazing body of work during his short career, changing the face of music forever through his revolutionary guitar playing and recordings. Although he is often perceived as a rock and roll icon, his roots lie in the blues. As he once recalled: "The first guitarist I was aware of was Muddy Waters. I heard one of his old records when I was a little boy and it scared me to death, because I heard all of these sounds. Wow, what is that all about?" Picking up the guitar in his teens, Hendrix eventually spent four grueling years on the national R&B circuit as a sideman. Upon setting out on his own, he settled first in New York, then relocated to London. By late 1966 he was a sensation in Europe, and in the U.S. shortly thereafter, mesmerizing audiences with searing electric guitar work coupled with the flash of an R&B road band — playing the guitar with his teeth, behind his neck, and between his legs. Hendrix became the Aquarian Age avatar of the no-holds-barred African-American showbiz tradition, and the blues were rarely far from the surface of his work. His career and creative trajectory took him to ever greater heights until his passing in 1970. Today, his legend continues to grow, and his example continues to inspire new generations of musicians. Essential listening: "Devil Got My Woman," "Things "Bout Coming My Way," "That Kate Adams Jive," "Jinx Blues," "Motherless Child" Text derived from the Jimi Hendrix Gallery at Experience Music Project, Seattle. Billie Holiday Born: April 7, 1915, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Died: July 17, 1959, New York, New York Also known as: Eleanora Fagan Gough Billie Holiday was a legendary vocalist whose uncompromising artistry and highly original, personalized style — which included an innovative sense of phrasing, rhythm and harmony — has had a tremendous impact on generations of vocalists from all genres. Holiday's life was fraught with difficulty, which may be why she was able to sing the blues so convincingly. A huge part of her appeal was her ability to convey the meaning of the lyrics, giving the impression that she had lived her material. Holiday has acknowledged Bessie Smith and Louis Armstrong as two of her primary influences, and during her career she worked with legends Artie Shaw, Cab Calloway and Benny Goodman. Among her many classic recordings are the disturbingly evocative "Strange Fruit," which controversially addressed the violence of racism, and her own composition "God Bless the Child." Essential listening: "Lover Man," "God Bless the Child," "Strange Fruit," "Good Morning Heartache" John Lee Hooker Born: August 22, 1917, Clarksdale, Mississippi Died: August 21, 2001, Los Altos, California John Lee Hooker was a master of "boogie" with haunting, sensuously compelling signature vocals and the ability to create a whole world of sound from a single, repetitive chord. His unique, original style hugely influenced other blues artists and especially rock and roll. The Rolling Stones, the Animals, early Fleetwood Mac and Johnny Winter are just a few of Hooker's admirers. Early on he was influenced by gospel and Delta blues. He learned to play guitar from his stepfather, who reportedly knew blues legend Charley Patton. In 1943 he moved to Detroit, where his sound was a welcome and complete change from the slicker post-war blues. For the next four decades Hooker continued to work with his signature style, performing and recording, and his devotion to his craft never faded, even when his popularity did. The respect he'd long garnered from the blues and rock community was evident in his comeback 1989 release The Healer, which featured a roll call of prestigious names from both genres. As he aged he was known as a living blues legend, and he continued to perform, even when he had to be slowly escorted to the stage. Essential listening: "Boogie Chillen," "I'm in the Mood," "Hoogie Boogie," "Boom Boom," "Baby Lee," "The Healer" Lightnin' Hopkins Born: March 15, 1912, Centerville, Texas Died: January 30, 1982, Houston, Texas Also known as: Sam Hopkins Lightnin' Hopkins's influence on Texas blues is surpassed only by that of Blind Lemon Jefferson and T-Bone Walker. Like Walker, Hopkins met Jefferson when he was just a boy and was forever influenced by his exposure to the musician. Hopkins's original brand of blues was characterized by an unusual sense of rhythm and loose sense of structure. His many moods and personality nuances came through in his ever-changing performance and diverse repertoire. He was a talented songwriter, known for his ability to create lyrics on the spot, and he hardly ever played a song with the exact same lyrics twice. Hopkins played and recorded primarily in Texas throughout most of his career until, as one of the many blues greats who benefited from the blues revival of the 1960s, he was kept busy touring and performing at festivals. He was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1980, two years before his death. Essential listening: "Tim Moore's Farm," "Coffee Blues," "Lightnin's Boogie," "Hopkins's Sky Hop" Son House Born: March 21, 1902, Riverton, Mississippi Died: October 19, 1988, Detroit, Michigan Also known as: Eddie James House, Jr. Son House was originally a preacher, and he brought the fiery intensity of Baptist gospel to his interpretation of Delta blues. A powerfully emotional performer, his presence onstage was riveting and almost frightening in its ability to move the listener. He was influenced by and often played with blues greats Charley Patton and Willie Brown, yet his style remained distinctly his own. He is credited as the primary influence on blues legends Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters as well as Bonnie Raitt and many others. House disappeared from the blues scene from the early 1940s through the mid-1960s, until researchers tracked him down, whereupon he began a second career as a respected performer. His past association with Patton and Johnson, as well as his own legendary skill, made him particularly valuable and respected as a living record of blues history. As music critic Cub Koda put it, "Hailed as the greatest living Delta singer still actively performing, nobody dared call themselves the king of the blues as long as Son House was around." * Essential listening: "Preachin' the Blues," "Death Letter," "John the Revelator," "Dry Spell Blues," "My Black Mama" * www.allmusic.com Born: June 10, 1910, West Point, Mississippi Died: January 10, 1976, Hines, Illinois Also known as: Chester Arthur Burnett Howlin' Wolf was inspired by the passionate showmanship of legends Charley Patton and Tommy Johnson, but he took it to the next level. More than just a great showman, "the howler" was an almost transcendent performer, losing himself in the power of the music and letting it flow uninhibitedly through his voice. Wolf could whip the crowd into a frenzy like no other performer, and his stature — at more than 6 feet tall and 300 or so pounds — matched his formidable musical presence. His voice was truly original, a nasty sounding, expressively gritty growl that conveyed the meaning of the lyrics — many of them penned by legendary songwriter Willie Dixon — and his interpretation helped many songs become classics. The allure of Wolf's music was further enhanced by the superb guitarists who played with him — Willie Johnson in the early years and Hubert Sumlin in later years — as well as his own skill with guitar and harmonica, the latter of which he learned to play from master Sonny Boy Williamson. Wolf was a hero of many equally gritty rock and rollers, including the Rolling Stones. Like many Mississippi bluesmen, Wolf saw his career take off in Chicago, where to this day he is an enduring and beloved part of the city's history. Essential listening: "Smokestack Lightnin'," "Moanin' at Midnight," "Evil," "Killing Floor," "Shake for Me" Mississippi John Hurt Born: July 3, 1893, Teoc, Mississippi Died: November 2, 1966, Grenada, Mississippi Also known as: John Smith Hurt Mississippi John Hurt brought unprecedented warmth to the blues, characterized by his gentle, gracious presence as a performer and the tenderness and depth of his songwriting. Hurt mastered a form of finger picking on the guitar that significantly influenced generations of blues, folk and rock musicians. From the time he was 14, Hurt performed locally in and near his tiny hometown while making his living as a farm laborer. Like other Mississippi masters, he was tracked down later in life by a blues fan and scholar and introduced to the burgeoning blues revival of the mid-1960s. During the last three years of his life, to his surprise and delight, he was accepted with open arms by thousands of fans and subsequently made his living as a performer. He has influenced the musicianship and songwriting of blues, folk and rock and his musical descendants include Taj Mahal, Ben Harper, Bob Dylan and many others. Essential listening: "Frankie," "Louis Collins," "Avalon Blues," " Stack O' Lee ," "Big Leg Blues" Elmore James Born: June 27, 1910, Richland, Mississippi Died: May 24, 1963, Chicago, Illinois Elmore James was a master of slide guitar, and has influenced just about everyone who has ever picked up a slide. His powerful vocals would naturally and dramatically crack and catch, giving authenticity to his sound. His on-and-off day job as a radio repairman complemented his art — he experimented with sound distortion decades before it became a staple of modern rock. James began performing at the age of 14, and played with Robert Johnson, Howlin' Wolf, Sonny Boy Williamson and others. His style as a vocalist and guitarist were heavily influenced by Robert Johnson, and his reworking of Johnson's original "(I Believe I'll) Dust My Broom" became a signature hit for him (under the shortened title "Dust My Broom"). Like his contemporary Muddy Waters, James brought his version of Delta blues to Chicago, where his amazing band, the Broomdusters, added to the city's superb music scene. James has influenced blues and rock and roll musicians, from B.B. King and Eric Clapton to Johnny Winter and Duane Allman, as well as many others. Essential listening: "Dust My Broom," "The Sky is Crying," "Hand in Hand," "Shake Your Money Maker" Skip James Born: June 21, 1902, Bentonia, Mississippi Died: October 3, 1969, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Also known as: Nehemiah Curtis James Skip James is known for his unique, haunting style of blues. He combined falsetto vocals with minor chords, complex finger picking, an idiosyncratic tuning, and a highly personal style of songwriting to create some of the genre's most original music. James was one of Robert Johnson's biggest influences; his original song "Devil Got My Woman" was reworked by Johnson and became the latter's signature hit "Hellhound on my Trail". Like many of his contemporaries of the early Delta blues scene, he turned to another means of livelihood, becoming a preacher at the age of 30 and turning his musical attention to gospel. By chance James was rediscovered during the early 1960s, and subsequently thrilled blues fans at the 1964 Newport Folk Festival, thereby re-launching his career. It was obvious that his musical skills were still as sharp as ever and his unique style was intact. In 1966 the band Cream released a popular version of James's original "I'm So Glad." Essential listening: "Devil Got My Woman," "I'm So Glad," "Sickbed Blues, " Hard Time Killin' Floor Blues " Blind Lemon Jefferson Born: July 1897, Couchman, Texas Died: December, 1929, Chicago, Illinois Also known as: Deacon L.J. Bates Blind Lemon Jefferson was a groundbreaking artist on many levels, and is the undisputed father of Texas blues. His innovative guitar style — probably partly influenced by Mexican flamenco guitarists — featured a flair for arpeggios (playing each note of a chord separately rather than in unison), unconventional use of bass notes and unusual phrasing as well as jazz-inspired improvisation, all of which paved the way for the many brilliant Texas guitarists who would follow in his lineage, from T-Bone Walker to Stevie Ray Vaughan. Walker, in fact, knew Jefferson and was directly influenced by him. Even early in his career Jefferson's remarkable talent was evident. He built a fan base playing on the streets of Dallas, and was able to provide for his family on those earnings. He recorded close to 100 songs within only four years, and his commercial success broke ground for male blues singers in an era where the genre was dominated by women, such as Ma Rainey and Bessie Smith. As a talented songwriter he shifted the common practice of blues vocalists primarily performing songs written by others. His original material includes many blues classics. Essential listening: "See That My Grave is Kept Clean," "Jack of Diamonds," "Matchbox Blues" Blind Willie Johnson Born: 1902, Marlin, Texas Died: 1947, Beaumont, Texas Blind Willie Johnson was a deeply religious man who played gospel music, much of it blues-based, as a way to preach. His passionate performance style featured powerful, rough vocals designed to reach the masses from Texas street corners. Johnson was a talented songwriter as well as a superb slide guitarist. He would pick the melody while accompanying himself with a bass line he'd play with his thumb, and he reportedly played slide with a pocketknife rather than the customary bottleneck. During the 1930s Johnson did some recording for Columbia. A number of his songs became classics, and have been covered by many artists, including Eric Clapton, Peter, Paul and Mary and Ry Cooder. Essential listening: "Motherless Children Have a Hard Time," "Let Your Light Shine on Me," "Dark Was the Night — Cold Was the Ground," "If I Had My Way" Robert Johnson Born: May 8, 1911, Hazelhurst, Mississippi Died: August 28, 1938, Greenwood, Mississippi A young Robert Johnson hung around the Saturday night dances in the Delta watching Son House, Willie Brown and Charley Patton play and, to their amusement, trying to play guitar during the breaks. Years later Johnson ran into House and Brown, and Johnson's skill on the instrument stunned them. He had acquired his skill in such a short time that it inspired a rumor that became legend — Johnson must have sold his soul to the devil. His tortured voice and emotional intensity seemed to give credence to the legend, although it is more likely that his own determination and inherent talent, as well as his exposure to the great Delta bluesmen, deserve the credit for his genius. In addition to being a gifted lyricist and composer and innovative guitarist, Johnson transferred "boogie woogie" from the piano to the guitar, playing the bottom guitar strings to accompany himself with a bass line, a technique that has become standard in blues composition. His influence on blues, from Muddy Waters and Eric Clapton to the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin, is legendary. Essential listening: "Walkin' Blues," "Love in Vain Blues," "Come on in My Kitchen" "Terraplane Blues," " Cross Road Blues " Tommy Johnson Born: 1896, Terry, Mississippi Died: November 1, 1956, Crystal Springs, Mississippi Tommy Johnson was a hell-raiser who could belt out the blues with a wide vocal range, from a low throaty snarl to a high falsetto. He had a dramatic flair in performance similar to his contemporary, Delta blues king Charley Patton, and in the early, pre-Robert Johnson days his influence on the genre was second only to that of Patton and Son House. He was not a virtuoso on the guitar, but had an original, evocative style, well-matched to his theatrical delivery. Johnson significantly influenced blues greats Muddy Waters, Robert Nighthawk and especially Howlin' Wolf, who would carry on and even outdo the Patton/Johnson tradition of incendiary, down-and-dirty showmanship. Johnson was also the quintessential blues bad boy, with a penchant for rampant womanizing and for alcohol, the latter of which led him to drastic extremes. He was known to down denatured alcohol, used for artificial heat, when the real thing wasn't available, a habit he documented in his original song "Canned Heat," from which the 1960s blues-rock group took its name. Johnson left behind a small but outstanding collection of recordings, almost all of which became classics. Essential listening: "Maggie Campbell," "Big Road Blues," "Cool Drink of Water," "Canned Heat" Tom Jones Born: June 6, 1940, Pontypridd, South Wales Tom Jones is a stunning vocalist with a powerful, emotionally expressive baritone-tenor range matched by a legendarily charismatic stage presence that has often been compared to that of Elvis Presley — Presley, in fact, regarded him as one of the world's finest vocalists. Jones's first hit, "It's Not Unusual," reached number one in the U.K. and placed in the U.S. top 10 in 1965. He followed that up with a steady string of hits throughout the sixties, and eventually landed his own TV series. Jones's prolific recording career has encompassed everything from gospel to rockabilly to funk to electronic and dance music — in the late eighties he collaborated with techno group Art of Noise, and had a big hit with a tongue-in-cheek cover of Prince's, "Kiss," a recording that showcased Jones's enduring talent and appeal as well as his sense of humor. Other milestones include a superb recording collaboration with the Chieftains and an acclaimed performance at the legendary Glastonbury Festival, both in the early nineties. Jones remains an esteemed performer worldwide, and continues to tour and record; his latest release, Mr. Jones, is a collaboration with acclaimed hip hop artist Wyclef Jean. Essential listening: "Tennessee Waltz," "Kiss," "Green, Green Grass of Home," "She's a Lady," "I Who Have Nothing" Albert King Born: April 25, 1923, Indianola, Mississippi Died: December 21, 1992 Also known as: Albert Nelson As a child an enterprising Albert King reportedly built his own guitar out of a cigar box. A brilliant guitarist in his own right, King was originally inspired by Texas blues great Blind Lemon Jefferson. Like B.B. King, he was a master of single string solos and used the technique of "string bending" to great emotional effect. He was also left-handed, and instead of restringing the guitar, he just learned to play it upside down, which added an original tone to his style. His blues are infused with a Memphis soul sound; he became a rock and blues star after signing to the Memphis-based Stax label, which was responsible for some of the finest soul music ever recorded. King always managed to keep his sound fresh and original, and had a significant impact on blues and rock; he has influenced Eric Clapton, Robert Clay, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Otis Rush, among others. He had the honor of playing San Francisco's Fillmore West on opening night with John Mayall and Jimi Hendrix and often shared the bill with rock artists throughout his career. King continued to tour until his death in 1992. Essential listening: "Don't Throw Your Love on Me So Strong," "Crosscut Saw," "Born Under a Bad Sign," "I'll Play the Blues for You" B.B. King Born: September 16, 1925, Indianola, Mississippi Also known as: Riley B. King B.B. King's career has spanned five decades and taken him from the clubs of Memphis to the finest concert halls in the world. He's known as the King of the Blues, and for his enduring and successful efforts as a gracious, respected blues diplomat he deserves much of the credit for the genre's mainstream popularity and recognition. Early in his career King worked as a Memphis disc jockey, where he was known as the Beale Street Blues Boy, which was later shortened to B.B. Although King's roots are in Delta blues, his sound has always been more polished, probably due to his wide variety of influences, which include jazz, gospel and pop. King's highly influential style — probably originally inspired by Texas blues greats Blind Lemon Jefferson and T-Bone Walker — features "single string" guitar solos that are so well-integrated with his commanding vocals that it's sometimes hard to tell the two apart. He also "bends" the strings, which continues the sound in a way that enhances the music's emotion. He has influenced countless blues and rock artists, including Buddy Guy, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Johnny Winter and Jeff Beck. King continues to record and perform as powerfully as ever. Essential listening: " Three O'Clock Blues ," "How Blue Can You Get," "The Thrill is Gone," "Sweet Little Angel," "Paying the Cost to be the Boss" Chris Thomas King Born: October 14, 1963, Baton Rouge, Louisiana Also known as: Chris Thomas The essence of Chris Thomas King's versatile, heavily blues-influenced music can perhaps best be hinted at with a quick sample of his album titles: his 1986 debut, The Beginning; 1995's 21st Century Blues�From da Hood; 2000's Me, My Guitar and the Blues; and 2002's Dirty South Hip-Hop Blues. King's early influences leaned toward soul, rock and reggae, specifically Prince, Jimi Hendrix and Bob Marley, but it was inevitable that his blues birthright (as the son of Louisiana bluesman Tabby Thomas) would eventually wend its way into his work. King toured Europe with his father in 1983, and since then the blues have been an integral part of his work. Throughout his career he has fused the blues with hip hop, rap, funk and soul, and also has repeatedly returned to a more pure form of blues, exploring the soul and history of the music in a critically acclaimed, always-evolving body of work. King is most recently known for his appearance on the award-winning soundtrack from the film O Brother Where Art Thou , in which he also played a supporting role. Read an archived version of King's Washington Post online chat . Essential listening: "Soon This Morning Blues," "Mary Jane," "Hard Time Killing Floor Blues," " Da Thrill is Gone From Here ," "Revelations" Sam Lay Born: March 20, 1935, Birmingham, Alabama Sam Lay is the quintessential blues drummer, and was a major figure on the Chicago blues scene in the 1960's. He played for years with legend Howlin' Wolf, and throughout his career has backed many other blues greats, including Jimmy Reed, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, and Willie Dixon. He eventually was hired away from Howlin' Wolf by the legendary Paul Butterfield Blues Band. Lay was part of Butterfield's band when they backed Bob Dylan at his infamous premier electric performance at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival. He has played on many classic albums, including the 1965 release Paul Butterfield Blues Band, that significantly impacted the 1960s blues revival; Muddy Waters's Fathers and Sons; and Bob Dylan's Highway 61 Revisited. Lay is famous for the "double shuffle" beat, which, like Bo Diddley's famous rock beat, was originally inspired by the clapping rhythms of gospel congregations. Lay has been nominated for several W.C. Handy awards. Essential listening: "I'm Ready," "Standing Around Crying" (from Fathers and Sons, Chess); "Blues With a Feeling," "I Got My Mojo Working," "Shake Your Money Maker" (from Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Elektra) Lead Belly Born: January 20, 1888, Mooringsport, Louisiana Died: December 6, 1949, New York, New York Also known as: Huddie William Ledbetter By all accounts Lead Belly was a captivating performer, and the story of his colorful life certainly gives credence to the reputation. His performance was enchanting enough to disarm even the heavy arm of Southern, white, law enforcement — he twice was pardoned from long prison sentences as a result of his talent. Lead Belly was an itinerant musician, and a living catalogue of many musical traditions and influences, from folk to country blues to prison songs to ballads. His wide repertoire carried a rich sense of black history. He traveled and played for a time with Blind Lemon Jefferson, who was probably his primary blues influence and reportedly taught him how to play slide guitar. It was folklorist John Lomax who recognized Lead Belly as a national treasure and orchestrated his second prison release on those grounds, later recording him and organizing performances. Lead Belly later moved to New York and became an integral part of the city's folk scene. During his lifetime he never experienced the success and recognition he deserved, but his influence on American music is incalculable. He has inspired many songwriters, including Bob Dylan, and his recordings document a rich musical legacy that without him might have been forgotten. Essential listening: "Goodnight Irene," "Bourgeois Blues," "Scottsboro Blues," "Rock Island Line" J.B. Lenoir Born: May 5, 1929, Monticello, Mississippi Died: April 29, 1967, Urbana, Illinois J.B. Lenoir probably picked up his solid "boogie woogie" influence in New Orleans, where he spent some time performing before he settled into Chicago's blues scene during the fifties and sixties. While in New Orleans he played with blues greats Sonny Boy Williamson II and Elmore James. Once Lenoir made it to Chicago, Big Bill Broonzy helped introduce him to the local blues community, and he became an important part of the city's blues scene. He was a talented songwriter and bluesman with an obvious political awareness. Examples of his outspoken views can be found in "Korea Blues," and "Eisenhower Blues" — the latter reportedly caused enough controversy that his record label forced him to remake the tune under the title "Tax Paying Blues." His penchant for social commentary and his high-pitched vocals distinguish him from other bluesmen of that time. Lenoir's recordings are also distinctive for their excellent saxophone arrangements and unconventional drumming (Alex Atkins and Ernest Cotton were often on sax with Al Gavin on drums). Lenoir had successfully toured Europe and was likely about to achieve greater fame when he died in 1966 due to complications from a car accident. Essential listening: " Shot on James Meredith ," "Mama, Talk to Your Daughter," "Everybody Wants to Know," "Natural Man," "Eisenhower Blues," "Korea Blues," "Vietnam Blues" Little Richard Born: December 5, 1932, Macon, Georgia Also known as: Richard Wayne Penniman Little Richard was a crucial link between R&B and rock and roll, merging the two with passionate, gospel-inspired vocals and a truly incendiary presence that translated incredibly well onto recording tape. The true peak of his career only lasted three years (and included appearances in rock and roll films), but his many hits are absolute classics and he had an enormous influence on blues, rock, and pop music. Little Richard's recordings feature an overwhelming compilation of superb musicianship — his ferocious vocals and relentlessly wild piano playing, strong baritone and tenor sax (often Alvin Tyler and Lee Alvin, respectively), and fabulous rhythm section (namely drummer Earl Palmer). Like other performers such as Son House and Blind Willie Johnson, the religious fervor Little Richard brought to his music was key to its riveting appeal. In 1957 he actually turned his back on his music career in favor of religious studies. He came back to music in the early 1960s, and later repeated the journey from music to religion and back again. Little Richard continues to perform on occasion. Essential listening: "Lucille," "Good Golly Miss Molly," "Long Tall Sally," "Tutti Frutti" Alan Lomax Born: January 15, 1915, Austin, Texas Died: July 19, 2002, Sarasota, Florida Alan Lomax began his long career as a folklorist when he was still a teenager, traveling with his father, John, throughout the South to preserve the area's music legacy of folk, work songs and spirituals, among other music. During their travels to Southern prisons, the father and son team came upon William Ledbetter, better known as Lead Belly, recorded him for the first time and actually negotiated his release on the basis of the singer/songwriter's talent. Alan Lomax subsequently returned to the South on his own, where he recorded many Mississippi bluesmen, including Muddy Waters, Son House, and Mississippi Fred McDowell. He also recorded jazz legend Jelly Roll Morton. Lomax's life was dedicated to preserving the musical legacy of not only the United States, but other parts of the world as well, including Europe and the Caribbean. His blues recordings are classics, and in his award-winning memoir, The Land Where the Blues Began, he not only chronicled the history of the blues as seen through his field experiences, but also captured the bitter racism that was faced by the now-legendary artists he recorded. Lomax left behind an invaluable musical and historical legacy. Essential listening: "Walking Blues," "Country Blues," "Life is Like That" (from The Land Where the Blues Began, 2002, Rounder) Brownie McGhee Born: November 30, 1915, Knoxville, Tennessee Died: February 23, 1996, Oakland, California Also known as: Walter McGhee Brownie McGhee played blues guitar in a style that was heavily influenced by Blind Boy Fuller, a North Carolina native whose repertoire included a complicated finger picking style characteristic of a regional genre known as Piedmont blues. Early in his career, McGhee worked as a traveling performer. When he made it to North Carolina he met Blind Boy Fuller and his manager, J.B. Long, and it was Long who helped McGhee make his first recordings. McGhee later moved to New York where he teamed up with harmonica player Sonny Terry. With the help of legendary singer/songwriter Lead Belly, McGhee and Terry became an important part of the city's folk scene, working with such artists as Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie. As a duo they were enormously popular performers and prolific recording artists for almost four decades. McGhee also opened a music school in Harlem where he offered guitar lessons. Both individually and in his partnership with Sonny Terry, McGhee had a lasting influence on both blues and folk. He was an accomplished and versatile guitarist and vocalist whose mastery as a musician included R&B, electric blues and vintage country blues, in addition to the Piedmont style he helped preserve. Essential listening: "Workingman's Blues," "Death of Blind Boy Fuller," "Living With the Blues" Magic Slim Born: August 7, 1937, Grenada, Mississippi Also known as: Morris Holt A Magic Slim performance brings the history of Chicago blues to life — he studied and played with the masters and he brings their styles together, infusing them with his own fiery skill. He might not be the King of the Blues in Chicago, but he's certainly one of the royal family. Slim grew up in Mississippi and knew blues great Magic Sam when the two were children — it was Sam who gave him the nickname. Slim came to Chicago in the mid-fifties with the hopes of becoming a great bluesman, but didn't have the skill level to hold his own with the city's stars. He came back ten years later having honed his licks and formed a band with his brothers; the group soon became a powerful force on the city's South Side. Slim was particularly influenced by the guitar work of Muddy Waters, Freddie King, Buddy Guy, Otis Rush and his old buddy Magic Sam, and he was a devoted student. Decades (and personnel changes) later Slim and his band still maintain a reputation for blowing the room away with their powerful lead and rhythm guitar stylings and a truly amazing repertoire, including fine original material. Essential listening: "Scuffling," "Love My Baby," "Help Yourself" Taj Mahal Born: May 17, 1942, New York, New York Also known as: Henry St. Claire Fredericks Taj Mahal is an extremely versatile songwriter, musician and performer who incorporates his lifelong study of blues and other genres, as well as the music of other cultures — including Hawaiian, West African, reggae, zydeco, R&B, Latin, gospel, jazz and folk — in his songwriting and performance. Mahal has mastered many instruments, including piano, bass, guitar, banjo and harmonica, and is an expressive vocalist. His deep respect for the true roots of all musical styles is evident in his performance. Stories of legendary and obscure artists from blues and other genres as well as various musical styles and influences are often interspersed between songs. Mahal began performing as a folk singer while he was still a teenager, and during college he became part of Boston's folk scene. He eventually moved to Los Angeles where for a short time he worked with guitar master Ry Cooder. Mahal's loyalty to blues can be found on most of the albums he has released in his prolific career, and is particularly evident in his early, critically-acclaimed releases. Taj Mahal continues to record and perform. Essential listening: " Fishin' Blues ," "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl," "Do I Love Her," "Satisfied and Tickled Too," "Strut," "Hard Way" John Mayall Born: November 29, 1933, Manchester, England John Mayall's considerable talent as a composer and performer is often overshadowed by the influence of his ever-changing band, the Bluesbreakers, which has been in existence since the early 1960's, and early on gained a prestigious reputation that has endured to the present day. Mayall brought together a stunning array of talent in the groundbreaking group, which mined the annals of American blues history in addition to performing original music. The group was partly experimental, and as a result its sound was inconsistent, but much of it was outstanding. Many members of the Bluesbreakers subsequently became superstars. Even a short list of the band's veterans reads like a who's who in enduring sixties and seventies blues-rock: Eric Clapton and bassist Jack Bruce, who left to form the supergroup Cream; guitarist Mick Taylor, who left to join the Rolling Stones; and guitarist Peter Green, bassist John McVie and drummer Mick Fleetwood, who with others co-founded Fleetwood Mac (originally conceived as a pure blues band). Mayall continues to perform, often with longtime Bluesbreakers veterans and other blues legends. Essential listening: "All Your Love," "Room to Move," "Ramblin' On My Mind," "Parchman Farm," "It Ain't Right" Memphis Minnie Born: June 3, 1897, Algiers, Louisiana Died: August 6, 1973, Memphis, Tennessee Also known as: Lizzie Douglas Memphis Minnie was an accomplished guitarist, banjo player, vocalist and songwriter whose career was long and prolific, and she won the enduring respect of her contemporaries, male and female. Her talent had an impact on Memphis's famed Beale Street blues community as well as both the pre-war and post-war Chicago blues scene. She established herself on Beale Street during the 1920s, then moved to Chicago in 1930, where she reportedly regularly won guitar playing competitions, beating out the best of them, including Big Bill Broonzy, Tampa Red, and Muddy Waters. In addition to her superb musicianship, her performance featured rich vocals with a deep, full tone. Her songwriting, often conveying a purely female perspective, was as gutsy and suggestive as any of her male counterparts, and many of her originals have become classics. Among her many contributions to the blues, she was also known for her kindness and generosity toward up and coming blues musicians. In 1971 Led Zeppelin recorded its take on her original "When the Levee Breaks" — a testament to the timeless appeal of her music. Essential listening: "Bumble Bee," "I'd Rather See Him Dead," "Moaning the Blues," "When the Levee Breaks," "Hoodoo Lady" Muddy Waters Born: April 4, 1915, Rolling Forks, Mississippi Died: April 30, 1983, Westmont, Illinois Also known as: McKinley Morganfield Muddy Waters grew up in the Mississippi Delta, singing as he worked in the cotton fields as a boy and playing near his favorite muddy creek — thus the nickname. He picked up a guitar when he was 17. Influenced by the deeply emotional performer Son House as well as Robert Johnson, Waters became an accomplished bluesman himself. In the early 1940s he took the raw depth of the Delta blues to Chicago, and in a few years he had revolutionized the city's blues scene. His many contributions to Chicago blues include his skill with an electric guitar, his tough, powerful vocals, and his evocative, compelling songwriting. As a bandleader he established the ensemble sound and style of Chicago electric blues — just about every great Chicago blues player of that time was in Waters's band at one point or another. British rockers the Rolling Stones took their name from a Waters's song — a testament to Waters's extensive influence on both American and British rock and roll. Essential listening: "Rolling Stone," "Honey Bee," "I Can't Be Satisfied," " Mannish Boy ," "Got My Mojo Working" Willie Nix Born: August 6, 1922, Memphis, Tennessee Died: July 8, 1991, Leland, Mississippi Willie Nix was an innovative drummer and gifted lyricist as well as vocalist, and was an integral part of Memphis's Beale Street blues community during the late forties and early fifties. Nix originally began performing as a tap-dancer when he was very young — his creative sense of rhythm as a drummer likely had its roots in his instincts as a dancer. Nix recorded and played in both Memphis and Chicago, and worked with legendary bluesmen in both cities, among them Junior Parker, B.B. King, Elmore James, Sonny Boy Williamson II, and Bobby Blue Bland. Nix eventually moved back to Memphis and continued to be a local fixture in the blues community. He performed on and off until his death in 1991. Essential listening: "Truckin' Little Woman," "Nervous Wreck," "No More Love" Junior Parker Born: March 27, 1932, West Memphis, Arkansas Died: November 18, 1971, Chicago, Illinois Also known as: Herman Parker, Jr. Junior Parker was known for his prowess as a vocalist, bandleader, songwriter and harmonica player, but it was his voice — which music historians describe as "honeyed," "velvet-smooth" and "magic carpet" — that brought him real fame. Parker was mentored in the subtleties of blues harp (harmonica) by the blues legend Sonny Boy Williamson II, and joined Howlin' Wolf's band when he was still a teenager. He was part of Memphis's famous Beale Street blues community. Reportedly one of talent scout Ike Turner's many discoveries, Parker recorded for Sun records in the early fifties; his rendition of the self-penned "Mystery Train" made it to number 5 on the R&B charts and was later covered by Elvis Presley. Parker's recordings would make the charts many more times throughout the decade and into the early sixties. During the late fifties Parker led a highly successful R&B revue, Blues Consolidated, which also featured fellow Beale Street vocalist Bobby Blue Bland. Though he never was able to sustain the fame he'd achieved during the fifties, Parker continued working as a recording artist and performer throughout the sixties. Essential listening: "Mystery Train," "Next Time You See Me," "Barefoot Rock," "Feelin' Good," "Love My Baby" Charley Patton Born: 1891, Edwards, Mississippi Died: April 28, 1934, Indianola, Mississippi Charley Patton is the uncontested father of the Delta blues. His ferocious, high energy performance brought the house down on a regular basis with a gritty, raw vocal style and an ability to act as a one-man percussion section with his guitar, creating an innovative flow of rhythm and counter-rhythm. His uninhibited performances onstage were reflected in his lifestyle — he was a match for any one of his musical descendants as a hard drinker and womanizer. Patton's legacy has inspired, directly and indirectly, generations of both blues and rock and roll musicians. The guitar gymnastics of Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan are echoes of Patton's performance style, and his use of rhythm and "popping" bass notes presaged funk by decades. Patton influenced and played with blues greats Son House and Willie Brown, and also influenced Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Johnny Shines, John Lee Hooker, and Pop Staples, among many others. Essential listening: "Pony Blues," "High Water Everywhere," "Oh Death," "High Sheriff Blues" Sam Phillips Born: January 1, 1923, Florence, Alabama Died: July 31, 2003, Memphis, Tennessee Sam Phillips has had an enormous impact on music, particularly blues, rock and roll and rockabilly. As an innovative producer and owner of Memphis's legendary Sun Studios, Phillips made his mark on music history by discovering and recording such legends as Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and others. Slightly earlier in his career, however, Phillips recorded many blues legends, including Howlin' Wolf, B.B. King, Little Milton and Junior Parker. Sun Studios is often called "The Birthplace of Rock and Roll" — in 1951 Phillips recorded the legendary single "Rocket 88," which is often referred to as the first rock and roll record. The song reached number one on R&B charts and helped put Memphis on the musical map. Phillip's obvious gift for bringing out the best in his recording artists is evident on early Sun recordings, which are also known for their live, vital sound. Sun Studios still exists in its original Memphis location. Essential listening: "B.B. Blues," "My Baby Walked Off," "I Found a New Love," "Lookin' for My Baby" (from Blue Flames: A Sun Blues Collection, Rhino-Sun) Professor Longhair Born: December 19, 1918, Bogalusa, Louisiana Died: January 30, 1980, New Orleans, Louisiana Also known as: Henry Roeland "Roy" Byrd Professor Longhair is known as the Father of New Orleans rhythm and blues. He was a vocalist and songwriter, and as a pianist his wildly innovative style combined zydeco, jazz, blues, calypso and ragtime influences with an amazing sense of rhythm. Longhair's infectious talent influenced New Orleans-based greats such as Allen Toussaint, Dr. John, and Fats Domino, among others. He began performing when he was quite young, and later formed several bands, including Professor Longhair and his Blues Jumpers, with whom he recorded the single, "Baldhead," which eventually reached number 5 on the R&B charts. During most of his career he remained a local legend because of his lack of interest in touring, but many of his recordings became New Orleans classics, including "Tipitina," for which the legendary nightclub was named. Longhair's popularity subsided during the 1960's and he worked as a janitor until his performance career was revived in the early seventies. Thereafter he was a regular at New Orleans's Jazz & Heritage Festival, toured the U.S. and Europe and continued to record to critical acclaim. Essential recordings: "Tipitina," "Baldhead," " Big Chief ," "Go to the Mardi Gras," "In the Night" Gertrude "Ma" Rainey Born: April 26, 1886, Columbus, Georgia Died: December 22, 1939, Columbus, Georgia Also known as: Gertrude Pridgett Ma Rainey is commonly known as the Mother of the Blues because of her significant influence on the many female blues singers who succeeded her. She began performing in minstrel and vaudeville shows around the age of 14, and is widely considered to be one of the first female singers to perform blues in that setting. She was an important link between the rough vocals of country blues, then a male-dominated genre which her vocal delivery resembled, and the more polished sound of classic urban blues, a female-dominated genre which she ultimately influenced. In 1904 Rainey married William (known as Pa) Rainey, and the two of them performed together calling themselves "Assasinators of the Blues." Legend has it that during their travels Ma Rainey met Bessie Smith, and became somewhat of a mentor to the young singer. In addition to Rainey's vocal prowess, she was also a talented songwriter. After more than two decades of performing, Rainey began to record in 1923, and she left behind a prolific legacy that includes many classics. Essential listening: "C.C. Rider," "Bo Weavil Blues," "Jelly Bean Blues," "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" Bonnie Raitt Born: November 8, 1949 An accomplished slide guitarist and blues singer/songwriter, Bonnie Raitt incongruously dropped out of an Ivy League college to work as an itinerant blues musician. Her considerable skill made an impression on Boston's blues scene, and she quickly won the respect of her peers, later playing with blues legends Howlin' Wolf, Son House, Muddy Waters, and others. Raitt began recording to critical acclaim in the early seventies, mixing blues with R&B, pop, jazz and New Orleans influences and garnering a loyal cult following. Like her female predecessors, her music often features a gender-specific spin on the blues; her original interpretation of Chris Smither's "Love Me Like a Man" contains a clever response to Muddy Waters's "Rock Me," and her rendition of Sippie Wallace's "Women Be Wise" likewise offers a refreshing female perspective. In the eighties Raitt's career slowed somewhat until the release of the aptly-titled Nick of Time in 1989, at which point, in the words of blues historian Robert Santelli, she "pulled off one of the greatest career turnarounds in modern pop history."* Raitt received six Grammy awards for the album, and followed it up with another Grammy-winner in 1992. She continues to record and tour. Essential listening: "Love Me Like a Man," "Give It Up or Let Me Go," "Women Be Wise," "Walking Blues," "Feeling of Falling" * Santelli, Robert. The Big Book of Blues. New York: Penguin Books, 1993. Jimmy Reed Born: September 9, 1925, Dunleith, Mississippi Died: August 29, 1976, Oakland, California Also known as: Mathias James Reed Jimmy Reed's brand of blues was smooth, warm and even sweet — quite a contrast to the rough, gritty sound which usually characterizes the genre. Reed and his guitarist Eddie Taylor were childhood friends in Mississippi, and they later settled in Chicago, where they would became a unique recording presence. Reed's easygoing style, built on a solid foundation of Delta blues, featured walking "boogie woogie" bass notes, catchy rhythmic hooks — crafted by Taylor — and fluid harmonica riffs. All this was delivered through Reed's expressive, irresistible vocals — the combination was a contagiously compelling sound. Some of Reed's success was also due to his wife Mary Lee's considerable talent as a songwriter. Reed's recordings were hugely popular with both blues and pop audiences; he enjoyed a long series of hits from 1955 through 1961. Many of his songs have been covered by blues, rock and roll and pop artists, including the Rolling Stones, who along with Bob Dylan acknowledge him as a huge influence. Even the king of rock and roll, Elvis Presley, couldn't resist recording a Jimmy Reed song. Essential listening: "Ain't That Loving You Baby," "Baby What Do You Want Me to Do," "Hush, Hush," "Shame, Shame, Shame," "You Don't Have to Go" The Rolling Stones Original and later band members: Mick Jagger, born July 26, 1943, Dartford, England; Keith Richards, born December 18, 1943, Dartford, England; Brian Jones, born February 28, 1942, Cheltenham, England, died July 3, 1969, London, England; Charlie Watts, born June 2, 1941, Islington, London, England; Bill Wyman, born October 24, 1936, London, England; Ron Wood, born June 1, 1947, Hillingdon, London, England The Rolling Stones melded blues and R&B with classic rock and roll, and eventually lived up to their self-proclaimed moniker "the World's Greatest Rock and Roll band." As rock and roll's quintessential bad boys, in the beginning the Stones were the antithesis of the clean-cut Beatles, and their sound was a gritty, edgy departure from the sounds of the time. The band took their name from a Muddy Waters song, a testament to the fact that they were avid fans of classic blues. As a young man, outrageously charismatic front man and songwriter Mick Jagger was a regular mail-order customer of the Chicago blues label Chess Records (the band would later record there and work for years with the co-founder's son Marshall). Guitarists Brian Jones and Keith Richards (who formed a notoriously brilliant songwriting partnership with Jagger) were both heavily influenced by Delta blues; Jones idolized legendary blues slide guitarist Elmore James and Richards's highly influential playing made considerable use of the genre's open chord tunings. Drummer Charlie Watts and bassist Bill Wyman were a formidable rhythm section; Watts had previously played with one of Great Britain's esteemed blues band, Blues, Inc. Jones left the band just before his death 1969 and was replaced by Mick Taylor, a veteran of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers. Taylor left in 1975, and in 1976 was replaced by Ron Wood, who had played with the Jeff Beck Group as well as Small Faces. Wyman left the group in 1991, and was replaced in 1994 by Daryl Jones. The Rolling Stones, who continue to tour, are commonly regarded as one of the most influential bands in the history of music. Essential listening: "Loving Cup," "Moonlight Mile," "Love in Vain," "I Just Want to Make Love to You" Bobby Rush Born: November 10, 1940, Homer, Louisiana Bobby Rush began performing in Chicago as a teenager, and performed with blues greats Freddie King and Luther Allison. He saw some recording success during the 1970s, making the R&B charts with his hit "Chicken Heads," which is still one of his standards, and became a very popular performer and prolific recording artist after he moved to Mississippi in the early eighties. Rush is known for his high-energy performances, featuring lighthearted, funky, and often very suggestive blues, R&B, and soul. He has received several nominations for the prestigious W.C. Handy awards as well as other blues, R&B and soul awards. Read an archived version of Bobby Rush's Washington Post online chat . Essential listening: "A Man Can Give It (But He Can't Take It)," "Chicken Heads," "Mama Talk To Your Daughter," "Sue," "What's Good for the Goose is Good for the Gander" Otis Rush Born: April 29, 1934, Philadelphia, Mississippi Otis Rush is a stunning vocalist, innovative guitarist and songwriter who has hugely influenced blues and rock artists, including Johnny Winter, Stevie Ray Vaughan (whose band, Double Trouble, was named after Rush's song of the same name), Jeff Beck, and Carlos Santana. Rush was inspired to become a bluesman after he moved to Chicago in the late forties and saw Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf perform. Along with Buddy Guy and Magic Slim, Rush developed a playing style that would become known as the "West Side sound," an emotionally intense combination of guitar licks and expressive vocals, with an urban sound that signified a departure from classic Mississippi Delta blues. Willie Dixon recognized Rush's genius early on, and Rush's recording of Dixon's original, "I Can't Quit You, Baby," reached number 9 on the R&B charts in the mid-fifties. A songwriter in his own right, Rush's frequent use of minor keys provides his music with a subtle but unmistakably anguished tone and interesting moodiness. He is a left-handed guitarist, and like Albert King, one of his primary influences, he plays the guitar upside down rather than having it restrung. Rush continues to tour. Essential listening: "I Can't Quit You, Baby," "Double Trouble," "So Many Roads, So Many Trains," "All Your Love" Bessie Smith Born: April 15, 1894, Chattanooga, Tennessee Died: September 26, 1937, Clarksdale, Mississippi Bessie Smith's talent as a vocalist is legendary and she has influenced generations of blues singers, from Billie Holiday to Janis Joplin. She was enormously successful throughout the twenties as a blues and sometimes jazz singer, and beyond that she was an inspiration to the black community, as she lived her life with confidence and uncompromising self-respect, on no one's terms but her own. This self-assurance was part of the appeal of her rich, expressive vocals. Smith sometimes wrote her own material, such as "Back Water Blues." Her career was impacted by the Depression, as were the careers of many artists, but she continued to perform. She was probably on the verge of a comeback, reportedly having been scheduled to play Carnegie Hall at John Hammond's legendary concert "From Spirituals to Swing," when she was killed in a car accident in 1937. Essential recordings: " Lost Your Head Blues ," "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out," "'Tain't Nobody's Business if I Do," "Back Water Blues," "Broken Hearted Blues" Mamie Smith Born: May 26, 1883, Cincinnati, Ohio Died: October 30, 1946, New York, New York Mamie Smith was primarily a cabaret and vaudeville singer, but she made blues history by being the first singer to record a blues song. "Crazy Blues," recorded in 1920, was a huge hit, selling more than one million copies within a year of its release. This success inspired the release of further blues recordings by female artists. So, although Mamie Smith technically wasn't a blues singer, she was a groundbreaking and influential artist for the genre. Her majestic stage presence and ornate costumes and jewelry also influenced other female blues singers of the twenties. Essential listening: "Crazy Blues," "It's Right Here for You," "You Can't Keep a Good Man Down," "That Thing Called Love" Victoria Spivey Born: October 15, 1906, Houston, Texas Died: October 3, 1976, New York, New York Victoria Spivey's career lasted much longer than that of most other female blues singers of the 1920s. She was a clever songwriter who unflinchingly addressed diverse topics, and as a vocalist her delivery of the blues was sincere and convincing. Spivey started out as a performer in Houston, and is rumored to have played with Blind Lemon Jefferson. For a time she worked as a songwriter for the St. Louis Music Company, and later was based in New York, where she performed constantly. Spivey was artistically influenced by blues great Ida Cox, and she may have also been influenced by her on a more practical level — both women are reputed to have had formidable business acumen. Spivey took a hiatus from music during the fifties, but managed a comeback in the early sixties, starting her own record company just in time for the mid-sixties blues revival to breathe new life into her career as a performer. She released predominantly classic blues on her record label, and continued to tour until her death in 1976. Essential listening: "Dope Head Blues," "Black Snake Blues," TB Blues," "Organ Grinder Blues" Koko Taylor Born: September 28, 1935, Memphis, Tennessee Also known as: Cora Walton Koko Taylor is a living testament to blues history and can still belt out a song as powerfully and joyfully as ever. A warm, charismatic performer, she has been the undisputed Queen of Chicago Blues for decades, and her reign is still going strong. Taylor's career began after she and her husband moved from Memphis to Chicago, where they frequented the local blues clubs. Once she began sitting in with bands it quickly became obvious she could hold her own not only among female vocalists, but with any of the male heavy hitters, such as contemporaries Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters. Among her fans was blues great Willie Dixon, who was instrumental in the advancement of her career. Her recording of his original song "Wang Dang Doodle" climbed the rhythm and blues charts, was a million-plus seller, and remains one of her classics. For almost 20 years running she garnered the pretigious W.C. Handy Award. A legend in her own right, she has been compared to blues greats Bessie Smith and Big Mama Thornton. In the late 1980s Taylor overcame health challenges and adversity to maintain her reputation as a performer and recording artist of passionate, soulful blues. Essential listening: "I'm A Woman," "Wang Dang Doodle," "What Kind of Man is This," "I Got What it Takes" Sonny Terry Born: October 24, 1911, Greensboro, North Carolina Died: March 12, 1986, New York, New York Sonny Terry was a legendary harmonica player who hugely influenced both blues and folk music. Terry began his career playing on the streets of Raleigh Durham, North Carolina, where he met local blues guitarist and vocalist Blind Boy Fuller. The two began performing and recording as a duo. After Fuller's death Terry teamed up with guitarist Brownie McGhee, who had been heavily influenced by Fuller. The musical partnership of Terry and McGhee would last three decades. The two became an important part of New York's folk scene, playing with legends Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, and Lead Belly. They were a versatile and enormously popular duo who always maintained their signature style, Piedmont blues, which was specific to the southeast United States. As a team they recorded prolifically and kept a busy touring schedule. The partnership ended in the mid-seventies and Terry continued to record and perform on his own. He published a book, The Harp Styles of Sonny Terry, in 1975. Essential listening: "Mountain Blues," "One Monkey Don't Stop the Show," "Sonny's Whoopin' the Doop," "I Think I Got the Blues" Sister Rosetta Tharpe Born: March 20, 1921, Cotton Plant, Arkansas Died: October 9, 1973, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Sister Rosetta Tharpe mastered the guitar by the age of 6, and grew up singing gospel with her mother. Tharpe was a riveting performer with a flair for showmanship and a definite blues influence in her phrasing and musicianship. She signed a recording contract with Decca while still a teenager and her recordings were huge hits. Tharpe's talent and appeal were so outrageous and contagious that it was inevitable her talents would one day extend beyond the gospel community. Her later career embodied the early, ongoing battle between sacred music and a more secular sound — a struggle that many black artists from the gospel tradition have had to face. Eventually Tharpe caused great controversy in the gospel community and lost much of her loyal audience when she recorded pure blues in the early 1950s (along with gospel artist Madame Marie Knight). It took about a decade before Tharpe made her way back to acceptance from the gospel community. She continued to tour until her death in 1973. Essential listening: "Rock Me," "This Train," "Down by the Riverside," "Didn't it Rain," "Up Above My Head" Big Mama Thornton Born: December 11, 1926, Montgomery, Alabama Died: July 25, 1984, Los Angeles, California Also known as: Willie Mae Thornton Big Mama Thornton was a great blues vocalist in the tradition of Bessie Smith, Memphis Minnie and Ma Rainey, and was also a drummer and harmonica player. She had considerable success with her 1953 recording of "Hound Dog," which reached number 1 on the R&B charts and stayed there for seven weeks. (Three years later the song was immortalized by Elvis Presley.) Thornton began her professional singing career at the age of 14, touring the South with the Hot Harlem Revue. She later moved to Houston, Texas where she did some recording and worked with Johnny Otis and Junior Parker, among others. In the early sixties she settled in San Francisco, playing in local blues clubs as well as touring with blues festivals. Thornton continued to perform until her death in 1984. Among her recordings is "Ball 'n Chain," recorded in 1965, which Janis Joplin covered three years later. Essential listening: "Hound Dog," "Ball and Chain," "Just Like a Dog," "I Smell a Rat," "Stop Hoppin' on Me" Ali Farka Toure Born: 1939, Gourmararusse, Mali Ali Farka Toure is a multi-lingual West African vocalist, guitarist, drummer, and songwriter who, as music historian Richie Unterberger observed, has been "described as 'the African John Lee Hooker' so many times that it probably began to grate on both Toure's and Hooker's nerves."* The comparison is due to Toure's mesmerizing, stripped-down sound that features innovative rhythm and haunting, low vocals. His exceptional music is often described as uniting the sounds of the Mississippi Delta with those of West Africa, and he clearly adds more global influences, musically and instrumentally, to the mix. Toure has had an enormous influence on world music, and has worked with Ry Cooder, Taj Mahal and the Chieftains, among others. Essential listening: "Ali's Here," "Saukare," "Bonde," "Amandrai," "Soukora" * www.allmusic.com Born: May 18, 1911, Kansas City, Missouri Died: November 24, 1985, Inglewood, California Big Joe Turner was an accomplished and uncommonly versatile vocalist. His career spanned half a century, during which he transitioned effortlessly from blues to R&B to rock and roll. Turner earned the nickname "Boss of the Blues" because of his powerhouse vocals and formidable stage presence. A Kansas City native, Turner started out playing in local nightclubs, mostly with pianist Pete Johnson, and sometimes with big bands, including that of Count Basie. Turner and Johnson became one of many acts noticed by legendary talent scout John Hammond. At Hammond's suggestion they moved to New York and were part of his "Spirituals to Swing" concert in 1938. The duo snared a regular gig at New York's Caf� Society, a prestigious jazz club, and their enormous popularity was partially responsible for the rise of "boogie woogie" music during the late thirties and early forties. Turner began to record and tour in the early forties, working with Duke Ellington, Art Tatum, and others. A decade later Turner transitioned to R&B, releasing years of solid hits between 1951 and 1956, and in the process becoming known as one of the founding fathers of rock and roll. Turner continued to perform and record until his death in 1985. Essential listening: "Roll 'Em Pete," "Honey Hush," "Shake, Rattle, and Roll," "Corinna Corrina," "Chains of Love" Ike Turner Born: November 5, 1931, Clarksdale, Mississippi Also known as: Izear Luster Turner, Jr. Ike Turner has been an integral part of the history of blues, rock and R&B. As a pianist and guitarist he backed visiting bluesmen and performed with his own band, the Kings of Rhythm, while still in high school. He worked as a talent scout in Memphis and throughout the south, and as such he accelerated the careers of Howlin' Wolf, Little Milton and others; as a session musician he often backed up the talent he discovered. Turner's band recorded the song "Rocket 88" in 1951 (recorded under the name Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats), which hit number 1 on the R&B charts and is often called the "first rock and roll song." The band became very popular in St. Louis, and in the late fifties Turner added vocalist Annie Mae Bullock to the mix (who later changed her name to Tina Turner and married Ike). The band became the Ike & Tina Turner Review, and made R&B and rock history, charting singles, packing black nightclubs and touring with the Rolling Stones. Tina left the band and the marriage in 1974; subsequently Ike experienced some hard times, and his career faded. He later made a comeback, and continues to record and perform. Essential listening: "Rocket 88," "Shake a Tail Feather," "Proud Mary," "Steel Guitar Rag," "I'm Lonesome Baby," "Tore Up," "Ike's Theme," "Catfish Blues" Otha Turner Born: June 2, 1907, Jackson, Mississippi Died: February 26, 2003 Blues fife and drum musician Otha Turner grew up near the Mississippi Delta. Fife and drum music is a traditional genre that has its roots in the northern Mississippi hill country and is based on African-American work songs and spirituals. The fife is an instrument similar to the flute, often made out of bamboo. Turner worked as a farmer in Como, Mississippi, where he also led the Rising Star Fife and Drum band for sixty years. The band eventually made it to Chicago, where for years they opened the city's legendary Blues Festival. While in his nineties, Turner preserved his historically significant music with the recordings Everybody's Hollerin' Goat and Senegal to Senatobia. Essential listening: "Shimmy She Wobble," "Granny Do Your Dog Bite," "Shake 'Em," "Boogie," "My Babe," "Senegal to Senatobia," "Sunu" Stevie Ray Vaughan Born: October 3, 1954, Dallas, Texas Died: August 27, 1990, East Troy, Wisconsin Stevie Ray Vaughan almost single-handedly created a blues revival during the 1980s — for blues fans it was a refreshing, electrifying change from the predominant sound of that decade. He was assisted in this feat by contemporaries Albert Collins and Robert Cray. Vaughan was a stunning guitarist who mesmerized crowds and listeners with a signature sound and breathtaking skill, combining the influences of both Texas and Chicago blues. His guitar gymnastics echoed those of Jimi Hendrix, and that combined with his soulful, original style made his music irresistible to rock fans as well as blues aficionados. The Texas native dropped out of high school and made his way to Austin to play music; he formed a band that soon became well-known in the city. Eventually he and his band were signed to Epic and their first release, Texas Flood, made blues history. He had taken his rightful place alongside other blues legends when his life and career were cut short by tragedy. Vaughan died in a helicopter crash after a performance with Buddy Guy and Eric Clapton. Essential listening: "Pride and Joy," "The Sky is Crying," "Texas Flood," "Couldn't Stand the Weather," "Little Wing" Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson Born: December 18, 1917, Houston, Texas Died: July 2, 1988, Los Angeles, California Eddie Vinson was an R&B saxophone player, bandleader, songwriter, and vocalist with a signature voice whose long and prolific career also encompassed jazz and blues. Vinson got his nickname, "Cleanhead," after an episode with a lye-based hair straightener left him bald. He was raised in a musical family and played saxophone in high school. Vinson's career from the mid-thirties through the mid-forties included stints in legendary bands, including Chester Boone's band in Houston, which at the time included genius blues guitarist T-Bone Walker; Milt Larkin's band, which boasted a superb saxophone section; and, after Vinson relocated to New York in 1941, the Cootie Williams Orchestra. Williams's recordings of "Somebody's Got to Go," and "Cherry Red", on which Vinson also appeared as a vocalist, were huge hits. In 1945 Vinson formed his own band, which reportedly for a time included John Coltrane. Vinson played at the Monterey Jazz Festival in 1970. For the next two decades he toured and recorded in the U.S. and Europe, where he was particularly popular. Essential listening: "Kidney Stew," "Cherry Red," "Somebody's Got to Go," "Cleanhead Blues," "Old Maid Boogie" T-Bone Walker Born: May 28, 1910, Linden, Texas Died: March 16, 1975, Los Angeles, California Also known as: Aaron Thibeaux Walker Some music critics maintain that no one has ever matched T-Bone Walker's genius as an electric blues guitarist. His extraordinary talent influenced blues and rock greats, including Chuck Berry, Jimi Hendrix, B.B. King, Otis Rush and Stevie Ray Vaughan, among others. Walker was born into a musical family, and Texas blues legend Blind Lemon Jefferson was a family friend. As a boy Walker reportedly acted as escort to Jefferson when the blind musician played on the streets of Dallas, and was definitely influenced by Jefferson musically. Walker began his career in Texas and later moved to Los Angeles. Walker's absolute authority with the instrument translated into precise, incendiary musicianship complemented by a confident, masterful stage presence. His ability as a vocalist was every bit as impressive, and he is the author of many blues classics, including "Stormy Monday," which has been covered endlessly and would probably appear in any top 10 list of the best blues ever written. Essential listening: "Stormy Monday," "Strollin' With Bones," "T-Bone Shuffle," "T-Bone Blues," "I Walked Away," "Cold Cold Feeling" Bukka White Born: November 12, 1909, Houston, Mississippi* Died: February 26, 1977, Memphis Tennessee Also known as: Booker T. Washington White Bukka White moved to the Mississippi Delta as an adolescent and was influenced by Charley Patton — as a result he played a particularly pure form of Delta blues. White's devotion to the music was considerable; after a run-in with the law in Mississippi in 1937, he jumped bail in order to record in Chicago. He was apprehended and incarcerated at Mississippi's Parchman Farm, where he was popular as an entertainer, and where his gift for songwriting wasn't hampered — like many of his originals, the song "Parchman Farm Blues" became a classic. White's real taste of fame came after Bob Dylan recorded White's original song "Fixin' to Die Blues" in the early 1960s. Curious about the song's original author, two young blues players found White by sending a general delivery letter to Aberdeen, Mississippi (tipped off by his blues song of the same title). These leaps in visibility led to White's fame in later life, as both a performer and a storyteller, as he embodied both the Delta blues and its rich history. Essential Listening: "Shake 'Em on Down," " The Panama Limited ," "Aberdeen Mississippi Blues," "Fixin' to Die Blues," "Parchman Farm Blues" Cassandra Wilson Born: December 4, 1955, Jackson, Mississippi Cassandra Wilson is primarily known as an accomplished jazz singer, although her stunning full, low voice and skill as a songwriter have encompassed other genres, and she has been heavily influenced by the musical traditions of the south, including the Delta blues. She cites the complexity of Robert Johnson's songwriting, guitar work and vocal delivery as one of her primary influences. Wilson is a prolific recording artist, and has followed up her 1985 debut with almost one album each year, and sometimes two. Her body of work includes acoustic blues, folk, jazz, and funk. Wilson's 1999 release, Traveling Miles, was a tribute to Miles Davis. She has toured with Wynton Marsalis. Her critically-acclaimed recent release, Belly of the Sun, was recorded in Mississippi with both her own band and local musicians and combines funk, pop and rock with a tribute to pure Delta blues. Essential listening: "You Move Me," "Round Midnight," "Darkness on the Delta," "You Gotta Move," "Hot Tamales" Sonny Boy Williamson Born: March 30, 1914, Jackson, Tennessee Died: June 1, 1948, Chicago, Illinois Also known as: John Lee Williamson Sonny Boy Williamson's innovative skill with the harmonica brought it to center stage as a lead instrument in Chicago blues. He also popularized the "call and response" performance technique with the instrument, delivering a vocal line, answering with his characteristically sharp harp riffs followed by another vocal delivery. Williamson acquired his nickname because of the young age at which he began performing; during those early years he traveled the South, sometimes in the company of his biggest influence, Sleepy John Estes, as well as Robert Nighthawk and others. In the late 1930s he moved to Chicago where he worked as a session player and became an influential and successful mainstay of the city's blues scene as a performer and recording artist. He is credited with composing many original songs that became blues standards, especially for the harmonica, and he influenced a long line of superb harmonica players, including Junior Wells, Little Walter and Rice Miller, who was also known as Sonny Boy Williamson II. Essential listening: "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl," "Early in the Morning," "Whiskey Headed Woman Blues," "Shake that Boogie" Jimmy Witherspoon Born: August 8, 1923, Gurdon, Arkansas Died: September 18, 1997, Los Angeles, California Jimmy Witherspoon was both a blues and jazz singer during the mid-forties, and hugely influential in his ability to merge the two genres with his deep, full vocals. He was originally influenced by Big Joe Turner, to whom he is often compared. Witherspoon realized he had talent after sitting in with brilliant jazz pianist Teddy Weatherford's big band while stationed overseas. Pianist and bandleader Jay McShann hired Witherspoon to take the place of lead vocalist Walter Brown in his band; during this stint Witherspoon developed his own vocal style. He began recording on his own in 1949, and had a big hit with his version of Bessie Smith's hit "Ain't Nobody's Business." The song not only reached number 1 on the R&B charts, but its stay on the charts was record-breaking. Witherspoon followed that up with a number 5 hit the same year, "In the Evening When the Sun Goes Down." As rock and roll's popularity increased, Witherspoon's career took a downturn, and he focused more on jazz, always infusing it with a blues sensibility. He continued to perform until the end of his life, although he never repeated his early success. Essential listening: "Ain't Nobody's Business," "In the Evening When the Sun Goes Down," "Big Fine Girl," "No Rollin' Blues" Peetie Wheatstraw Born: December 21, 1902, Ripley, Tennessee Died: December 21, 1941, East St. Louis, Illinois Also known as: William Bunch Peetie Wheatstraw began performing in 1929, the year of the Great Depression, and enjoyed enormous popularity in spite of the devastating economic conditions and lulls in the careers of other artists. He was a talented songwriter and commonly addressed rather dark themes — the supernatural, death, sex and addiction — yet his music was uplifting due to his witty lyrics and the wide range and expressive, buoyant quality of his vocal delivery. His juxtaposition of dark themes with a message to appreciate life is perhaps partly why his music was so surprisingly successful during such trying times. Wheatstraw was primarily a piano player and worked with excellent guitarists, including Kokomo Arnold and Lonnie Johnson; he and Johnson were a recording and performing team for 10 years. He reportedly took his name from an "evil twin" character from black folk tales, and during his career he was also nicknamed "The Devil's Son-in Law" and the "High Sheriff of Hell." Wheatstraw died while celebrating his 39th birthday when, reportedly, he and his buddies tried, and failed, to beat a speeding train. Essential listening: "Suicide Blues," "You Can't Stop Me From Drinking," "The Devil's Son-in-Law" "Peetie Wheatstraw Stomp"  

i don't know

Who is taller, Holly Hunter or Madonna?

Celebrity Speech Impediments, Accents, Dialects, etc. Follow DL on Celebrity Speech Impediments, Accents, Dialects, etc. Liza's "sh" - when did it start? Why has it worsened? Carol's "sh" sibilant lateral lisp - is it just exaggerated, or does she do it in private too? Holly Hunter - uses the same regionalism for every role, regardless of where the play/tv show/movie is set. Hepburn uses her New England dialect in DRAGON SEED when she's supposed to be a Chinese! Discuss the celebrity speech impediments that you find endearing or irritating in the extreme by Anonymous reply 174 07/27/2016 Holly Hunter owns this thread. There's a reason her only accolades have come from a movie in which she didn't say a word. It's not the ridiculous accent as much as it sounds like she constantly has marbles and snuff in her mouth. by Anonymous Drew Barrymore's baby-doll lisp is totally distracting. by Anonymous Oliver Hudson has a lisp he cannot conceal. by Anonymous reply 11 05/30/2010 Adam Scott-- who grew up in Santa Cruz, CA-- has a bit of the universal rich kid stoner's drawl. The soft o's, etc. I love it. by Anonymous reply 13 05/30/2010 Whitney's. Her speech is so slurred. I don't know what it's about. Her tongue is weird, too, when she sings. by Anonymous reply 14 05/30/2010 Peter Sarsgaard has something going on with his speech, but I can't quite put my finger on it. It's a general ooziness. So sleazy, of course I love it. by Anonymous reply 18 05/30/2010 Bernadette Peters's Queens accent -- I can't believe she hasn't been asked to blend when singing. In the cast recording for "Gypsy," the actors playing Louise and Herbie sing "togetherrrrr" and Bernadette sings "togetha." Sticks out in a big way. by Anonymous reply 22 05/30/2010 I thought part of acting school was to take speech and enunciation classes and learn how to hide or fake an accent. by Anonymous most don't go to acting school by Anonymous reply 24 05/30/2010 Annie Lennox rules with her soft Scottish burr. I don't hear it in her songs, though, even live ones. by Anonymous reply 25 05/30/2010 Holly Hunter is hearing impaired and has that southern accent. It is amazing that she can speak as well as she does. Carol Kane is another one who is hearing impaired as well. I cannot snark on either one of those two at all. Drew Barrymore is horrible. I think she was told to keep the lisp as a child (for a cuteness factor) and just could never get rid of it. Some child stars are told such things. Barbara Walters spent part of her girlhood in Boston. I think that made her speech issue worse or something. There is an interview she did somewhere on the net where her Boston accent shone through like the dickens, but she also had that total inability to pronounce her "R's" as well. It is really weird and I wish I could remember where I saw it, but I cannot. Troy Garity has a horrible way of speaking. He is Jane Fonda's son and I have no idea what is wrong with him, but he can barely speak clearly at all and he oftentimes speaks really slowly like a stroke victim or something. I think he owns this thread. The best person who kept their accent is Paula Prentiss. She almost always used her own Texas accent in films and all and just did not let it stop her because she had a masterful command of her voice. by Anonymous Russell Simmons owns this thread. by Anonymous reply 27 05/30/2010 [quoteIt's so funny to hear that bit of Australia come out of his mouth, when he's supposed to be in ancient Troy or outer space. Because we all know that people in ancient Troy spoke with a British accent. by Anonymous 05/30/2010 Keep on rolling them, idiot at R28. The point is that the cast were also supposed to speak with a uniformity of accents - the British accent was the one chosen. by Anonymous reply 29 05/30/2010 I think R8 is right about Australian actors. My friend is an actor from Australia and she says the same thing. Their film industry is tiny and everyone knows they have to master American accent if they want to have a chance at international career. by Anonymous 05/30/2010 ADAM ARKIN! Seriously, couldn't his father afford a speech therapist? It makes me nuts! Jesse Jackson owns this thread! I don't understand a word he says--is it a southern accent or speech impediment? by Anonymous 05/30/2010 R31 Here is a clip of Troy Garity speaking. And yes, I do think he is "special" in some way. His way of speaking in "A Soldier's Girl" is how he really speaks. Really. Jane Fonda totally favors him for sure. by Anonymous 05/30/2010 R33's clip is hilarious. I didn't realize Troy Garity spoke like he was recovering from a massive head injury and the fact that he plays the communications officer in his sci-fi movie is unintentionally hysterical. It's like he's channeling William Shatner attending the Keanu Reeves School of Thespian Arts. by Anonymous reply 34 05/30/2010 Jay Leno's voice makes me want to hit him in the face with a shovel. Or maybe it's just because I hate him so much. by Anonymous reply 35 05/30/2010 For the poster commenting on Bernadette Peters' accent....singing a hard "R" at the end of words is a hallmark of untrained singers. by Anonymous reply 36 05/30/2010 Holly Hunter speaks out of the side of her mouth due to hearing loss she suffered as a child. She is deaf in one ear. I thought Gerard Butler's garbled speech was a Scottish thing, because Sean Connery has similar issues. However, as a child Butler had surgery that impaired his hearing. by Anonymous reply 38 05/30/2010 What I have, dahling, is not an impediment, much less an affectation, nor can it accurately be considered an accent. It's more of a life style, dahling, really. by Anonymous R41, many gays find it difficult to eliminate a lisp. by Anonymous reply 42 05/30/2010 "Holly Hunter speaks out of the side of her mouth due to hearing loss she suffered as a child. She is deaf in one ear." I thought I read it was from a firearm that went off too close to her ear on a movie set. by Anonymous reply 44 05/30/2010 "Judge Judy"'s authority is undermined by her coarse Brooklyn accent. It will always make her sound less educated. by Anonymous reply 45 05/30/2010 Anderson Cooper pronounces double t's like d's. He'll say "buddon" instead of "button" and "Manhaddan" instead of "Manhattan", "thredden" instead of "threaten". It's oddly cute. He also has a habit of saying "ro-butt" instead of "robot". by Anonymous reply 56 05/31/2010 Alicia Silverstone speaks out of the side of her mouth too--it is such an odd affectation. Doesn't Ally Sheedy do it too? I watched "St. Elmo's Fire" the other night and she has some weird mouth movement going on... by Anonymous reply 57 05/31/2010 Maybe someone already mentioned something similar, but I hate how John McCain says WAR-shington instead of WASH-ington. by Anonymous reply 58 05/31/2010 Gywneth Paltrow's lisp. She gets accolades from critics for her British accent but it's an accent marred by the ever present lisp. by Anonymous reply 59 05/31/2010 Charlize Theron's tongue roll, her voice comes off like she has a bucket of saliva in her mouth. by Anonymous reply 64 12/09/2010 "Drew Barrymore's baby-doll lisp shines through in every role, but I find it endearing."%0D %0D %0D %0D %0D Speaking of baby doll lisps....Katie Holmes. Surprised no one mentioned her. Her baby voice irritates me to no end.%0D %0D by Anonymous reply 65 12/09/2010 Liza doesn't have dentures. If you compare pics from her younger Cabaret days and now, it's the same teeth. Her more recent speech impediment is a result of the encephelitis she was stricken with a decade ago. by Anonymous 12/09/2010 I love you, r47. It's like we grew up in the same household. Getting back to our list, the best friend (Crista Miller) from "Cougartown" has something going on with her lips that gives her an obnoxious lisp. She's one of the reasons I stopped watching the show. by Anonymous reply 67 12/09/2010 Barbara Walters has an accent typical of the Jewish community in inner-city Boston. I work with an older man about a decade younger than Barbara who grew up a block away from her, and he speaks the same way. by Anonymous reply 70 12/09/2010 [quote]John McCain says WAR-shington instead of WASH-ington%0D %0D My mom says "warsh" for "wash" too but she's from Michigan. I don't know what McCain's excuse is. by Anonymous 12/09/2010 Clay Aiken. What is up with his phrasing when he sings? [quote]Holly Hunter speaks out of the side of her mouth due to hearing loss she suffered as a child. She is deaf in one ear. I'm not knocking her and whatever problem she may have, but Stephen Colbert lost hearing in one ear when he was a kid and he speaks beautifully. by Anonymous reply 72 12/09/2010 Chris Matthews should not be on television or radio with that disgusting speech. A few months ago he criticized someone for having a "NJ accent." %0D %0D He should listen to himself before he dare criticize anyone.%0D %0D by Anonymous Chris Wragge is the ultimate mush mouth! by Anonymous reply 79 12/09/2010 I think Troy Garrity's accent is adorable. And it doesn't hurt that he's about the cutest thing around. And the person who said Holly Hunter speaks out of the side of her mouth because of hearing loss in one ear is a complete moron. People who do that do it because of facial muscle anomalies. by Anonymous reply 80 12/09/2010 John Travolta's been fighting his way past ill-fitting dentures for several years now. He always sounds like Liza Minnelli. %0D %0D I wonder if the Drew Barrymore lisp comes from being a drunk during her formative years. Whenever she speaks I see a little girl in a party dress at Studio 54 demanding her next line of coke. by Anonymous You can't discuss "baby voice" without mentioning Melanie Griffith. Sounds like she's 5 instead of 55. by Anonymous reply 85 12/09/2010 David Zayas, the guy who plays Angel Batista on Dexter has an Elmer Fudd-like speech impediment. It's always there a little, but on the last episode in particular it was very pronounced. by Anonymous reply 86 12/09/2010 Judging by the thoughts Troy Garrity is expressing in that video, he is not dumb or special, I think he has emotional/mental issues. by Anonymous reply 87 12/09/2010 [quote]Getting back to our list, the best friend (Crista Miller) from "Cougartown" has something going on with her lips that gives her an obnoxious lisp. More plastic surgery than Cher, and started way younger. God knows why, too; she was so adorable on "Drew Carey" that I had a huge crush on her. Now she's a mannequin with Michael-Jackson syndrome. Not a good change. Mine: Hal Sparks as Michael in "Queer as Folk" -- the character was born and bred in PA, but the actor's from Kentucky. In a stand-up routine, Sparks talks about "taking his accent into an alley and shooting it" so it wouldn't keep him from getting laid, but the one word that survived the assault was 'everybody'. He says 'ever-body' in almost every episode of QAF. A friend pointed it out early on, and after that I couldn't ignore it. by Anonymous [quote]Jay Leno's voice makes me want to hit him in the face with a shovel. Somebody already beat you to it, R34. ITA with R51. reply 95 12/13/2010 "Hepburn uses her New England dialect in DRAGON SEED when she's supposed to be a Chinese!"%0D %0D Just to be clear, are you suggesting that she should have a Chinese accent? A standard American accent? What? by Anonymous reply 96 12/13/2010 What is that jesse jackson accent? No one else speaks that way. Even his son doesn't speak with that accent. by Anonymous reply 97 12/13/2010 Troy Garity sounds fine to me. Those bags under his eyes...they are really distracting. Elizabeth Perkins' lisp always bugs the hell out of me. I haven't seen her lately, maybe she's retired? by Anonymous Do film and TV actors even get vocal training anymore? I hear so much bad, mumbled, horrible-sounding speech onscreen these days I can't stand it. by Anonymous reply 105 04/09/2012 [quote]Holly Hunter - uses the same regionalism for every role, regardless of where the play/tv show/movie is set. I guess you missed the note-perfect Scottish burr she used for her voiceovers at the beginning and the end of The Piano. by Anonymous reply 106 04/09/2012 R7--I guess Holly's Best Actress Oscar nomination for Broadcast News, isn't much of an accolade. I love her accent and find it endearing. She does speak in The Piano and sounds nothing like a hillbilly. Her accent was good enough for Jodie Foster to steal for Silence of the Lambs and win an Oscar. by Anonymous reply 107 04/09/2012 Maggie Gyllenhaal lisps. I was surprised when I saw her on some late night talk show a while ago, but she definitely has one. by Anonymous reply 108 04/09/2012 Madonna's speaking dialect of choice is a truly funny mishmash of "white American woman putting on a vaguely brit/euro/posh accent." But then one out of her every dozen vowel sounds misses its mark, and you hear a fleeting glimpse of the Ciccone clan from Pontiac MI. by Anonymous reply 109 04/09/2012 R101 You just know the Paula Prentiss Troll will come after you for that! Uh huh. Sarah Paulson annoys me just like in general. But, what she is doing lately really gets on my nerves. She forces her voice down into a low register but then when he lisp acts up her natural register goes right along with it. It is the weirdest thing. In "Game Change" she would speak in her fake lower register but then when her lisp would act up she would speak in a breathy voice. Annoying! Own your lisp, Sarah. Just own it. You're almost 40 years of age, there is nothing more that can be done with it so just own it, deary. by Anonymous Joan Rivers is from Larchmont. Her accent is not Brooklyn at all. by Anonymous reply 133 04/10/2012 This is very offensive. Don't stop someone because they may have a slight speech impediment.I have heard BEAUTIFUL singers and TALENTED actors/actresses with lisps. I don't understand what the problem is.And why would you care?It usually has to do with the mouth's formation.Or the way you grew.Its not their fault! by Anonymous reply 134 04/17/2012 R133 - Joan Rivers was born and raised in Brooklyn and later moved to Larchmont. Her accent is decidedly Brooklyn, which she acknowledges and is proud of as it is her trademark. by Anonymous [quote]I don't understand what the problem is. And why would you care? I care because it's unpleasant to listen to someone with a speech impediment! And I'm pretty sure that virtually every single type of speech impediment could be rectified if the person sought professional help. by Anonymous reply 137 04/18/2012 Sometimes it seems that Len Goodman of Dancing With the Stars has a slight speech impediment, but I could just be imagining things. by Anonymous reply 138 04/18/2012 [quote]Sometimes it seems that Len Goodman of Dancing With the Stars has a slight speech impediment, but I could just be imagining things. No, I've heard it, too. But I think he's either nearly overcome it, or else he's learned how to hide it; either way, it's so fleeting it seems imaginary. by Anonymous [R142] But still hot as fuck. by Anonymous reply 143 09/17/2012 [R143] when I go home to Texas, Matthew does the voice overs for Reliant Energy company. The voice always catches my attention and I just melt. by Anonymous reply 144 09/17/2012 Didn't women used to be taught that it wasn't lady-like to pronounce a hard "R," which is why a lot of older women (like Baba Wawa) round it off? by Anonymous reply 145 09/17/2012 Janine Turner could not drop the drawl. On NE Maggie was supposed to be from Michigan, but Janine could not be convincing as a Midwesterner. by Anonymous 09/17/2012 I love Jean Arthur's coy-frog voice. Evidently so did Paula Poundstone. I hate the way Anton Yelchin and Adam Brody talk. There's the hint of lisp plus the Owen Wilson soft-consonant bit. I cannot listen to Jimmy Stewart and Audrey Hepburn. His legendary voice is a distraction, and she was an early waif with a mincing voice. Humprey Bogart is the only person whose lisp is a turn on. by Anonymous [quote]Janine could not be convincing as a Midwesterner. She can't be convincing as a human, either. by Anonymous reply 148 09/17/2012 [quote]Do film and TV actors even get vocal training anymore? I hear so much bad, mumbled, horrible-sounding speech onscreen these days I can't stand it. It's the same here in England. I was watching a TV drama this evening and the lead (cast cos he's pretty & a model, but now wants to act and is quite god, I suppose) mumbled and muttered and slurred his words. I could only work out about 1/3 of what he said in the whole film. I went to acting school in England in the early 80s and they were teaching you how to talk and project before you'd finished walking into the room and I have NO objection to that. by Anonymous reply 149 09/17/2012 In recent years there have been more and more actors from the UK who have skipped drama school and formal training, once de rigueur, and it shows. by Anonymous A couple of the afore-mentioned celebrities have cleft lips/palates: -Tom Brokaw -Jesse Jackson reply 152 09/18/2012 Barbara Walters does not have a lisp, but she famously has trouble with her "r"s. It's not a speech impediment but an accent common to a small group of Jews who live in Boston--I know because I work with a man who is in Barbara's age group who grew up two blocks away from her in Buoston, and he speaks the exact same way. You should hear him give directions to his house--he lives on a street called "Rural Road"! by Anonymous reply 153 09/18/2012 Sarah Paulson's voice irritates me to no end. Not looking forward to her lisping through another season of American Horror Story. It takes me right out of the show--I can't focus on anything else. by Anonymous I was just about to mention Wentworth Miller's sibilant s. by Anonymous reply 163 04/20/2014 Adam scott 's drawl is the same as the bald dude from Hotel Impossible who also has a hair of Babwa Wawltas/Elmer Fudd going on. I want to know what this specific impediment/accent is called. by Anonymous reply 166 05/15/2014 Has Anyone noticed Britney's way of projecting the tongue against the upper lip to pronounce the /l/ sound. I always wondered if it was a marketing gimmick (probably the whorish part of overtly sexualized school girl) or if she really does it that way in real life which sounds totally retarded. See how she is pronuncing "My /l/oneliness is ki/l/ing me no more". She also does it with the /ð/ sound as in "than" below. by Anonymous reply 167 05/15/2014 Also, as much as I love her, Adele always puts the emPHAsis on the wrong sylLABle and doesn't enunciate clearly. Someone Like You would be even more fantastic if she didn't mush all the words together. Neva min I'll fin Some un Li Keyew.... by Anonymous

Madonna

What is Ryan O'Neal's real first name?

Madonna Height - How tall Add a Comment 150 comments Average Guess (8 Votes) 5ft 3.69in Melisentia said on 30/Nov/16 How can Madonna be 5'0??? Watch her and Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera at the MTV awards. Britney is about the same height as Madonna, maybe an inch taller, while Christina looks super short singing next to the two. Christina is 5'0 for sure. She is SHORT. Sandy Cowell said on 25/Nov/16 I read countless times in the 80's when she first burst onto the scene that she was 5ft4.5! Her music isn't something I'd pay to listen to, though I did pay to see her in the film 'Desperately Seeking Susan' and I quite enjoyed it, which is more than can be said for that dreadful documentary 'In Bed With Madonna' which should have been renamed 'In Earshot of Madonna', because there was so much swearing in it that it ceased being funny! She didn't come over as small in the first film; she was noticeably taller than Rosanna Arquette, and chunkier, although they were supposed to be playing girls of the same size! (5ft4/110lbs - I still remember!) I see she has lost an inch at the age of 58, which is often the way when women keep their food intake to a minimum. She does work at looking good, and it shows, there's no denying her that! MJKoP said on 15/Oct/16 "Everything about me is average" I literally lol'd. Heightgirl said on 14/Jul/16 Ariana Grande was wearing heels with 1" platforms and looked about the same height as Madonna but Grande is said to be max 5f1 so with that I think Madonna is actually 5f2 max. She was listed at that in the 80s but not sure why the bump in her height? Most celebs always seem to add an inch or two or three to their real height. lol Jerome said on 25/Jan/16 She's shorter than Ariana grande when she joined her on stage...... 5'5 said on 22/Dec/15 Casting call for her body double in the 90's was for a 5'4" 120 lbs C cup any color haired caucasian woman 20-30. Myke said on 2/Dec/15 I'm 5'3' ,, she prolly about my height then. Doesn't matter I guess it's what inside that counts the most. ❤️ Rojina said on 19/Nov/15 @T.N.T you must be MAD! Have you seen Madonna side by side against 6 FT Geena Davis in A League Of Their Own? In running plimsoles (which are no more than an inch in length) she came up above Davis' shoulder-so she MUST be over 5 ft 3! Her arms, legs & torso are too long for her to be 5 feet considering how athletically muscly she is! mande2013 said on 19/Aug/15 @A6'1Guy One thing I find baffling but also amusing is that females more often have a tendency to underguess than to overguess a man's height. My mother has a tendency to think most men are 2-3 cms shorter than they are. A6'1Guy said on 11/Jun/15 @T.N.T I believe it was proven or said to be so that the general female has a hard time estimating and comparing size, now there could be many factors that could play into it though. T.N.T. said on 3/Jun/15 Another bogus height estimation, unless of-course super-platform heels are taken into account. No way was Madonna ever above the 5 foot range. 4 foot 11 women claiming that they're 5 foot 4; 5 foot 4 women claiming that they're 5 foot 8; and 5 foot 8 women claiming that they're over 6 feet.. It appears that the only men and women who are honest about their heights are the true barefoot 6-footers. Just put all these myth-lovers next to the true amazons-Gwendoline Christie, Elizabeth Debicki, and Karlie Kloss-and their myth will surely be busted. Oh yes, the other one that Gaga is 5 foot 1 is also for laughs.. (5 foot 1 with her hands up in the air, yes, that is feasible). Rhonda said on 16/Mar/15 158cm on Johanthan Ross. Looks about 5ft2 with four inches heels on to make her still look small next Ross. James Edward Crowley said on 14/Mar/15 She is 5ft 3.5in which is pretty much average height for a woman she is never looked taller than that even when she was younger she hasn't lost anything she is very fit for her age she was prettier than she was when she was younger. VegasBitch said on 9/Feb/15 I stood next to her: I am 5'3" and she was shorter than me, which doesn't happen very often. Ian C said on 16/Nov/14 And she has an I.Q. of 140, which is higher than the mean for the Nobel winners in Economics. If she uses the same special, personalized scale for measuring her height that she uses for measuring her intelligence she can easily claim to be six foot three. MJB said on 28/Oct/14 Madonna is actually 5'4 and 1/2 tall but on her bio it says she's 5'5". on tour she's 110 lbs and when not on tour she's around roughly 120 lbs. But she does workout a lot too to get herself fit before going on tour. so this should answer all of you guys question. ThePlankton5165 said on 22/Jul/14 Madonna has to be 5'5". Phoebe said on 13/Jul/14 Madonna is 5ft6 1.71m weight: 65kg (133lbs) she is taller than avril lavigne who is 5ft45 1.63m tall Brad said on 14/Feb/14 That makes Madonna 5'. Excuse me while I laugh. Ellie said on 13/Feb/14 My sis who is about 5'5" said several years ago in Malibu she stood NEXT to Ms. Madonna, who came up to the middle of her nose. Actually my sister is closer to 5'4". Jo said on 22/Dec/13 Besides Katy Perry, actor Benjamin Bratt remarked on one of the things which surprised him when he met her was how Madonna was "quite petite" (at 5:36) Click Here Cliff said on 30/Nov/13 Katy Perry (5'7") mentioned she was surprised how small Madonna was when she met her the first time and how she towered over her: Click Here westhollygym said on 29/Nov/13 If she is even 5'4" it's a stretch. In the gym in flat shoes in 1984 she was about 5'2" tall when she was still a little puffy and not in shape. Getting thinner didn't make her taller it just gave her the illusion of height. She isn't average She is tiny. Fynlandia said on 15/Nov/13 Is 5'4 like 165 cm or 163 or what? :0 [Editor Rob: 163] marla singer said on 16/Sep/13 Rob, how tall is her daughter according to you? Will you ever add her? [Editor Rob: I doubt I'd ever add her, she looks similar range to her mum] marla singer said on 16/Sep/13 Rob, how tall is her daughter according to you? Will you ever add her? CatLover said on 11/Sep/13 One of my nieces sat next to her at a concert once. She reported that Madona seemed very small. Only about 5ft. wi$dom said on 9/Jul/13 not 161cm. Cliff said on 28/Dec/12 anonangel: I can most certainly assure you that Madonna is nowhere near 5'8 - accept maybe in platform wedges. She herself only claims five four and a half. anonangel said on 22/Dec/12 This is definiately not what I have heard about Madonna. I heard she is tall: 5'8. Is everyone sure about this? I mean, she looks pretty tall to me! Copnovelist195 said on 9/Nov/12 I held a door open to a lady in tweeds and her friend whilst entering a bar at the Berkeley Hotel in Knightsbridge around 2003/4 and was puzzled how she made her way past the rest of us to the front of the queue and was seated and served immediately by the bar staff. After, she handed over her tweed hat and jacket I could see why - it was none other than Madonna. She was in her mid 40s and looked about 28 with good skin. It's about the only time in my life when I have been truly star-struck. Taking into account her footwear, I would put her at 5ft4. CLC said on 13/Feb/12 Madonna's father & My great grandmother were cousins. I've seen Madonna in concert a few years ago & she looked about 5'3" not counting the huge heels she had on. She was probably 5'4 no more, back in the 80s. SIlent d said on 1/Feb/12 I heard she is short but not kylie minogue short. I remember on the graham norton show she was about his height in 5 inch heels. He's about 174cm. 161cm is about right. I think she is taller than lady gaga because gaga always wears platform heels. Jstar said on 18/Jan/12 Wow, I had no idea she was that short. I always assumed she was about 5'6". I saw her in concert, but I was so far away, I couldn't tell she was that short. Brad said on 28/Dec/11 5' 3" today, 5' 4" next to me in '82. avi said on 17/Dec/11 yeah Rob probably weak 5'3 Dave said on 28/Oct/11 hey Rob in this mug shot she dosn't look taller than 5'3 Click Here tog said on 7/Oct/11 she's even shorter than lourdes! Robert said on 3/Oct/11 I know someone in the music biz who's very close to Madonna. She's 5'2" and said Madonna is a little shorter than she is. It really doesn't matter but no way is Madonna anything close to 5'4". 5'1" is probably about right. John said on 22/Sep/11 Madonna is shorter than Lady Gaga who is 155cm!! Stiff said on 11/Sep/11 5'3 seems righ acording this next to Clint eastwood (sort of , anyway): Click Here Max said on 6/Sep/11 Madonna's daugther looks pretty tall standing on a beach in France; but the reality is she's petite Bon_ said on 18/Jul/11 let me guess, you're an Israeli and you are super tall? :D Ab said on 3/Jul/11 @Irene I don't want to be a Mr. Me Too, but for me 6 ft(bit more or less is good too) women is golden standard. Shame that there is quiet many wonderful women who has to downgrade their height. Sadaat said on 28/Jun/11 Irene! 6ft is not only perfect but "ideal' for me. Irene said on 2/Jun/11 @Jig Awat After being critisized all my life about my 6ft height as a woman, being called a giraffe, a giant , a tranny,a flamingo, a hungarian horse, I am so happy one person at last says 6ft is a perfect height for women! Thank you. rico5340 said on 8/Apr/11 At the Who`s that Girl concert at Anaheim Stadium in 1987 i was 2 ft away and estimated her height to be 5.2. Her head came my nose level as i stand 5.8, she is no more than 5.2-5.2 1/2 at best. Brad said on 7/Apr/11 Madonna has her beat in every photo with Perez. Madonna doesn't wear tread at awards, she's a strong 5' 3", bit more at age 23. AW's tale is laughable, she's nowhere near 5' 0" or 5' 1" or 2". Jig Awat said on 6/Apr/11 6'0" is the perfect height for women. Heightgirl said on 23/Mar/11 Here's a better picture of Madonna next to 5f1.5 Rosie Perez - both have boots on but Madonna's has more of a tread Click Here I really doubt Madonna is above 5f2 Heightgirl said on 23/Mar/11 I found this old shot of her next to 5f1.5 Rosie Perez and she didn't seem much taller. I heard that she was 5f2 for a while in the 80s and 90s but then all of a sudden she claims over 5f4 lol Funny! I say she's 5f2 or a bit under Click Here omer said on 23/Mar/11 She Is About 5'4 - 5'5 Here's A Pic Of Her And The King Michael Jackson Who was 5'11" 180 cm Remember the two inch rule people... As she claims 5'4.5" she's probably actually 5'3". I wonder how tall Lourdes is, she looks 2 or 3 inches bigger than her mum AW said on 1/Mar/11 In 1994, my sister and I spent nearly an hour in a very small shoe store in virginia highlands (atlanta) with madonna. At many times they stood side by side, butt to butt standing in front of a shoe mirror. i paid close attention to the different size heals and at one point they had on the same pair if different colors. my sister - i measured afterwards barefoot because I was shocked by Madonna's petiteness... my sister measured 5'4 3/8". Madonna was considerably shorter. she is either 5'0, 5'1 or 5'2"max! I would bet my life on it. The fact that this site lists her at 5.3.5 makes me question all other heights listed here. Abdul said on 10/Feb/11 A guy I did a training course with is a professional actor, and has done many minor roles. He said she was about 5'2, surprisingly short compared to how she looks on camera. Anonymous said on 21/Jan/11 5'4" is the perfect height for a woman, and madonnas weight/porportions are excellent. no need to be taller, it doesnt make u hotter. dwerb said on 2/Jan/11 whats with the insecuritys?who cares what height anyone is.people who emphasize so much on someones height is insecure and just trying to make someone else as inadequate to make themselves feel better period. Rolfe said on 17/Dec/10 5' 4" seems the most logical. Taller than 5' 3" of Sheryl Crow but not 5'5". 5'4.xxx something is average for both caucasian and negroid women. Madonna is definitely not 5'6". That would be Jessica Alba or somebody else. Madonna is simply not longed limbed enough to fall in that category of 5'6 to 5'7. Madonna of average height and no more or less might be close to accurate. 5'6" is definitely taller than the average woman black or white. Orientals range more in the 5'2 area. Madonna appears taller than most orientals but not as tall as Brigitte Bardot who is 5'6. Bardot is taller than Madonna and her limbs suggest it as well. 5' 4" for Madonna. No more or less. If I'm correct, I know that deserves a Cuban cigar. However! Last time I smoked I choked. Only send beer folks! infamous said on 4/Dec/10 Don't forget the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards. Madonna, Britney and Aguilera were wearing the similar high heels. Here are some pics. funny, I've always thought she was 5ft5-5ft5.5 Brad said on 2/Nov/10 She's rarely seen without customs, she hates being short. The wedge sneakers and gigantic boots onstage are for a reason. William1986 said on 1/Nov/10 I think she's almost 165 cm. I have met her, she weared shoes with not very high heels (7/8 cm) and she was taller than me (I'm 169 cm). Anon_V said on 21/Sep/07 Hmmm? Madonna is nearly 50, is it possible she has shrunk like the rest of us mere mortals? 5'3 is generous. Latisha 'B.B.M. (Big Boobs Momma) Jackson said on 4/Sep/07 Madonna, I remember, used to be about 5ft 5 when she was 'workin' the clubs in NYC. Howeva, she would dance so frantically to her songs--when the DJs played her stuff; that over the years, she shrunk a couple of inches due to severe "dancefloor burn", as well as a hidden addiction to foreign, frozen microwaveable snacks. The material girl is so adorable though, that even if she was a little poodle barking obnoxiously loud; all the die-hard fans would applaud among tears and hysterical screams of desperation to be within feet of her madge-esty. Afterall, her new line of clothing 'M' was sold out in stores the first day, because of the frenzied hordes of madge-wannabe's, desperate to over-indulge on her new rags. What makes her that much more interesting though, is that at 5'3.5" she's able to screetch such hurricane of emotions out of young girls, ageing drugged-out tranvestites, yuppies and right down freEaks alike; that few other people much more volumptuos than herself, would ever dream of achieving. She's a definite fighter-woman, that truly deserves her popularity and respect. You GO girl! you're frozen....when the snack's not open.... glenn said on 31/Aug/07 i wish.id be set for life. Franco said on 29/Aug/07 hey Glenn, were you getting married with Madonna in that picture? you looked as if you staring @ the priest LOL both of you :D Madonna has been to Italy countless times, she's 160cm flat. BigT said on 2/Aug/07 my friend saw her at a video shoot in North London and said he was tiny maybe 5'2" TJ said on 16/May/07 But at 5'3, Madonna isn't tiny or very small. She's about an inch below average. You would think the Canadian person was describing a person of 4'11 or 5'0. Editor Rob said on 16/May/07 Canadian person in Malawi was saying in paper on meeting madonna: " The stand-out for Williams was how tiny Madonna is in stature....'She's small, very small. I'm 5'3" and I was surprised she wasn't any taller.' " pamela said on 19/Apr/07 To me she seems she is 5´3 or 5´3.5 When she stood next to Britney in the 2003 VMA´s she clearly was at least an inch shorter than Britney. If Britney is 5´4 I´m guessing that Madonna is 5´3 cuz she is clearly shorter than Britney. Kathryn said on 14/Apr/07 yes, she is this height definately. but maybe she´s an half inch taller. because sometimes, when standing next to Britney Spears, she´s almost her height (5'4.5'') and so i would rather say, Madonna is 5'4'' or a half inch taller like she said in the interview with Carrie Fisher. Melle said on 28/Feb/07 My sister is 5-5. She said she stood next to Madonna at a Malibu restaurant (mid 90's) and Madonna had come up to her at nose level, and my sister carries herself more like five-six. ttujtyjgjgh said on 27/Feb/07 5'3!? Wow, talk about projecting larger... I would've guessed five foot eight! A woman of such accomplishment! Well, she's very proportionate. No stubby legs or anything. Pete said on 20/Feb/07 Arthur Wrightus said on 18/Feb/07 Rumours abound that she has had a leg extension op. Anonymous said on 29/Jan/07 pamela, the mother in that document says exactly, "she's so tiny and cute!" i'm assuming "tiny" is under 5'4, considering 5'4 is pretty average. Glitter1 said on 15/Jan/07 ABOUT 5'3.5 SMALL. ADORABLE IN PERSON. GREAT BOD. anonymous said on 30/Dec/06 she is right around the 5'3 mark-met her numerous times. Derek said on 27/Dec/06 I heard he was her brother. Regardless, I'm sure he was nothing special because nobody has heard of him. J. said on 26/Dec/06 I don't think Enrico Ciconne is her brother. Glenn said on 25/Dec/06 Brad got the boot.disrespected me too much.people here want to take the easy way out and say I boot people due to disagreeing with me.not about that. Derek said on 24/Dec/06 Brad- Funny thing is that her brother Enrico is 6'4", assuming NHL measurements are accurate. Brad said on 2/Dec/06 She didn't wear heels early on. She wore dancer shoes with no heel. Everybody around her did and thus she always looked 3-4 inches shorter than other people her height. She didn't care about anything.This is girl who didn't get driver's license til she was 27.Her brother Christopher is really short. Donna is the same height as Ciccone. Alex said on 2/Dec/06 I saw her leaving her hotel in Prague, Czech Republic last September (where she was on tour), from the very short distance, and I could say she is indeed around 5,4. She is tiny, but she's def not a midget! I also met and took a photo wit Donna de Lory, her long-time back up singer who is about the same height as Madonna, and I she is also about 5,4. So.... Alex said on 2/Dec/06 I saw her leaving her hotel in Prague, Czech Republic last September (where she was on tour), from the very short distance, and I could say she is indeed around 5,4. She is tiny, but she's def not a midget! I also met and took a photo wit Donna de Lory, her long-time back up singer who is about the same height as Madonna, and I she is also about 5,4. So.... sleuth said on 1/Dec/06 On the famous American Bandstand clip from '83, Madonna is the shortest person in the studio. Scott said on 1/Dec/06 Madonna is approx 5'1 maybe 5'2 - but noticebly shorter than my wife 5'3.5 Met her whilst they were over on the island. Brad said on 1/Dec/06 She's 5' 4". She isn't tiny. She does hire small dancers to look taller. Sofia said on 27/Oct/06 ..this summer Madonna went in Rome..i sow her she was very close to me..so i can say that she's as tall as me..i'm 1.54 cm..!i even sow britney spears..she's..very short!!i mean her hands..her legs..a bull-dog face..however they look like two artificial persons. Anonymous said on 26/Oct/06 ..yes, the "my children are 5 and 9....and I'm 5-9" comment she made on TRL definitely establishes her shortness. She's definitely no more than 5'4"...5'3.75 sounds pretty accurate to me... Jean said on 19/Oct/06 She's 5ft1 because she's 5ft3 or max 5ft4 with high heeled shoes on. Britney is the same height as well and probably was wearing platforms when she was in the picture with Madonna. Brad said on 17/Oct/06 Probably true. Her record company, when she owned it, was full of Ingrid's & Liz's. Some of her staff would make Liberace blush. J. said on 11/Oct/06 I remember Casares. I think she was a little more than Madonna's shadow ...if you know what I mean. Brad said on 11/Oct/06 The girl in the background is Ingrid Casares. Madonna's shadow for a number of years. Kia said on 9/Oct/06 She is around 162 cm.. I know because I was standing next to her and we are the same hight.. :D Lena said on 3/Oct/06 Oh, she is so cool,when she doesn`t have loose hair,she looks like a 15-year old girl and it`s noticable that she`s no more than 1.57 cm,but it`s very strange when madonna has flowing hair she looks taller,maybe because of big hands.But I also think that madonna has smth in her shoes,that adds her odd 2 cm Doc said on 29/Sep/06 “Now lets get a closer look” I saw know danger, so I slowly move right hand toward her slowly, like a snake slithering for food. She was watching every move I make as she tries to avoid my hand. My hand starts opening up on the left side of her outstanding looking frame. I touch her lower backside of her physique body with my palm. She said in anger “What are you doing How Dare you touch me” as my Pinky wraps around her legs leaving her lower legs free. With my two middle fingers curling around her hips and waist, then my forefinger going under her arms leaving her hands free and my thumb circling under her breasts. The Warm and Sensual Madonna was now enclosed in the palm of my hand. leonari said on 16/Sep/06 sina: you are right:not much! only 4 inches... Glenn said on 7/Sep/06 It was taken as I walked outside a party with her.I didnt plan it.I was 18.she never poses.she can be amongst the worst.this night she was ok. J. said on 6/Sep/06 Glenn, was it a fight to get this photo with her? What was she like? Brad said on 5/Sep/06 Madonna uses a lot of bright flat lighting in her shows. A lot of older actresses used it decades ago to make themselves younger being washed out from all sides by the lit heavy stage. She doesn't need it. Like Sophia Loren, that Italian blood means nice skin. She knows how to use motion picture make-up to flare out the lines. naya said on 18/Aug/06 what size does Madonna use in shoes???? Lena said on 18/Aug/06 I also saw a pic where madonna stands with stella mccartney,they both were in heels and had a visible difference in i`d say 6-7cm but i saw stella with scarlet johanson(who is 1.63 cm)and they had the same height,so when she says "five four and a half" it`s ridiculous she`s no more than 1.58 cm Lena said on 18/Aug/06 I also saw a pic where madonna stands with stella mccartney,they both were in heels and had a visible difference in i`d say 6-7cm but i saw stella with scarlet johanson(who is 1.63 cm)and they had the same height,so when she says "five four and a half" it`s ridiculous she`s no more than 1.58 cm Lena said on 18/Aug/06 I saw her on the concert and can say she is very tiny, it`s very cool that she in her years looks like a child Lena said on 18/Aug/06 she is definitely no more than 1.57 because in comparison with gwyneth paltrow she looks like a chid,i`m 1.57 myself and my friend has the same height as paltrow and when we go together it looks the same as madonna with gwyneth Brad said on 8/Aug/06 She's big time into heels. Her stage footwear pushes her 4"+. L said on 31/Jul/06 I saw a pic where Madonna goes with Gwyneth Paltrow and I`ve a friend who is 1.75 and when she wears heels and I`m in flats we have the same difference as Madonna and Gwyneth but I think the difference between my and Madonna height in 2 inches so I think she`s probably between 1.58-1.59 Brad said on 31/Jul/06 I met her in 1982 and she's 5'4". I met her again in '00 and she was wearing at least 4" heels and was looking very tall by then, less beads & crosses and a deeper voice with the baby fat gone. LLdiva said on 22/Jul/06 Madonna is 5'2" tops... maybe less. I was chatting with her in 1985 and she was wearing big shoes and she was very very short. I am 5' 5" and am very good appraising heights. D. Ray Morton said on 14/Apr/06 I'm with Glenn - 5'3"- based on what I've seen in pictures (including this one). I did spot her pretty up-close in '87, and do remember that she was very small, but that's it. I'd always thought she'd be a statuesque goddess, and here was this tiny young woman. The experience sticks out in mind my because I was way into "True Blue" and "Who's That Girl" at the time and was incredibly jazzed over actually seeing her in person. The last thing on my mind was height calculation. ;) [Editor Rob: out of interest, what is it you do, in terms of work?] Morgan said on 24/Mar/06 I agree she looks 5ft 3 to me especially in the pics with Britney who is about 5'5"! Madonna is clearly not a midget!!!!! ice said on 23/Mar/06 I'll believe what Glenn estimated, 5'3 cindy said on 21/Mar/06 no Cady Madonna is not 5'3 or 5'3.5, she is 5'4, Next to britney she is a little shorter and britney is a little taller than 5'4 also madonna hair is slicked back white britney's is not. mcfan said on 19/Mar/06 She only looks 5'3-5'3.5, not 5'4. Cady said on 19/Mar/06 How can Madonna be 5'4.5" if you look at the photos with Britney who actually is that height you can see Madonna is at least an inch shorter Ana Jewell said on 18/Mar/06 I believe in Madonna she looks tall, she is really Five four and a half!! Cady said on 10/Mar/06 Madonna's heels on Ellen are about 3-4 inches I think she is 5'3" exactly anything under doesn't make sense but she is definately not 5'4.5" heightfan said on 9/Mar/06 That was me who posted about the Ellen encounter and after seeing your link, I still see those heels as being at least 3 inchers. Cliff said on 5/Mar/06 Having met Madonna nearly 20 years ago, I can say that my recollection of her was of being in the 5ft3 or 4 range. She was "small" but not by any means under 5ft3 barefoot imho. As others have pointed out, she does appear in photos to be taller than Shakira, Kylie, Geri Halliwell, and other women known to be no taller than 5ft1. Anonymous said on 3/Mar/06 some of you people are on crack, some of you said she's 4'11 and 5'1, wow, if so, she is the tallest 4'11in person i have ever seen, she is much taller standing next to kylie minogue and shakira who is also 4'11 or 5feet. We need a revamp of her height said on 2/Mar/06 She can't be over 5'1. She's probably 4'11. lisa said on 2/Mar/06 madonna is definately 5'4, in her reinvention concert, hung up video and sorry video, she is always in 3 or 3 1/2in heels in her performances and comes up very close when standing next to daniel cloud campos(her freestlye dancer) who is 5'9in tall. Serene said on 16/Feb/06 Good idea rose, we should as glen what is her actual or estimated height.. rose said on 12/Feb/06 Why don't we go with what glen says considering he has actually met her and there is proof! I think she is 5'3" heightfan said on 10/Feb/06 She was on Ellen today, with 3 1/2 inch heels, and Ellen in sneaks, they were same height. I was suprised about this encounter, and now agree that Madonna is 5' 4". Hmmm said on 8/Feb/06 Isn't she the same height as Prince, who's about 5'1? Or shorter? I don't even think she's 5'1. She's a shrimp, like Kylie Minogue, who's 4'11 Serene said on 5/Feb/06 ice..gotta agree with you.. my mum is getting smaller and smaller.. Madonna should be listed as 5'3" ice said on 2/Feb/06 yeah, i think 5'3 too. maybe even 5'2.5 Serene said on 2/Feb/06 My mum is 5'3", but now she is really shrinking.. to 5'2".. when I was 12+ both of us are 159cm tall but now I am 160.5cm tall and she is about 157.5cm. I can't share her shoes and her shoes and believe me, her shoe size has also shrinked..from UK size 5 to 4. Glenn said on 31/Jan/06 id say 5-3.in this shot she had heels. CelebHeights Editor said on 29/Jan/06 Glenn, what did you make of madonna height when you saw her? Lena said on 9/Jan/06 I heard that she is 1.54cm is it truth, so why does she says the opposite? theheightguru said on 19/Dec/05 Good work Anonymous, If Madonna was ANYWHERE NEAR 5'4, she wouldn't be so much shorter than Britney. From the looks of that pic, if Christina Aguilera was standing straighter, SHE'D be taller than Madonna. Time for a downgrade. Morgan said on 18/Dec/05 she looks more than an inch shorter- that hat is giving her extra height!!! jonny5 said on 16/Dec/05 raidio 1 dj said she was incredibly tiny some 1 who is 5ft4 is not incredibly tiny she is 5ft1 5ft2 at a push gyllenhaalic823 said on 9/Dec/05 lol responding to height fan, on TRL I seriously thought to myself . . . "OMG madonna you are NOT five 9 you are shorter than 5'6" vanessa!" and then it hit me like when u blurt out something stupid "whoops she was just kidding . . ." lol yeah she looks pretty tiny Penny said on 5/Dec/05 Did anyone see I'm Going To Tell you a Secret last week (UK) and notice how teeny she was compared to everyone?! There was a bit where she was wearing trainers and didn't even come up to Guy Richie's shoulder now maybe he is 6'5" but I don't think that's likely!!! Morgan said on 22/Nov/05 Didn't Golria Estifan (5"1.5) say she was the same height as Madonna? Lindsay said on 19/Nov/05 In the UK magazine weekly Grazia it described Madonna as "the 5"3 singer" and they are usually correct with their information. Also in the pic on the Jlo listing with Britney and Kelly Rippa, Britney looks shorter than 5"5 and Madonna is a good bit shorter than Britney- this MUST mean Madonna is smaller than she says! ii said on 16/Nov/05 Go to www.pinkisthenewblog.com and look at a pic of the guy sho runs the site with Madonna at the TRL (purple dress/huge sprkle shoes). I emailed him and asked his height, 5'9". She is clearly 5'1", which he confirmed. heightfan said on 29/Oct/05 I saw Madonna on MTV's TRL a couple of weeks ago and she looked very short even with very high heels. She seemed very uncomfortable standing next to the tall young hostess.(Vanessa Minnillo 5'9"). When asked the ages of her children she said 5 and 9, just like me, and looked up at Minnillo, trying to make light of the situation. Another funny thing was Madonna got to pick a winner in a dance contest and she picked a girl that couldn't have been 5'. [Editor Rob: minnillo 5ft 9? I ain't sure about that, I peg her in the 171-2cm range...but Madonna's 5ft 4.5 claim...] Liv said on 26/Oct/05 My aunt met Madonna in London last year and Madonna was wearing trainers and my aunt said she was incredibly tiny!! My aunt is 5"5 so I don't think Madonna can be 5"4 at all! nikki said on 30/Sep/05 madonna is 5"4.5, she is five feet and 4 inches in a half, she is almost 5'5, believe it or not. mcfan said on 3/Sep/05

i don't know

Who wrote the song Mad Dogs And Englishmen?

Lyrics for Mad Dogs And Englishmen - Noel Coward. | ESL Lounge Mad Dogs And Englishmen    Noel Coward In tropical climes there are certain times of day When all the citizens retire to tear their clothes off and perspire. It's one of the rules that the greatest fools obey, Because the sun is much too sultry And one must avoid its ultry-violet ray. The natives grieve when the white men leave their huts, Because they're obviously, definitely nuts! Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun, The Japanese don´t care to, the Chinese wouldn´t dare to, Hindus and Argentines sleep firmly from twelve to one But Englishmen detest-a siesta. In the Philippines they have lovely screens to protect you from the glare. In the Malay States, there are hats like plates which the Britishers won't wear. At twelve noon the natives swoon and no further work is done, But mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun. It's such a surprise for the Eastern eyes to see, that though the English are effete, they're quite impervious to heat, When the white man rides every native hides in glee, Because the simple creatures hope he will impale his solar topee on a tree. It seems such a shame when the English claim the earth, They give rise to such hilarity and mirth. Ha ha ha ha hoo hoo hoo hoo hee hee hee hee ...... Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun. The toughest Burmese bandit can never understand it. In Rangoon the heat of noon is just what the natives shun, They put their Scotch or Rye down, and lie down. In a jungle town where the sun beats down to the rage of man and beast The English garb of the English sahib merely gets a bit more creased. In Bangkok at twelve o'clock they foam at the mouth and run, But mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun. Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun. The smallest Malay rabbit deplores this foolish habit. In Hong Kong they strike a gong and fire off a noonday gun, To reprimand each inmate who's in late. In the mangrove swamps where the python romps there is peace from twelve till two. Even caribous lie around and snooze, for there's nothing else to do. In Bengal to move at all is seldom ever done, But mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun.

Noël Coward

Who wrote the children's classic The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe?

Mad Dogs and Englishmen Sejarah Melayu Mad dogs and Englishmen Those of us who have wondered what our former British colonial masters were like can read a wealth of literature from them - whether it is the records and journals of administrators such as Hugh Clifford and Frank Swettenham, or the prose of writers such as W Somerset Maugham and Anthony Burgess. However, if one only wanted a quick three-minute snapshot of what they were like, the famous song 'Mad Dogs and Englishmen' probably does it best. This tongue-in-cheek lampoon of the British colonial mentality was written in 1932 by perhaps Britain's finest wit, composer and theatrical bon-vivant, Noel Coward. Noel Coward The Victoria Theatre, Singapore Incidentally, this was two years after he'd visited Malaya, where he played the part of Captain Stanhope in the play `Journey's End' which was being presented by a visiting dramatic troupe at Singapore's Victoria Theatre (still there today, at Empress Place). This light-hearted dig at colonial society is not surprising coming from Coward, who's work frequently parodies and ridicules the social snobbery and hedonism of British colonials. He certainly did not seem to have had a lot of respect for the people sent to administer this particular corner of British Empire, once quipping that Malaya was a "first-rate country for second-rate people." Below are the lyrics to this wonderful ditty - and note the references to the Malay States and the mysterious 'Malay rabbit'! Click here for a recording of the first chorus of the song (as sung by Coward and the Ray Noble Orchestra in 1932) in the form of a .WAV file (375Kb) Mad Dogs and Englishmen In tropical climes there are certain times of day When all the citizens retire to tear their clothes off and perspire. It's one of the rules that the greatest fools obey, Because the sun is much too sultry And one must avoid its ultry-violet ray. The natives grieve when the white men leave their huts, Because they're obviously, definitely nuts! Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun, The Japanese don´t care to, the Chinese wouldn´t dare to, Hindus and Argentines sleep firmly from twelve to one But Englishmen detest-a siesta. In the Philippines they have lovely screens to protect you from the glare. In the Malay States, there are hats like plates which the Britishers won't wear. At twelve noon the natives swoon and no further work is done, But mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun. It's such a surprise for the Eastern eyes to see, that though the English are effete, they're quite impervious to heat, When the white man rides every native hides in glee, Because the simple creatures hope he will impale his solar topee on a tree. It seems such a shame when the English claim the earth, They give rise to such hilarity and mirth. Ha ha ha ha hoo hoo hoo hoo hee hee hee hee ...... Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun. The toughest Burmese bandit can never understand it. In Rangoon the heat of noon is just what the natives shun, They put their Scotch or Rye down, and lie down. In a jungle town where the sun beats down to the rage of man and beast The English garb of the English sahib merely gets a bit more creased. In Bangkok at twelve o'clock they foam at the mouth and run, But mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun. Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun. The smallest Malay rabbit deplores this foolish habit. In Hong Kong they strike a gong and fire off a noonday gun, To reprimand each inmate who's in late. In the mangrove swamps where the python romps there is peace from twelve till two. Even caribous lie around and snooze, for there's nothing else to do. In Bengal to move at all is seldom ever done, But mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun. Write to the author: [email protected] *

i don't know

The first Miss World came from which country?

The First Miss World Contest | History Today The First Miss World Contest Cultural Richard Cavendish provides a brief history of the Miss World contest, first won by Miss Sweden, Kiki Haakinson, on April 19th, 1951. Miss Sweden, Kiki Haakonson, carried off the first Miss World title in the Lyceum Ballroom in London, in what was originally intended to be a one-off event connected with the Festival of Britain. It was the brainchild of Eric Morley, once a London orphan, an Army captain during the war and a self-made entertainment entrepreneur of great shrewdness and drive. He had already started the Come Dancing programme, which would turn into BBC television's longest-running series, and he would set commercial bingo going in Britain, in 1961. He was in his early thirties and working for a dancehall and catering company called Mecca when it was approached by an RAF officer named Phipps, who had been put in charge of Festival of Britain publicity. Phipps was looking for some pizzazz to spice up the more sedate attractions and Morley suggested an international bathing beauty competition. That was supposed to be that, but the following year, when a Miss Universe contest was announced in the United States, Morley was piqued and persuaded his bosses at Mecca to keep Miss World going. It has kept going ever since. By 1970, when Morley's wife Julia, an ex-beauty queen herself, joined him in organising the contest and keeping the contestants' morals and modesty suitably protected (not invariably with success), Miss World was attracting television audiences in almost every country in the world and making huge amounts of money for charity.  To counter accusations that the show was equivalent to a female cattle market, the Morleys introduced questions and answers of a high-souled if stilted nature about each girl's ambitions and intellectual achievements. Morley himself loved appearing every year to announce the results, ‘in reverse order’. Morley was a lively, vigorous character, who became chairman of Mecca. He left in 1978, but he and his wife continued to run Miss World and he was an assiduous raiser of money for charity. British television dropped Miss World in 1988, but by 1997 it was attracting 2.5 billion viewers in 155 countries and Channel Five started covering it again in Britain in 1999. Morley died in 2000, aged eighty-two.

Sweden

For which movie did Spielberg win his first Oscar?

Miss South Africa crowned Miss World Miss South Africa crowned Miss World Robin Millard Miss South Africa crowned Miss World More London (AFP) - Miss South Africa, 22-year-old Rolene Strauss, was crowned Miss World 2014 at the contest's glitzy final in London on Sunday, with an estimated billion viewers watching on television around the globe. Miss Hungary, Edina Kulcsar, was judged the runner-up and Miss United States, Elizabeth Safrit, came third in the 64th annual competition, contested by women from 121 countries. Medical student Strauss clasped her hands together in surprise and was crowned by the outgoing Miss World, Megan Young of the Philippines, to huge cheers in the ExCeL exhibition centre. "South Africa this is for you," Strauss said. "I think I will brace myself for what's about to happen. It's a huge responsibility." She told AFP she wanted to help spread education in her homeland and thereby help other people realise their dreams. "I am what I am today because of the opportunities I have received and I would love to give others the same opportunities; educating, the opportunity to be educated, to make healthy choices and also to live their dreams," Strauss said. And she was already getting used to the glittering crown. "I'll definitely keep it on as long as I can but my parents are staying around here so they'll be hugging me and I'm afraid that it might fall off," she said. This year's event has been rocked by the murder of Miss Honduras, 19-year-old Maria Jose Alvarado, who was shot dead along with her sister last month. Police in Honduras accuse her sister's boyfriend of shooting them after seeing his partner dancing with another man at a party. - Shimmering costumes - Strauss and other contestants will travel to the crime-plagued central American nation to build a school named in the sisters' honour. "We hope that it will really start to impress on the people in Honduras that the violence, and hurting people like those two innocent women... maybe they can think again before they take a gun," Miss World chairwoman Julia Morley told AFP. Sunday's show started with a spectacular choreographed dance routine, with all the beauty queens on stage in costumes inspired by their homelands -- including Miss Bolivia in a colourful feathered headdress. While beauty remains central to the event, the women taking part are chiefly judged on their talents and involvement in good causes. Miss Malaysia won the talent competition in a live sing-off with Miss Scotland. In the Beauty with a Purpose section -- the heart of Miss World -- contestants present a charitable project they have been working on in their homeland. In this section, the judges gave equal first place to Misses Brazil, Guyana, India, Indonesia and Kenya, unable to separate them. In rounds held since the contestants arrived in London, Miss Finland topped the sporting competition; Miss United States was the multimedia winner; Miss Bosnia and Hercegovina won the top model round and Miss Sweden triumphed in beach fashion. - Bollywood star honoured - The event also featured a special 20-year award for 1994's Miss World, Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai. The 41-year-old Indian actress appeared on stage with her film star husband Abhishek Bachchan, their daughter Aaradhya and her mother. The prize was for the "Dhoom 2" star's charitable work with children with cleft palates since being made famous by Miss World. "I stand here overwhelmed by this honour," she said. The 10 contestants who topped the final scoreboard were, in descending order, from India, South Africa, England, Guyana, Brazil, Hungary, Kenya, United States, Mexico and Australia. They were joined by Miss Thailand, who won the people's choice award, voted for by people around the world through a mobile phone app. The judges chose Miss Hungary, Miss Australia, Miss South Africa, Miss United States and Miss England as their top five before picking their top three. Miss World began in 1951, a year before its chief rival Miss Universe. Strauss is the third South African Miss World, the country having held the title in 1958 and 1974. Venezuela tops the all-time leader board with six titles, ahead of India and the United Kingdom on five titles each. Reblog

i don't know

Which part did Michael Jackson play in The Wiz?

The Wiz (1978) - IMDb IMDb There was an error trying to load your rating for this title. Some parts of this page won't work property. Please reload or try later. X Beta I'm Watching This! Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Error An adaptation of 'The Wizard of Oz' that tries to capture the essence of the African-American experience. Director: From $2.99 (SD) on Amazon Video ON DISC "No Small Parts" IMDb Exclusive: 'Edge of Seventeen' Star Hailee Steinfeld Hailee Steinfeld has received critical acclaim for her role in the coming-of-age comedy The Edge of Seventeen . What other roles has she played over the years? Don't miss our live coverage of the Golden Globes beginning at 4 p.m. PST on Jan. 8 in our Golden Globes section. a list of 24 titles created 27 May 2012 a list of 30 titles created 14 Jan 2014 a list of 31 titles created 9 months ago a list of 45 titles created 6 months ago a list of 38 titles created 3 months ago Search for " The Wiz " on Amazon.com Connect with IMDb Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 1 win & 7 nominations. See more awards  » Videos Edit Storyline Dorothy, a twenty-four-year-old kindergarten teacher, born; raised; and still working in Harlem, is celebrating Thanksgiving with her extended family, but she doesn't seem to be thankful for much in life. She lives a self-imposed sheltered life; she is shy and unfulfilled. Things change for her when she is caught in a snowstorm while chasing after her dog, Toto. They are transported to the mysterious Land of Oz, where she is informed that the only possible way to find her way back home is through the assistance of the powerful wizard in Emerald City. As she goes searching for him, she befriends some creatures who are facing problems in life just as she is. In their quest to find and get help from the wizard, they also face Evillene, the equally evil sister of Evermean, the wicked witch, whom Dorothy inadvertently killed when she arrived in Oz, and who may be their biggest obstacle in achieving their goals. Written by Huggo The Wiz! The Stars! The Music! Wow! See more  » Genres: 24 October 1978 (USA) See more  » Also Known As: Dolby (35 mm prints)| 70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) Color: Did You Know? Trivia Simultaneously with the release of the film, Congoleum, the flooring company that designed the look of the Yellow Brick Road for the film, also marketed the same design (also called Yellow Brick Road) for home use. See more » Goofs The scarecrow is still learning how to walk after he got down from the pole. When Dorothy runs to the taxis, the scarecrow walks perfectly to another place behind Dorothy. When they sing "Ease on down the road," the scarecrow is sill trying to walk to the Yellow Brick Road. See more » Quotes Scarecrow : Now I'll never get my brain! Tinman : Nor my heart. Lion : Or my courage Dorothy : But you don't need them now because you've had them all the time. Scarecrow, you're the one who figured out how to find the yellow brick road and how to destroy Evillene, and every smart move we've made, didn't you? Lion, you wouldn't even give up when Evillene strung you up by your tail. And, Tin Man, you have more heart than anyone I've ever known. Fitzstephens, Jack ... Music Editor & Guru See more » Connections Featured in Tarnation  (2003) See more » Soundtracks Just Like a Broadway Show--from the Cheap Seats 28 August 2004 | by IconsofFright – See all my reviews I just watched this for the first time, I've was expecting a true spectacle of "bad" cinema. I was surprised to find there is a decent movie here. Some people have remarked Diana Ross was too old to play Dorothy, OK, well, so was Judy Garland. True. There's really nothing wrong with this musical--The songs are excellent, performed by some great talents. The production design is spectacular (maybe a little dated, but still something to look at). The sets are a little nightmarish looking, true, but I liked that. I reminded me of "Return of Oz", a favorite of mine too. The real problem with this movie is the damn direction and cinematography. What were they thinking? The Munchkin scene is not only lit horribly (too dark!), but all the musical numbers seem like they're just comprised of master shots. Very few close ups of dancers, other singers, and even main characters. During the "Ease on Down the Road" number Lumet has us staring at Diana Ross and Michael Jackson's back from far away in the distance for two minutes. It felt like I was watching this movie from the cheap seats. Thus, I always felt distanced from the characters and situations, and just couldn't get into the movie. I read Sidney Lumet's book "Making Movies" and I remember him writing in detail about shooting to get proper coverage. What happened here? 31 of 52 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you? Yes

Scarecrow (disambiguation)

Which brothers bought Shepperton movie studios in 1994?

Ne-Yo PLay Tin Man in The Wiz - Essence.com By Sowmya Krishnamurthy Dec, 01, 2015 On December 3rd, the singer-songwriter takes on the role of the Tin Man in "The Wiz Live" on NBC. Anything is possible in the land of Oz. Superstar Ne-Yo was sure that he wanted to play Scarecrow in The Wiz Live!, the role made famous by Michael Jackson in the 1978 movie, but fate had something else in mind. “I actually went in for Scarecrow,” he says, in between rehearsals. “I took time and really learned three different versions of the lines and got the songs down. I took time away from my schedule to study for the role of the Scarecrow. I did what I thought was an amazing audition, right? Then [director] Kenny [Leon] said, ‘Great. Do you mind looking over the Tin Man and seeing what you can do with that?’” See All the Costumes from 'The Wiz Live!' Cast On December 3rd, the 36-year-old singer and songwriter takes on the role of the Tin Man in The Wiz Live (airing 8pm ET on NBC). Ne-Yo’s come to love the character without a heart—and he has no hard feelings that actor Elijah Kelly is playing Scarecrow. “That’s my brother. Good friend of mine. He can sing. He can dance. It’s all good.” The transformation into the Tin Man, who Ne-Yo describes as  “Dorothy’s protector,” involves a complicated costume with heavy makeup and prosthetics. “The first time they [put it on] it took about three hours to put it all together.” The process is streamlined to around 25 minutes but the metallic ensemble is still as uncomfortable as you’d imagine. “It’s a little heavy. There’s pieces that poke you and you can’t move the way you want to move, but these are sacrifices for art. I gotta say, it helps. The fact I can’t move in it the way I want to helps the Tin Man character. You take all the negatives and use them as positives.” EXCLUSIVE: See Lance Gross' Portraits of the Cast of 'The Wiz Live' Ne-Yo explains that the live event is not a remake of 1978’s The Wiz (or even the 1974 onstage version). “This production is a hybrid of the Broadway version and the film. They’re different. It’s not based in the ‘70s. It’s based in 2015. The hardest part is, who is the Tin Man today and how he would respond to the things going on around him. What am I going to add to the legacy of this character?” The Wiz Live! also features Queen Latifah as the Wiz, Mary J. Blige as the Wicked Witch of the West, Uzo Aduba as Glinda the Good Witch, David Alan Grier as the Cowardly Lion, Common as the Bouncer of Emerald City, Stephanie Mills (who originated the role of Dorothy in The Wiz) as Aunt Em and newcomer Shanice Williams as Dorothy.

i don't know

Which studios did the Rank Organization open in 1936?

A Brief History of The Rank Organisation | VCI Homepage A Brief History of The Rank Organisation Classic film buffs will fondly remember the thrilling sight of the famous “Gong Man” which preceded the opening credits of every movie produced by The Rank Organisation, England’s biggest and finest film production, distribution and exhibition company. The mere presence of this studio icon at the beginning of the film had the effect, much like the proverbial Pavlov’s dog, of wetting the theatre audience’s appetite, while assuring that they were about to share another brilliant movie experience. The Gong Man simply epitomized the best in filmmaking. J. Arthur Rank was born in 1888 in a decidedly Victorian England. He was the son of Joseph Rank, who owned a successful flour milling business. Young Rank eventually inherited his father’s business; however, it was never seriously his cup of tea. Rank was also a devout member of the Methodist Church and even became a Sunday school teacher, to which he often showed religious films. Disparaged by the lack of quality religious films, he began to produce his own, which he also then distributed to other churches and schools and eventually led to the formation of the Religious Film Society. In a momentous turn of events, the Methodist Times newspaper began to editorialize about the negative impact that British and American movies have on Britain’s families. The London Evening News countered with an editorial which suggested that instead of complaining, the Methodist Church should provide a solution for the problem. It was at that moment; J. Arthur Rank committed himself to take up the challenge. Rank, together with a young film producer named John Corfield and Lady Henrietta Yule of Bricket Wood, soon formed the British National Films Company and within short order, produced their first commercial film, Turn of the Tide. Though only modestly successful, their first production did at least provide the novicefilmmakers with an introduction to some of the challenges of working in the movie business. Far from discouraging Rank, the experience provided new motivation and launched the young company on a campaign of partnerships and acquisitions which would eventually create a worldwide conglomerate. Rank and his partners made their next move in 1935, becoming owner-operators of Pinewood Film Studios, which had only recently been created as a potential rival to the Hollywood studios. Then in 1936, Rank made a bold move to improve his distribution, by removing the middlemen who controlled 80% of the British film industry, and clogged the theatrical pipeline with American movies. He began by forming a partnership with filmmaker C.M. Woolf, for the purpose of creating the General Cinema Finance Corporation (GCFC). They then used that company to buy out General Film Distributors, the UK distributors for Universal Pictures. Distribution problems solved. By 1937, Rank’s movie assets were still accumulating, and besides Pinewood, now included Denham Film Studios, as well as several other interests, and it was at this time he consolidated these holdings in a new company called the Rank Organisation. In 1938, the Rank Organisation bought the Odeon cinema chain. In 1938, it also bought Amalgamated Studios in Elstree, and in 1941, it absorbed the Gaumont-British Picture Corporation, which owned 251 cinemas, and the Lime Grove Studios, (which Rank later sold to BBC Television.) It also acquired the Paramount cinema chain, so that by 1942, the Rank Organisation owned a total of 619 cinemas. By the late 1940s, Rank owned a total of five studios adding Ealing Studios and Islington Studios to those not already named above. The conglomerate also included Rank Screen Advertising and Deluxe Laboratories. During the 1940s and 1950s, The Rank Organisation employed some of England’s greatest directors, who produced some of the finest films ever made in Great Britain, including: Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger (Black Narcissus, The Red Shoes, I Know Where I’m Going), David Lean (Brief Encounter, Great Expectations) and Laurence Olivier (Henry V and Hamlet). The Rank Organisation acting school, often referred to as “The Charm School”, was founded in 1945. This prep school to the stars launched several careers including those of Donald Sinden, Dirk Bogarde, Diana Dors and Christopher Lee. Although she was not a member of the school, Petula Clark was under contract to Rank for a period of time and starred in a number of films released by the studio, including London Town (1946), one of the costliest flops in British film history. Also under contract to Rank was the Canadian actor Philip Gilbert. Beginning in the 1950s the studio began cranking out more commercial productions, aimed squarely at the family market, including the popular Norman Wisdom comedies, the various ‘Doctor…’ films and, later on, the ‘Carry On’ films. Still some films of major note were produced during this era including: Carve Her Name with Pride, Sapphire and Victim, as well as covering many prestige topics including the coronation of Elizabeth II and filmed performances by The Royal Ballet. On top of their steady stream of feature length movies the company made over 500 weekly short cinema films from 1959 to 1969 in a series entitled Look at Life, with each film depicting an area of British life. Besides becoming one of the world’s biggest film companies, Rank began to diversify into other interests early on. In 1949 the company bought the Bush Radio manufacturing plant and later on took over Murphy Radio to become the Rank Bush Murphy Group. In 1956 Rank began a partnership with the Haloid Corporation to form Rank Xerox. Rank was also a significant partner in the consortium which became Southern Television, the first ITV television contract holder for the south of England. In the late 1950s, Rank set up Rank Records Ltd. (the record label was named Top Rank) and Jaro Records (a jazz subsidiary). In 1961, Top Rank was taken over by EMI, and in 1962 they replaced it with Stateside Records.  Rank Audio Visual was created in 1960, bringing together Rank’s acquisitions in multimedia, including Bell and Howell (acquired with Gaumont British in 1941), Andrew Smith Harkness Ltd (1952) and Wharfedale Ltd (1958). Subsequent acquisitions included Strand Electric Holdings (1968) and H.J. Leak & Co. (1969). In the mid and late 1970s Rank Audio Visual, made a 3 in 1 stereo music centre, as well as TV sets in conjunction with NEC of Japan. The production of the “classic” Rank TV ran in the mid to late 70s, some interim models appeared and the “modern” Rank TV appeared in the early 80s. J. Arthur Rank finally stepped down as Managing Director of the Rank Organisation in 1952, but remained as Chairman until 1962. Much of the diversification came under the management of Sir John Davis, who led the company up to 1995. In 1996 the venerable company was absorbed by The Rank Group Plc. Now completely out of the motion picture business, The Rank Group continues today as a leading European gaming business. VCI Entertainment is pleased to offer a select group of 48 titles selected from the coveted library of The Rank Organisation, all licensed through ITV Global Entertainment Ltd. The complete list of 48 titles is as follows: ABOVE US THE WAVES

Pinewood

Who made the film Renaldo and Clara with Bob Dylan?

AK14 Films: British Film British Film British Film The only Competitors of Hollywood The United Kingdom is the most advance country of Europe, in the sense of film making. It has more than 100 years history of film. It is a little behind from the holly wood. When film making was on peak in USA, the British industry was following them.  In 1936 the film in united kingdom was at peak.' golden age' of British cinema is usually thought to have occurred in the 1940s, during which the directors David Lean, Michael Powell, and some other produced their most highly acclaimed work. The British film industry, which came into being in the last years of the 19th century, has produced some amazing footage during its 118 years of existence. Documentaries, plays and news plus literally hundreds of superb films have entertained, amazed and enthralled us all. But how many people know that the world's first single lens motion picture camera was patented in Leeds, England in 1888 by a Frenchman, Louis Aime Augustin Le Prince? Le Prince started commercial development of his motion picture camera in early 1890 and gave a well documented demonstration to M. Mobisson, the Secretary of the Paris Opera. The first films were made on a sensitised paper roll which measured a little over 2 inches wide. In 1889, M. Le Prince was able to obtain celluloid roll film from Eastman when it was introduced in England. We don't know if he got an order from the Paris Opera, but we do know that M. Le Prince was at the centre of the first real cinema mystery. On September 16 1890, he boarded a train at Dijon bound for Paris carrying with him his motion picture camera and films. He never arrived in Paris. No trace of Le Prince OR his motion picture camera were ever found. The mystery was never solved however a photograph of a drowning victim from 1890 resembling Le Prince was discovered in 2003 during research in the Paris police archives British artists in the movie Gone with the Wind Just a few years later in 1895, a pair of Greek showmen, George Georgiades and his partner George Tragides, were at the centre of a row with the already powerful American Edison company. The pair originally purchased six Kinetoscopes from Edison forming the American Kinetoscope Company and opening Kinetoscopes at several locations in London, amongst them The Strand and Old Broad Street. They wanted to expand their operation but machinery was both rare and expensive so they approached R. W. Paul who owned an optical instrument works in Saffron Hill, to manufacture some "spurious' Edison Kinetoscope projectors as Edison had not patented them in the UK. Unfortunately Edison refused to sell films for pirated machines, so Paul approached American born cinema pioneer Birt Acres (The first man successfully to take and project a 35 mm film in England) to help construct a camera to shoot their own films. They obtained film from the American Celluloid Co. of Newark, N.J. and started filming their own with Birt Acres as the cameraman. Commercial production began with the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race, and by the beginning of June several simple comic, dramatic and actuality subjects were available. These included The Arrest of a Pickpocket, The Comic Shoeblack, The Boxing Kangaroo, Performing Bears, and a film of the Derby. A photograph of Acres filming the 1895 Derby has also survived. Their first screening was at the London headquarters of the Royal Photographic Society, 14 Hanover Square on January 14, 1896. On February 20, 1896, French showman and magician, Felicien Trewey, had the first British screening before a paying audience using a Lumiere Cinematograph at the Regent Street Polytechnic in London. Trewey had a 3 week booking and charged an extravagant one shilling per person for a seat. Over the next few years, William Friese-Green (born William Edward Green, the son of a Bristol metalworker) was responsible for extensive research and advanced the creation of British cameras. Excerpts of his famous filmed journey through Britain are now available on the internet. Unfortunately his technology was not successfully incorporated into any practical application. Friese-Green's most bitter opponent was ex-hypnotist, mind reader and showman George Albert Smith who is thought by many to be the real driving force behind the early cinema industry. In 1892, Smith acquired the lease to St Ann's Well Garden in Hove, Brighton and turned it into a pleasure garden (you can still visit it today!). The garden became his "film factory' and is the scene of many early films. In 1897 Smith turned the garden's pump house into a space for developing and printing and in the grounds, probably in 1899, he built a 'glasshouse' film studio. Brighton engineer Alfred Darling was a gifted manufacturer of cameras, projectors, printers and perforators while Smith's wife, Laura Eugenia Bayley, acted in many of his films as did the local Brighton comedian, Tom Green. By the late 1890s, Smith had developed into a successful commercial film processor. The British Monarch Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth Unfortunately the halcyon years came swiftly to an end when by 1909, Pathe and Gaumont began flooding the British market with films and the UK fell rapidly behind. World War I slowed the British film industry almost to a halt. Immediately after the war, efforts were made to pick up the industry and resume production although films remained very live theatre oriented with producers filming plays exactly as they had been performed on stage down to the same actors and sets. Sadly, the British film industry could not keep pace with advances being made abroad and soon became technically out of date. The industry wasn't helped by the great British public who only wanted to see American films. By 1918, the money ran out and home production virtually ceased. British production finally stopped in 1924 but then Parliment passed the Cinematographers Trade Bill, designed to ensure there was a guaranteed home market for British made films. It limited the number of movies coming from other countries to give home studios a chance. The result was more British movies, but poor quality was a major issue. The appearance of sound helped the British Film Industry's unstable financial position. In 1929, 138 films were made and growth looked promising. In 1933, J. Arthur Rank, who had started by making religious films, founded British National. In 1935, he went into partnership with C.M.Woolf to take over Pinewood Studios, 20 miles west of London and found the Rank Organisation. At the same time, Oscar Deutsch was building up the Odeon chain of cinemas. But by 1937, the boom turned into a slump. In 1936 the British film industry had over produced, making 220 pictures. The result were poorly made, rushed films that were not worth watching and that nobody wanted. This opened the door to the American industry, and American companies soon started buying bankrupt British Production companies so they would qualify under the home market quota. Then with the start of World War II, the industry took another turn. Many studio employees were engaged in the war, reducing available manpower. Half the studio space was requisitioned for military purposes, and an average of just 60 films were produced annually. The fickle British public then demanded more realistic films, so British studios were forced to turn to documentaries and war related movies. This proved a great success. After the war, the Rank Organization became the dominant force in the industry. The shift was to make British films more acceptable to the audiences outside of the UK. In addition, television caused such a tremendous decline in attendance that British film theatres were closing in record numbers. Studios quickly switched to producing TV shows and TV movies to stay afloat. Even though there were a few bright spots over the next few decades like the Hammer Horror Films, British production faced some bleak times.. Celia Johnson In the late 50's, 60's and 70s, restrictions on the US studios soon had US studios looking at the UK as a production ground, almost like US studio outposts. There was such an influx of US production in the UK that American finances virtually took over the British industry. The late 70's and 80's saw British production turning to more television production and branching into more special effects studios for major US studios like Superman, Star Wars and the James Bond series. But by the late 80's, there seemed to be a major decline in US production in the UK. The British film industry is nothing if not resilient. It didn't take long before the vaccum was filled by a host of independently made British movies. Through the 90's, British production increased with such hits as Trainspotting, Brassed Off, Elizabeth, The Full Monty and many more. The British film is now a solid force in the industry and we can look forward to many more hours of home-grown cinematography but it it well to remember where it all came from. You might like to take a walk in lovely St Ann's Well Gardens next time you are in Brighton and see if you can spot the shadows left behind by those early film makers! Relations with Hollywood The identity of the British industry, and its relationship with Hollywood, has been the subject of debate. The history of film production in Britain has often been affected by attempts to compete with the American industry. The career of the producer Alexander Korda was marked by this objective, the Rank Organisation attempted to do so in the 1940s, and Goldcrest in the 1980s. Numerous British-born directors, including Alfred Hitchcock and Ridley Scott, and performers, such as Charlie Chaplin  and Cary Grant, have achieved success primarily through their work in the United States. Many British films are international co-productions with American producers and finance, often using mixed British and American crews and casts. British Film Today In 2009 British films grossed around $2 billion worldwide and achieved a market share of around 7% globally and 17% in the United Kingdom.[11] UK box-office takings totalled £1.1 billion in 2012,[12] with 172.5 million admissions  Some of the films with the largest ever box office returns have been made in the United Kingdom, including the two highest-grossing film series Harry Potter and James Bond. The European film market Berlinale Palast

i don't know

Which British composer wrote the theme music for the film Murder on the Orient Express?

Murder On The Orient Express- Soundtrack details - SoundtrackCollector.com Murder On The Orient Express Murder On The Orient Express (1974) Composer(s): Total number of members who have this title in their: Collection: 373 There are 7 compilation albums for this title. Things you can do: Members who have this label in their: Collection: 29 (a) The Body; (b) Remembering Daisy (03:03) 5.  Track listing contributed by Robert DiMucci Capitol Records TOCP 6588   Members who have this label in their: Collection: 11 Members who have this label in their: Collection: 60 from "Murder on the Ori�nt Express" by Richard Rodney Bennett 2.  from "Murder on the Ori�nt Express" by Richard Rodney Bennett 3.  from "Murder on the Ori�nt Express" by Richard Rodney Bennett 4.  The Ori�nt Express (11:25) from "Murder on the Ori�nt Express" by Richard Rodney Bennett 5.  The Body & Remembering Daisy (03:11) from "Murder on the Ori�nt Express" by Richard Rodney Bennett 6.  from "Murder on the Ori�nt Express" by Richard Rodney Bennett 7.  from "Murder on the Ori�nt Express" by Richard Rodney Bennett 8.  from "Murder on the Ori�nt Express" by Richard Rodney Bennett 9.  from "Murder on the Ori�nt Express" by Richard Rodney Bennett 10.  from "Murder on the Ori�nt Express" by Richard Rodney Bennett 11.  from "Murder on the Ori�nt Express" by Richard Rodney Bennett 12.  from "Death on the Nile" by Nino Rota 13.  Arrival At Wode Hall (01:30) from "Death on the Nile" by Nino Rota 14.  from "Death on the Nile" by Nino Rota 15.  from "Death on the Nile" by Nino Rota 16.  Duet And Love Theme (03:07) from "Death on the Nile" by Nino Rota 17.  from "Death on the Nile" by Nino Rota 18.  I Love My Baby (02:29) from "Death on the Nile" by Nino Rota 19.  The Statues Of Rameses (02:00) from "Death on the Nile" by Nino Rota 20.  from "Death on the Nile" by Nino Rota 21.  Journey On The Nile (02:53) from "Death on the Nile" by Nino Rota 22.  The Temple Of Karnak (02:13) from "Death on the Nile" by Nino Rota 23.  from "Death on the Nile" by Nino Rota 24.  from "Death on the Nile" by Nino Rota 25.  Fox Trot - Don't Say No To... (01:38) from "Death on the Nile" by Nino Rota 26.  from "Death on the Nile" by Nino Rota 27.  Waltz - The White Nile (01:21) from "Death on the Nile" by Nino Rota 28.  from "Death on the Nile" by Nino Rota 29.  Composed by Sir William Walton 5.  ODD MAN OUT: Prelude (03:53) Composed by Willian Alwyn LADY CAROLINE LAMB: Elegy for Viola and Orchestra (2nd Movement) (02:58) Composed by Sir Richard Rodney Bennett 7.  BRIEF ENCOUNTER: Piano Concerto No.2 (09:16) Composed by Serge Rachmaninoff THE INN OF THE SIXTH HAPPINESS: London Prelude (03:40) Composed by Malcolm Arnold HENRY V: Touch Her Soft Lips and Part (01:28) Composed by Sir William Walton 10.  FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL: Love Scene (03:22) Composed by Sir Richard Rodney Bennett 11.  633 SQUADRON: Main Titles (02:44) Composed by Ron Goodwin THE CRUEL SEA: Main Titles and Nocturne (04:43) Composed by Alan Rawsthorne

Richard Rodney Bennett

The expression Great White Hope was used to describe which black boxer's opponents?

Murder on the Orient Express (1974) with Albert Finney Murder on the Orient Express (1974) with Albert Finney Greg Orypeck Bacall, Lauren , Bergman, Ingrid , Connery, Sean , Perkins, Anthony , Thriller Share This! “If all these people are not implicated in the crime, then why have they all told me, under interrogation, stupid and often unnecessary lies? Why? Why? Why? Why?”——Hercule Poirot It’s a long journey by rail from Istanbul to Calais. Even on so luxurious a train as the Orient Express in its glory days of the 1930s. In one such film odyssey, all the passengers make it, not all the way to Calais, “with connections to London,” as announced in the station at the start of the journey, but only to Yugoslavia. All passengers make it through the movie, that is, except one. One is murdered. In a way, murdered twelve times. Twelve stab wounds. The 1974 Murder on the Orient Express inspired a series of star-studded Agatha Christie films and TV movies. Death on the Nile was the first to follow, in 1978, then came, almost in descending order of quality and production value, at least five more mysteries, including Evil Under the Sun starring Peter Ustinov and A Caribbean Mystery with Helen Hayes. The most recent remakes of Orient Express have been two TV movies. The one in 2001 starring Alfred Molina as detective Hercule Poirot is a pale shadow of the ’74 original—almost as expected, the usual “unnecessary” rule regarding remakes in effect here. Considering the usual quality of that BBC/PBS Masterpiece Mystery TV series with David Suchet as the Belgium sleuth, in 2010 came a surprisingly weak version, replete with plot-confusing omissions and shoddy sets, with Suchet merely going through the motions, as if rushed by some budget constraint. Not that the’74 version of Murder on the Orient Express is without its flaws. True, it has much going for it: resplendent ’30s atmosphere and décor, elaborate period attire, that stellar cast already mentioned, fine ensemble acting by all involved and an elaborate, Oscar-nominated score by Richard Rodney Bennett. Especially according to audience’s need today for glitzy action, superficial character development and little exposition, the film’s major flaw is that it is terribly “British” in its slow, methodical pace, criticized even when the movie first appeared forty years ago. The Christie plot is simplicity itself. Like most of her mysteries, there is a murder (sometimes a second or third) and a room full of at least ten suspects—or ship full, or archaeological camp full, or, yes, train full of suspects. Poirot (Albert Finney), then, is left to do his work, with, strangely, no sense of urgency, no awareness of the possibility that other murders might occur. Following the exuberant, 1930-ish period main title comes a kaleidoscopic montage of distorted scenes, blurred images and newspaper headlines from 1930, recounting the kidnapping and murder of little Daisy Armstrong. The apparent participants include a governess, a military colonel, a maid, a chauffeur, a policeman on his beat, a number of others. (Not coincidentally, Christie’s novel appeared two years after the famous kidnapping and murder, in 1932, of Charles Lindbergh’s twenty-month-old son.) The film now segues to 1935. The Orient Express has left Istanbul, headed on its northwesterly journey. The first night, en route to Paris, one passenger in the Calais coach, “businessman” Monsieur Ratchett ( Richard Widmark ), is found murdered in his compartment bed—stabbed twelve times. Some of the wounds are deep, some rather shallow, others “hardly more than scratches.” Shortly before, Ratchett had asked Poirot to take his case, that he had been receiving threatening letters and sleeping with a gun under his pillow. Interestingly, in the only scene between the two men, viewers learn the proper pronunciation of the detective’s name, not Per-row as Ratchett persists in addressing him, even after corrected, but Pauw-row. As eccentric as another Christie sleuth, Miss Jane Marple, is down-to-earth, Poirot has an abundance of clues. He even remarks over Ratchett’s glassy-eyed body in a sing-song voice, “There are too many clu-u-u-ues in this ro-o-o-om.” Inside and outside the room, the clues include two different pipe cleaners in the ashtray, which also contains a half-smoked cigar; a handkerchief with the letter “H”; a burnt piece of paper; a smashed watch; the drugging of Ratchett’s nightly sleeping potion; the sight of a person in a white kimono disappearing down a passageway; a lost button from a train conductor’s uniform; and a cry, as during a nightmare, from the victim during the night. From interviews with the twelve occupants of the Calais coach, the detective must gather the last bits of information and glean further clues. The suspects vary in nationality, social class and disposition. First, Ratchett’s nervous secretary Hector McQueen (Anthony Perkins) and the dead man’s valet Beddoes (John Gielgud); the only suspect name changed from the novel. The American loudmouth Mrs. Hubbard (Lauren Bacall) from whom all others flee: “Mrs. Hubbard is upon us,” cries one of the passengers. The contrite Swedish custodian of “little brown babies” Greta Ohlsson ( Ingrid Bergman ). The Count and Countess Andrenyi (Michael York and Jacqueline Bisset), whose passport has a strange, seemingly convenient stain masking a crucial letter. The Scot, Colonel Arbuthnot ( Sean Connery ), who believes that a “trial by twelve good men and true is a sound system,” and the lover Mary Debenham (Vanessa Redgrave) he intends to marry when his divorce is final. “Miss Debenham,” he says, “is not a woman. She is a lady.” Also interviewed, the Russian princess Dragomiroff (Wendy Hiller) and her German maid (Rachel Roberts), who reads Goethe to her frail, always black-attired mistress. The train conductor Pierre Michel (Jean-Pierre Cassel), who inexplicably knows the names of many of the passengers before he receives their tickets. The Italian auto salesman Antonio Foscarelli (Denis Quilley): “American cars to Italians.” And, interviewed last, almost as a script afterthought, the Pinkerton detective Hardman (Colin Blakely, who played Dr. Watson to Robert Stephens’ Sherlock Holmes in The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes). Also starring, although never suspects, are Martin Balsam as director of the rail line, George Coulouris as the doctor onboad and Vernon Dobtcheff, briefly seen as the concierge before the train’s departure. Followers of the the Poirot Masterpiece Mystery installments might recall Dobtcheff as the evil Simeon Lee in Hercule Poirot’s Christmas, sometimes known under the alternative title Murder for Christmas, one of the best installments of that TV series of one of Christie’s more obscure mysteries, from 1938. The Orient Express is blocked by a snowdrift, and a disproportionate amount of screen time is given to the status of the anticipated work crew or snowplow, almost to the point of viewer fatigue. Perhaps the frequent emphasis is to heighten excitement, as Poirot must decide on a solution before help arrives, along with the Yugoslavian police. There is, of course, the simple explanation for the murder, the one the real murders—yes, there are more than one!—have clumsily improvised, since they didn’t anticipate Poirot being on the train. The ploy of the planted lost trainman’s button ties to the assumption that the lone murderer escaped while the train was stalled in the snowdrift. Contrary to the detective’s edict that he always brings the guilty to justice, this is the version of the murder he will tell the police, not the real one which Poirot explains in the long, long dénouement, accompanied by linking references to the opening montage, a dénouement that occupies more than half the film. The motive for the murder, of course, is revenge for Ratchett’s involvement with the Daisy affair, and that all twelve passengers in the Calais coach are in some way connected with the Armstrong family. Orient Express is a one-murder mystery in Christie’s best, succinct manner, though, as usual with the attention-loving Hercule Poirot, climaxed by an analysis of the case and the identity of the murderer or, in this case, murderers. For the detective, it is the science of it all, or, as he delights in saying, the results of using his “little gray cells.” In Orient Express, as in most of Christie’s stories, the interest lies not so much in the method of the victim’s dispatch as in the personalities of the many suspects and the study of their characters and motivations. Not to be disparaged, the author is, however, most inspired in her choice of murder weapons, whether knives, guns, any variety of blunt instruments, hypodermic injections, nylon stockings, falls from cliffs, even an electrocution in The Big Four. But Christie’s favorite killing method is probably poison, in all its numerous concoctions. She dispensed hospital drugs during both world wars. And so it is poison that dispatches Ratchett. Orient Express, a detective story subsisting on only one murder, is quite contrary to the current trends, particularly on TV, where supposed police “experts” stumble through three or four murders, sometimes more, before the killer is apprehended, an ineptitude that would earn a firing in most real police departments. This bumbling appears in both the big city of Law and Order and in the tranquil British village of Midsomer Murders. On occasions Christie was known to succumb to excess, or “over-kill,” if a good plot ploy presented itself. In Ten Little Indians, a.k.a. And Then There Were None, ten people die according to the scheme of a nursery rhyme. And the murderer of nine commits suicide, making the total ten, so there’s no need for a Christie detective—either Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple or Ariadne Oliver. Or anybody! Hinted at earlier in reference to the bright main title, Orient Express is greatly assisted by one of Richard Rodney Bennett’s finest scores. It earned him his third Oscar nomination, though he lost to the team who scored The Godfather, Part II, Nino Rota and Carmine Coppola, director Francis Ford Coppola’s father. Bennett had been nominated in 1967 for Far from the Madding Crowd and in 1971 for Nicholas and Alexandra. A one-time student of French composer-conductor Pierre Boulez, he also scored the Cary Grant-Ingrid Bergman Indiscreet, Lady Caroline Lamb and, toward the end of his career, though with much classical source music, Three Weddings and a Funeral. The main title of Orient Express opens with a brilliant flourish, the orchestra and a piano in an impressive introduction, rich with expectation and excitement. The musical color and flavor suggest the 1930s, aided by the art deco lettering and border and a pink satin background. The piano, solo now, then improvises, followed by scales that lead into what must be a love theme—though for whom?! The orchestra, predominately the strings, now joins the piano in an elaboration on the theme. The piano is there, perhaps, because someone along the way—director Sidney Lumet, perhaps?—wanted something like the Warsaw Concerto (from Richard Addinsell’s 1941 score for Dangerous Moonlight). Who was it said directors know nothing about music? (David Raksin? He was outspoken enough!) In another secondhand idea, someone else suggested that Bennett make his score a pastiche of Gershwin tunes. He was rumored to have said that that sort of thing has been done, too much of a cliché. There is, of course, the effective and eerie music from the montage, but the most memorable music in the score, by far, is the waltz, the traveling tune that accompanies the Orient Express on its journey. The waltz is held back until the right moment, and when it is introduced, it is done most dramatically, enough to make it, in conjunction with the screen image, one of the great moments of the movies. Geoffrey Unsworth’s camera—he was also Oscar-nominated for his cinematography—moves down the platform alongside the standing train to the front of the engine while Bennett’s score begins in a rustle of timpani rolls, quirky woodwinds and hints of the theme to come. Artful anticipation at its best! The engine, by the way, is 230-G-353. Simultaneous with a giant forte chord from the orchestra, the headlight comes on (one writer mistook the sudden glare for a spotlight). Doors are closed on the carriages and the train slowly begins pulling out of the station. The waltz starts slowly, then faster and faster as the train increases speed, and a solo French horn floats a counter melody above it all. The camera swings to focus on the passing cars, the table lamps clearly visible through the windows of the dining car, then fixes on the golden, embossed Orient Express emblem on the second-to-last car, as the train passes down the track and out of the station. From the moment the train begins to move, it’s done in one unbroken shot; it is said that Unsworth had only one chance to get it right. The waltz and the theme from the main title are combined in the film’s conclusion when the passengers of the Calais coach toast Hercule Poirot for his brilliant deduction—obviously the one they wanted! Beginning when Mary Debenham kisses Mrs. Hubbard, the organizer of the murder, a solo oboe, for seemingly the longest time, gives out a slow version of the waltz, a high moment in the score. After the last clink of wine glasses, the waltz, back in its familiar tempo, supports the rolling end credits, joined by the French horn with the love theme. The train, having been freed from the snowdrift and billowing black smoke, once more gains speed and continues on its journey. Many years ago, in High Fidelity magazine, Royal S. Brown reviewed the soundtrack album, then a Capitol LP of course: “I have heard few musical scores that sustain the mood and ambiance of their pictures as well as Bennett’s does here. . . . [E]very note on this disc reveals the exceptional skill of one of the most talented composers writing for film today.” Sadly, Bennett died in 2012. Further nostalgia of the period is added in some source music at the beginning of the film. A little restaurant orchestra is playing “Red Sails in the Sunset,” and since this was the time of the rage for Shirley Temple movies, the added “On the Good Ship Lollipop” seems close to a period overdose. Albert Finney, despite the heavy body makeup, an unrecognizable face and a thick French accent (sometimes hard to understand), saw his Oscar nomination for Best Actor go to Art Carney for Harry and Tonto, sans makeup or disguised voice. Ingrid Bergman was the film’s only winner, for Supporting Actress, trumping her two strongest competitors—Diane Ladd in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore and Talia Shire in The Godfather, Part II. For Ingrid, an accent and dowdy appearance paid off! The film’s other nominations, for Costume Design, went to The Great Gatsby, and for Adapted Screenplay to The Godfather, Part II. Speaking of the script, besides Poirot’s keen observations, there is much humor from the detective himself—and there is this somewhat famous exchange between two men sharing the same train compartment, Foscarelli on the top bunk and Beddoes on the bottom: Foscarelli leans over and asks, “Hey, what are you reading Mister Beddoes?” “I am reading Love’s Captive by Mrs. Arabella Richardson.” “Is it about sex?”

i don't know

Which Dallas actress was born on exactly the same day as singer / songwriter Stephen Stills?

January 3 - Famous Birthdays - On This Day On This Day Famous Birthdays on January 3 Full Calendar Birthdays 1 - 200 of 237 Person of Interest 106 BC Cicero , Roman statesman and philosopher, born in Arpinum (d. 43 BC) Roman Statesman & Philosopher 1196 Emperor Tsuchimikado of Japan (d. 1231) 1624 William Tucker, 1st African American child born in America 1680 Johann Baptist Zimmermann, German stucco worker 1698 Pietro Metastasio, Italian poet (d. 1782) 1710 Richard Gridley, American Revolutionary soldier (d. 1796) 1719 Francisco José Freire, Portuguese historian (d. 1773) 1722 Fredric Hasselquist, Swedish naturalist (d. 1752) 1730 Charles Palissot de Montenoy, French writer/politician 1757 Johann Abraham Sixt, composer 1760 John Storm, American Revolutionary soldier (d. 1835) 1763 Joseph Fesch, French cardinal/war commission/earl/senator 1777 Louis Poinsot, French instrument worker 1777 M A Elisa Bonaparte, Corsican monarch of Lucca/Piombino 1778 Antoni Melchior Fijałkowski, Polish bishop (d. 1861) 1786 [Johann Christian] Friedrich Schneider, German composer and conductor (d. 1853) 1789 Carl G Carus, German physician/psychologist/philosopher 1793 Lucretia Coffin Mott, US, teacher/minister/abolitionist/feminist 1802 Feliks Ostrowski, composer 1802 Charles Pelham Villiers, British House of Commons member (d. 1898) 1803 Douglas William Jerrold, author/playwright/wit (Punch Mag), born in London, England 1806 Henriette Sontag, German soprano (d. 1854) 1810 Antoine T d'Abbadie, French explorer (Ethiopia) [or Jul 24] 1810 Eliza Von Bretton di Zerega, Danish West Indies, baroness 1819 Thomas Hill Watts, Atty Gen (Confederacy), (d. 1892) 1819 Charles Piazzi Smyth, Astronomer Royal for Scotland (d. 1900) 1823 Jaak-Nikolaas Lemmens, Flemish composer 1828 Karl Collan, Finnish composer 1829 John G R Acquoy, theologist/church historian 1829 Konrad Duden, German linguist (Der grosse Duden) 1830 Alexander Ewing, composer 1835 Larkin Goldsmith Mead, sculptor 1836 Sakamoto Ryoma, Japanese revolutionary (d. 1867) 1840 Father Joseph Damien de Veuster, Belgium, helped lepers in Hawaii 1853 Iwan Knorr, German composer, born in Mewe (d. 1916) 1855 Hubert Bland, English socialist (d. 1914) 1861 William Renshaw, British champion tennis player (d. 1904) 1862 Sir Matthew Nathan, British Governor of Queensland and other places (d. 1939) 1865 Henry Lytton, British actor and opera singer (d. 1936) 1868 Franz V M Cumont, Belgian religious historian 1869 Paul Charles Rene Landormy, composer 1870 Henry Eichheim, composer 1870 Henry Handel Richardson, Australia, novelist (Richard Mahoney) 1873 Ichizo Kobayashi, Japanese businessman (d. 1957) 1876 Wilhelm Pieck, co-founder German Communist Party/pres (1949-60) 1879 Grace Anna Goodhue Coolidge, US First Lady (1923-29) 1882 Willem Benoy, Flemish actor/director (Pygmalion) Person of Interest 1884 Eli S Jones, US, evangelist (Christ of Indian road) 1884 Raoul Armand Georg Koczalski, composer 1886 Arthur Mailey, cricketer (great Aussie leg-spinner & cartoonist) 1886 John G Fletcher, US, poet (Epic of Arkansas) 1886 Josephine Hull, Newtonville MA, Academy award actress (Harvey) 1887 Helen Parkhurst, US educator (Education on the Dalton plan) 1887 August Macke, German painter (d. 1914) 1891 Osip E Mandelstam, Polish/Russian poet/author (Kamenj) [NS=Jan 15] Person of Interest 1892 J. R. R. Tolkien , British author (The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings), born in Bloemfontein, South Africa (d. 1973) Writer and Academic 1893 Pierre Drieu La Rochelle, French novelist/essayist (Gilles) 1894 ZaSu Pitts, American actress (Life With Father, Dames, Wedding March), born in Parsons, Kansas (d. 1963) 1895 Boris Mykolayovich Lyatoshyns'ky, composer 1895 Mihail Andricu, composer 1897 Marion Davies, [Marion Cecelia Douras], Bkln, actress (Operator 13) 1897 Pola Negri, [Barbara A Chalupec], Polish/US actress (Madame Bovary) 1898 Johannes Hin, Holland, yachtsman (Olympic-gold-1920) 1900 Dorothy Arnzer, director 1901 Eric Voegelin, Germany, US philosopher (Order & History) 1901 Ngo Dinh Diem, pres/dictator of South Vietnam (1955-63) 1902 Henry Lennox d'Aubigny Hopkinson, diplomat/politician 1903 Charles Foulkes, Canada, general 1904 Boris Kochno, Russian ballet dancer (La Chatte) 1905 Dante Giacosa, engineer/designer 1905 Anna May Wong, American actress, 1st Chinese-American movie star (Shanghai Express), born in Los Angeles, California (d. 1961) 1906 Roman Brandstaetter, writer 1909 Victor Borge, [Borge Rosenbaum], Copenhagen Denmark, pianist/comedian 1910 Thomas Stuart Willan, historian 1910 Frenchy Bordagaray, American baseball player (d. 2000) 1911 John Sturges, US, director (Old Man & Sea, Magnificent 7) 1912 Robert Flemyng, actor (Windom's Way, Young Winston), born in Liverpool, England 1912 Renaude Lapointe, Canadian journalist and senator (d. 2002) 1912 Armand Lohikoski, Finnish director (d. 2005) 1914 Jean Louvel, Flemish pianist/conductor/composer 1916 Antonio Estevez, composer 1916 Betty Furness, American actress/journalist/consumer activist (Studio 1), born in NYC, New York 1916 Bernard Greenhouse, American cellist 1917 Vernon A. Walters, American diplomat and US permanent rep to the UN (1989-91), born in NYC, New York (d. 2002) 1917 Roger W. Straus, Jr., American publisher (d. 2004) 1918 Maxene Andrews, Minn, singer (Andrew Sisters-Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy) 1919 Jesse White, Buf NY, actor (Bedtime for Bonzo, Million Dollar Mermaid) 1920 Renato Carosone, Italian musician (d. 2001) 1921 John Russell, American actor (Pale Rider, Rio Bravo), born in Los Angeles, California (d. 1991) 1922 Bill Travers, Newcastle-on-Tyne England, actor (Born Free, Gorgo) 1922 Jacques Wildberger, Swiss composer (In My End is My Beginning) 1922 Morten Nielsen, Denmark, poet/resistance fighter 1923 Dragutin Gostuski, composer 1923 Charles Tingwell, Australian actor 1924 Andre Franquin, cartoonist 1924 Henry M Fazzie, South African Union/UDF-leader 1924 Roy Harding, British teacher 1924 Nell Rankin, American singer (d. 2005) 1924 Doug Ellis, British entrepreneur 1926 Danny Overbea, blues singer/guitarist 1926 George Martin, British record producer (The Beatles), born in London (d. 2016) 1928 Frank Ross Anderson, Canada, International Chess Master (1954) 1929 Marilyn Lloyd, (Rep-D-TN, 1975- ) 1929 Sergio Leone, Italian, director (Fist Full of Dollars) 1929 Ernst Mahle, Brazilian composer 1930 Eddie Egan, American actor (Joe Forrester), born in NYC, New York 1930 Robert Loggia, actor (Officer & a Gentleman, Scarface), born in Staten Island, New York (d. 2015) 1930 Marcel Dubé, Quebec playwright 1932 Anatoli Petrovich Kuklin, Russia, cosmonaut 1932 Jaswick Taylor, cricketer (WI pace bowler 50s, 10 wkts in 3 Tests) 1932 Mara Corday, actress (Foxfire, Black Scorpion), born in Santa Monica, California 1932 Coo Coo Marlin, American race car driver (d. 2005) 1934 Bryan George Kelly, composer 1934 Carla Hills, American lawyer and politician (Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, 1975-77), born in Los Angeles, California 1936 Betty Rollin, actress (Crossing Delancey)/author (Last Wish) 1936 David Vine, British sport commentator 1936 Jos Kunst, Dutch composer, born in Roermond (d. 1996) 1937 Glen Larson, American television producer & writer (Battlestar Galactica, Magnum PI, & Knight Rider), born in Long Beach, CA, (d. 2014) Person of Interest 1939 Nikos Alefantos, Greek football manager 1939 Janice Crosio, Australian politician 1940 Thelma Schoonmaker, actress/editor (Casino, Cape Fear, Good Fellas) 1941 Shima Iwashita, actress (Red Lion, Hara-Kiri, Double Suicide) 1941 Van Dyke Parks, Alabama, actor/musician (Bonino, Billy Crystal Hour) 1942 John Thaw, British actor (d. 2002) 1942 John Marsden, Australian lawyer, gay activist (d. 2006) 1944 Christina von Saltza, US, swimmer (Olympic-3 gold/silver-1960) 1944 David Atherton, English conductor 1944 Blanche d'Alpuget, Australian novelist, biographer and second wife of Bob Hawke 1945 Stephen Stills, songwriter/guitarist (Cosby Stills & Nash), born in Dallas, Texas Person of Interest 1946 John Paul Jones [John Baldwin], English rock bassist and songwriter (Led Zeppelin - Stairway to Heaven), born in London Musician 1946 Cissy King, American entertainer 1947 Sergey Filipovich Protchenko, Russian cosmonaut 1948 Larry McNeeley, Lafayette Ind, banjo player (Glen Campbell Hour) 1948 Manfred Kokot, East German runner (world record 50 m indoor) 1949 Sylvia Likens, American torture victim (d. 1965) 1950 Victoria Principal, American actress (Earthquake, Pamela-Dallas), born in Fukuoka, Japan 1950 Beth Anderson, American composer, born in Lexington, Kentucky 1951 Frank Chikane, sec-gen of South African Council of Churches 1951 Gary Nairn, Australian politician 1952 Jim Ross, American wrestling announcer 1953 Angelo Parisi, France, heavyweight judo (Olympic-gold-1980) 1954 Ross The Boss [Ross Friedman], American guitarist (The Dictators), born in the Bronx, New York 1954 Dean Hart, Canadian wrestler (d. 1990) 1954 Ned Lamont, American businessman 1955 Cynthia Sykes, Coffeyville Ky, actress (Flamingo Road, St Elsewhere) 1955 Palmolive, English musician (The Slits, The Raincoats) Person of Interest 1956 Mel Gibson , American actor (Mad Max, Mrs Soffel, Lethal Weapon) and filmmaker, born in Peekskill, New York Actor and Film Director 1956 Willy T. Ribbs, American race car driver, San Jose California 1957 Frank Dicopoulos, actor (Frank Cooper-Guiding Light), born in Akron, Ohio 1957 Bojan Križај, Slovenian skier 1958 Shim Hyung-rae, South Korean filmmaker 1959 Rusty Golden, rocker (Boys Band) 1960 Joan Chen, [Chen Chung], Shanghai China, actress (Last Emperor) 1960 Sandeep Marwah Founder of Film City, Noida, India 1961 Erwin Blom, Dutch singer/guitarist (Eton Crop) 1962 Darren Daulton, US baseball catcher (Philadelphia Phillies) 1962 Gavin Hastings, WLAF kicker (Scottish Claymores) 1962 Mark Gardner, US baseball player (Florida Marlins) 1962 Francesca Lia Block, American author 1963 Aamer Malik, cricketer (Pakistani batsman in 13 Tests 1987-90) 1963 Ashley Chinner, Cape Town South Africa, golfer (1992 CGIA Canadian Tour) 1963 Jim Everett, NFL quarterback (LA Raiders, NO Saints, San Diego Chargers) 1963 Vic Grimes, American professional wrestler 1963 Jerome Young, American professional wrestler 1963 Alex Wheatle MBE, black British novelist 1964 Cheryl Miller, Riverside California, basketball player (Olympic-gold-1984) 1964 Bruce LaBruce, Canadian filmmaker 1965 Daniel Stubbs, NFL defensive end (Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins) 1965 Mark Dewey, pitcher (SF Giants), born in Grand Rapids Michigan 1966 Chetan Sharma, cricketer (Ind Test bowler, World Cup hat-trick 1987) 1966 John Kropke, CFL defensive tackle (Saskatchewan Roughriders) 1966 Luis Sojo, Venezuelan-born MLB infielder (Seattle Mariners), born in Petare, Edo Miranda 1966 Wendell Davis, NFL wide receiver (Indianapolis Colts) 1966 Martin Galway, Northern Ireland composer 1967 Demetri Davis, WLAF tight end (Barcelona Dragons) 1967 Magnus Gustafsson, Sweden, tennis star 1968 Kent Carlsson, Sweden, tennis star 1968 Kerry Huffman, Peterborough, NHL defenseman (Philadelphia Flyers, Ottawa) 1968 Shannon Sturges, actress (Savannah) 1968 Thomas Rayam, CFL offensive linebacker (Edmonton Eskimos) 1969 Matt LaBounty, defensive end (Seattle Seahawks) 1969 Nikki Nelson, Topaz Lake Nev, country singer (Highway 101-Cry Cry Cry) 1969 Steve Poapst, Cornwall, NHL defenseman (Washington Capitals) Person of Interest 1969 Michael Schumacher , German Formula 1 racing driver and seven time world champion, born in Hürth, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany Formula 1 Driver

Victoria Principal

Who was the German soldier in Rowan and Martin's Laugh In?

January 3 - Famous Birthdays - On This Day On This Day Famous Birthdays on January 3 Full Calendar Birthdays 1 - 200 of 237 Person of Interest 106 BC Cicero , Roman statesman and philosopher, born in Arpinum (d. 43 BC) Roman Statesman & Philosopher 1196 Emperor Tsuchimikado of Japan (d. 1231) 1624 William Tucker, 1st African American child born in America 1680 Johann Baptist Zimmermann, German stucco worker 1698 Pietro Metastasio, Italian poet (d. 1782) 1710 Richard Gridley, American Revolutionary soldier (d. 1796) 1719 Francisco José Freire, Portuguese historian (d. 1773) 1722 Fredric Hasselquist, Swedish naturalist (d. 1752) 1730 Charles Palissot de Montenoy, French writer/politician 1757 Johann Abraham Sixt, composer 1760 John Storm, American Revolutionary soldier (d. 1835) 1763 Joseph Fesch, French cardinal/war commission/earl/senator 1777 Louis Poinsot, French instrument worker 1777 M A Elisa Bonaparte, Corsican monarch of Lucca/Piombino 1778 Antoni Melchior Fijałkowski, Polish bishop (d. 1861) 1786 [Johann Christian] Friedrich Schneider, German composer and conductor (d. 1853) 1789 Carl G Carus, German physician/psychologist/philosopher 1793 Lucretia Coffin Mott, US, teacher/minister/abolitionist/feminist 1802 Feliks Ostrowski, composer 1802 Charles Pelham Villiers, British House of Commons member (d. 1898) 1803 Douglas William Jerrold, author/playwright/wit (Punch Mag), born in London, England 1806 Henriette Sontag, German soprano (d. 1854) 1810 Antoine T d'Abbadie, French explorer (Ethiopia) [or Jul 24] 1810 Eliza Von Bretton di Zerega, Danish West Indies, baroness 1819 Thomas Hill Watts, Atty Gen (Confederacy), (d. 1892) 1819 Charles Piazzi Smyth, Astronomer Royal for Scotland (d. 1900) 1823 Jaak-Nikolaas Lemmens, Flemish composer 1828 Karl Collan, Finnish composer 1829 John G R Acquoy, theologist/church historian 1829 Konrad Duden, German linguist (Der grosse Duden) 1830 Alexander Ewing, composer 1835 Larkin Goldsmith Mead, sculptor 1836 Sakamoto Ryoma, Japanese revolutionary (d. 1867) 1840 Father Joseph Damien de Veuster, Belgium, helped lepers in Hawaii 1853 Iwan Knorr, German composer, born in Mewe (d. 1916) 1855 Hubert Bland, English socialist (d. 1914) 1861 William Renshaw, British champion tennis player (d. 1904) 1862 Sir Matthew Nathan, British Governor of Queensland and other places (d. 1939) 1865 Henry Lytton, British actor and opera singer (d. 1936) 1868 Franz V M Cumont, Belgian religious historian 1869 Paul Charles Rene Landormy, composer 1870 Henry Eichheim, composer 1870 Henry Handel Richardson, Australia, novelist (Richard Mahoney) 1873 Ichizo Kobayashi, Japanese businessman (d. 1957) 1876 Wilhelm Pieck, co-founder German Communist Party/pres (1949-60) 1879 Grace Anna Goodhue Coolidge, US First Lady (1923-29) 1882 Willem Benoy, Flemish actor/director (Pygmalion) Person of Interest 1884 Eli S Jones, US, evangelist (Christ of Indian road) 1884 Raoul Armand Georg Koczalski, composer 1886 Arthur Mailey, cricketer (great Aussie leg-spinner & cartoonist) 1886 John G Fletcher, US, poet (Epic of Arkansas) 1886 Josephine Hull, Newtonville MA, Academy award actress (Harvey) 1887 Helen Parkhurst, US educator (Education on the Dalton plan) 1887 August Macke, German painter (d. 1914) 1891 Osip E Mandelstam, Polish/Russian poet/author (Kamenj) [NS=Jan 15] Person of Interest 1892 J. R. R. Tolkien , British author (The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings), born in Bloemfontein, South Africa (d. 1973) Writer and Academic 1893 Pierre Drieu La Rochelle, French novelist/essayist (Gilles) 1894 ZaSu Pitts, American actress (Life With Father, Dames, Wedding March), born in Parsons, Kansas (d. 1963) 1895 Boris Mykolayovich Lyatoshyns'ky, composer 1895 Mihail Andricu, composer 1897 Marion Davies, [Marion Cecelia Douras], Bkln, actress (Operator 13) 1897 Pola Negri, [Barbara A Chalupec], Polish/US actress (Madame Bovary) 1898 Johannes Hin, Holland, yachtsman (Olympic-gold-1920) 1900 Dorothy Arnzer, director 1901 Eric Voegelin, Germany, US philosopher (Order & History) 1901 Ngo Dinh Diem, pres/dictator of South Vietnam (1955-63) 1902 Henry Lennox d'Aubigny Hopkinson, diplomat/politician 1903 Charles Foulkes, Canada, general 1904 Boris Kochno, Russian ballet dancer (La Chatte) 1905 Dante Giacosa, engineer/designer 1905 Anna May Wong, American actress, 1st Chinese-American movie star (Shanghai Express), born in Los Angeles, California (d. 1961) 1906 Roman Brandstaetter, writer 1909 Victor Borge, [Borge Rosenbaum], Copenhagen Denmark, pianist/comedian 1910 Thomas Stuart Willan, historian 1910 Frenchy Bordagaray, American baseball player (d. 2000) 1911 John Sturges, US, director (Old Man & Sea, Magnificent 7) 1912 Robert Flemyng, actor (Windom's Way, Young Winston), born in Liverpool, England 1912 Renaude Lapointe, Canadian journalist and senator (d. 2002) 1912 Armand Lohikoski, Finnish director (d. 2005) 1914 Jean Louvel, Flemish pianist/conductor/composer 1916 Antonio Estevez, composer 1916 Betty Furness, American actress/journalist/consumer activist (Studio 1), born in NYC, New York 1916 Bernard Greenhouse, American cellist 1917 Vernon A. Walters, American diplomat and US permanent rep to the UN (1989-91), born in NYC, New York (d. 2002) 1917 Roger W. Straus, Jr., American publisher (d. 2004) 1918 Maxene Andrews, Minn, singer (Andrew Sisters-Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy) 1919 Jesse White, Buf NY, actor (Bedtime for Bonzo, Million Dollar Mermaid) 1920 Renato Carosone, Italian musician (d. 2001) 1921 John Russell, American actor (Pale Rider, Rio Bravo), born in Los Angeles, California (d. 1991) 1922 Bill Travers, Newcastle-on-Tyne England, actor (Born Free, Gorgo) 1922 Jacques Wildberger, Swiss composer (In My End is My Beginning) 1922 Morten Nielsen, Denmark, poet/resistance fighter 1923 Dragutin Gostuski, composer 1923 Charles Tingwell, Australian actor 1924 Andre Franquin, cartoonist 1924 Henry M Fazzie, South African Union/UDF-leader 1924 Roy Harding, British teacher 1924 Nell Rankin, American singer (d. 2005) 1924 Doug Ellis, British entrepreneur 1926 Danny Overbea, blues singer/guitarist 1926 George Martin, British record producer (The Beatles), born in London (d. 2016) 1928 Frank Ross Anderson, Canada, International Chess Master (1954) 1929 Marilyn Lloyd, (Rep-D-TN, 1975- ) 1929 Sergio Leone, Italian, director (Fist Full of Dollars) 1929 Ernst Mahle, Brazilian composer 1930 Eddie Egan, American actor (Joe Forrester), born in NYC, New York 1930 Robert Loggia, actor (Officer & a Gentleman, Scarface), born in Staten Island, New York (d. 2015) 1930 Marcel Dubé, Quebec playwright 1932 Anatoli Petrovich Kuklin, Russia, cosmonaut 1932 Jaswick Taylor, cricketer (WI pace bowler 50s, 10 wkts in 3 Tests) 1932 Mara Corday, actress (Foxfire, Black Scorpion), born in Santa Monica, California 1932 Coo Coo Marlin, American race car driver (d. 2005) 1934 Bryan George Kelly, composer 1934 Carla Hills, American lawyer and politician (Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, 1975-77), born in Los Angeles, California 1936 Betty Rollin, actress (Crossing Delancey)/author (Last Wish) 1936 David Vine, British sport commentator 1936 Jos Kunst, Dutch composer, born in Roermond (d. 1996) 1937 Glen Larson, American television producer & writer (Battlestar Galactica, Magnum PI, & Knight Rider), born in Long Beach, CA, (d. 2014) Person of Interest 1939 Nikos Alefantos, Greek football manager 1939 Janice Crosio, Australian politician 1940 Thelma Schoonmaker, actress/editor (Casino, Cape Fear, Good Fellas) 1941 Shima Iwashita, actress (Red Lion, Hara-Kiri, Double Suicide) 1941 Van Dyke Parks, Alabama, actor/musician (Bonino, Billy Crystal Hour) 1942 John Thaw, British actor (d. 2002) 1942 John Marsden, Australian lawyer, gay activist (d. 2006) 1944 Christina von Saltza, US, swimmer (Olympic-3 gold/silver-1960) 1944 David Atherton, English conductor 1944 Blanche d'Alpuget, Australian novelist, biographer and second wife of Bob Hawke 1945 Stephen Stills, songwriter/guitarist (Cosby Stills & Nash), born in Dallas, Texas Person of Interest 1946 John Paul Jones [John Baldwin], English rock bassist and songwriter (Led Zeppelin - Stairway to Heaven), born in London Musician 1946 Cissy King, American entertainer 1947 Sergey Filipovich Protchenko, Russian cosmonaut 1948 Larry McNeeley, Lafayette Ind, banjo player (Glen Campbell Hour) 1948 Manfred Kokot, East German runner (world record 50 m indoor) 1949 Sylvia Likens, American torture victim (d. 1965) 1950 Victoria Principal, American actress (Earthquake, Pamela-Dallas), born in Fukuoka, Japan 1950 Beth Anderson, American composer, born in Lexington, Kentucky 1951 Frank Chikane, sec-gen of South African Council of Churches 1951 Gary Nairn, Australian politician 1952 Jim Ross, American wrestling announcer 1953 Angelo Parisi, France, heavyweight judo (Olympic-gold-1980) 1954 Ross The Boss [Ross Friedman], American guitarist (The Dictators), born in the Bronx, New York 1954 Dean Hart, Canadian wrestler (d. 1990) 1954 Ned Lamont, American businessman 1955 Cynthia Sykes, Coffeyville Ky, actress (Flamingo Road, St Elsewhere) 1955 Palmolive, English musician (The Slits, The Raincoats) Person of Interest 1956 Mel Gibson , American actor (Mad Max, Mrs Soffel, Lethal Weapon) and filmmaker, born in Peekskill, New York Actor and Film Director 1956 Willy T. Ribbs, American race car driver, San Jose California 1957 Frank Dicopoulos, actor (Frank Cooper-Guiding Light), born in Akron, Ohio 1957 Bojan Križај, Slovenian skier 1958 Shim Hyung-rae, South Korean filmmaker 1959 Rusty Golden, rocker (Boys Band) 1960 Joan Chen, [Chen Chung], Shanghai China, actress (Last Emperor) 1960 Sandeep Marwah Founder of Film City, Noida, India 1961 Erwin Blom, Dutch singer/guitarist (Eton Crop) 1962 Darren Daulton, US baseball catcher (Philadelphia Phillies) 1962 Gavin Hastings, WLAF kicker (Scottish Claymores) 1962 Mark Gardner, US baseball player (Florida Marlins) 1962 Francesca Lia Block, American author 1963 Aamer Malik, cricketer (Pakistani batsman in 13 Tests 1987-90) 1963 Ashley Chinner, Cape Town South Africa, golfer (1992 CGIA Canadian Tour) 1963 Jim Everett, NFL quarterback (LA Raiders, NO Saints, San Diego Chargers) 1963 Vic Grimes, American professional wrestler 1963 Jerome Young, American professional wrestler 1963 Alex Wheatle MBE, black British novelist 1964 Cheryl Miller, Riverside California, basketball player (Olympic-gold-1984) 1964 Bruce LaBruce, Canadian filmmaker 1965 Daniel Stubbs, NFL defensive end (Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins) 1965 Mark Dewey, pitcher (SF Giants), born in Grand Rapids Michigan 1966 Chetan Sharma, cricketer (Ind Test bowler, World Cup hat-trick 1987) 1966 John Kropke, CFL defensive tackle (Saskatchewan Roughriders) 1966 Luis Sojo, Venezuelan-born MLB infielder (Seattle Mariners), born in Petare, Edo Miranda 1966 Wendell Davis, NFL wide receiver (Indianapolis Colts) 1966 Martin Galway, Northern Ireland composer 1967 Demetri Davis, WLAF tight end (Barcelona Dragons) 1967 Magnus Gustafsson, Sweden, tennis star 1968 Kent Carlsson, Sweden, tennis star 1968 Kerry Huffman, Peterborough, NHL defenseman (Philadelphia Flyers, Ottawa) 1968 Shannon Sturges, actress (Savannah) 1968 Thomas Rayam, CFL offensive linebacker (Edmonton Eskimos) 1969 Matt LaBounty, defensive end (Seattle Seahawks) 1969 Nikki Nelson, Topaz Lake Nev, country singer (Highway 101-Cry Cry Cry) 1969 Steve Poapst, Cornwall, NHL defenseman (Washington Capitals) Person of Interest 1969 Michael Schumacher , German Formula 1 racing driver and seven time world champion, born in Hürth, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany Formula 1 Driver

i don't know

Who had a 1980s No 1 hit with Shakedown?

Revisiting Bob Seger's Only No. 1 Hit, 'Shakedown' Subscribe to Ultimate Classic Rock on It took two decades, Eddie Murphy and a five-year break from the Top 10 for Bob Seger to score his first, and only, No. 1 hit. On top of all that, after recording for the same company for 20 years, that hit single was on a different label – a one-off song cut for a soundtrack album. But the Beverly Hills Cop franchise was no ordinary ’80s product. It was product, no mistake, but the movies featured Murphy, the hottest comedy star of the decade. The first film in the series, 1984’s Beverly Hills Cop, was a smash, and its soundtrack album reached No. 1. The 1987 follow-up promised more of the same – but bigger. Glenn Frey had a No. 2 hit with “The Heat Is On” from the first movie. But Bob Seger, who hadn’t had a Top 10 song since “Shame on the Moon” climbed to No. 2 in 1982, did him one better with “Shakedown.” (Reportedly, Frey was supposed to sing the follow-up too, but in a turn of events, Seger ended up with the song.) Remarkably, it was Seger’s only chart-topper after nearly three dozen charting singles. “Shakedown” was written by Bob Seger, Harold Faltermeyer (who hit No. 3 with the instrumental “Axel F” from the first movie) and Keith Forsey, who produced the song (as well as other tracks on the Beverly Hills Cop II soundtrack). And it sounded nothing like the meat-and-potatoes heartland rock that Seger’s fans were used to. In fact, with its heavy use of synthesizers and dance beat that aims for both the Top 40 and club floors, the song is one of the worst of Seger’s long career. But he needed the boost. After breaking out with Night Moves in 1976, Seger was on a roll, logging six Top 10 songs in six years, plus a No. 1 album. In the mid ’80s, with MTV dominating the charts, Bob Seger’s brand of gutsy rock ‘n’ roll – splashed with some old-school R&B and even a bit of Detroit-style garage rock – was falling out of favor with mainstream fans. Seger’s two singles preceding “Shakedown” didn’t even reach the Top 50. So, “Shakedown” was the temporary shot in the arm that Seger needed. But it was temporary. After staying at the top of the chart for one week in August 1987, the song slowly slipped from the upper reaches of the Top 40 – and so did Bob Seger. In the 26 years since it reached No. 1, Seger has had only one other charting single, 1991’s “The Real Love,” which stalled at No. 24. For one week in 1987, though, he was on top of the world, thanks to a summer blockbuster, Eddie Murphy and a song the MTV generation could identify with. See Bob Seger and Other Rockers in the Top 100 Albums of the ’70s Image of

Bob Seger

On whose life was the short-lived musical Winnie based?

"Shakedown," "Night Moves" and More: Bob Seger's 70th Birthday : Buzz : Music Times Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Bob Seger (Photo : Clay McBride) Bob Seger turned 70 years-old today, May 6, and the leader of the Silver Bullet Band has had more than his handful of hits over the years after spending nearly five decades in the music business. Music Times celebrates his rock 'n' roll legacy by looking at his biggest hits across each decade of Seger's career, from "Shakedown" to "Night Moves." 1960's: "Ramblin' Gamblin' Man" (1968) The world of early rock 'n' roll is filled with bands that managed to put out one smash single and never found any success once they began recording full albums. Such was not the case for Bob Seger. The frontman/guitarist began recording singles as early as 1961 (with "The Lonely One") but nothing ever found any radio traction until "Heavy Music," his eighth single, during 1967. He wouldn't release his first album until the next year. Although first single "2 + 2 = ?" failed to chart, the title track from the album would be the breakthrough he needed, rising to no. 17 on the singles charts. It would remain his top-charting single for six years, until the release of the more famous "Night Moves" during 1974. Seger hadn't brought the Silver Bullet Band together yet, recording Ramblin' Gamblin' Man with a group named The Bob Seger System (part of us thinks that's a better name actually). Fans won't be able to hear the difference however. Advertisement 1970's: "Still The Same" (1978) We were trying to provide a surprise for this decade, by previewing the eventual chart placement of "Night Moves" in the last entry. That wasn't his best-charting single of the decade however...depending on how you look at it. "Night Moves"—which we readily admit is a more popular song nowadays—came in at no. 4, a placement that would be matched by "Still The Same" four years later during 1978. How did we decide to break the tie? Turns out that the latter track ended up having a much more international impact, if not a more lasting impact. Not only did it chart at no. 4 in the United States...it also came in at no. 4 in Canada (just one spot ahead of "Night Moves" and even managed to break into the German and Austrian radio markets. Some might argue that at least "Night Moves" got UK airplay...but we would tell them to relax knowing that the earlier single is now one of his most well-regarded hits. 1980's: "Shakedown" (1987) Seger would top his previous record for highest charting song, at no. 2 during 1982 with "Shame On The Moon," but he wouldn't reach the peak until 1987, thanks in part to Hollywood. "Shakedown" was written for the soundtrack to Beverly Hills Cop II, a film that drew in more than $150 million at the box office. The song would also earn Seger his only Oscar nomination for Best Original Song (losing to "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" from Dirty Dancing. Awards aside, "Shakedown" would remain the most successful single of the rocker's career, topping the U.S. singles chart, the U.S. Rock chart and the Canadian singles chart. The chugging pace and loose description of events from the film might remind many people of Kenny Loggins' "Danger Zone" from Top Gun, which had been released the year before...but "Danger Zone" only got to no. 2 on the Hot 100. The 1990's: "The Real Love" (1991) Up until this point, Seger has been good about releasing his most successful singles of a decade toward the end of the ten-year span, suggesting just how relevant he remained throughout. The '90s ended up being an exception, as "The Real Love" off of his album The Fire Inside ended up peaking at no. 24 on the Hot 100, the last time a Seger single would make that chart. Part of the blame for a lack of later singles can be blamed on the musical atmosphere of the time: The release of Fire Inside came amidst the rising grunge scene, which made Seger's straightforward rock 'n' roll almost dated by comparison. Although the guitarist's 1994 Greatest Hits album would become his bestselling record ever, Seger only released on more record during the decade, taking an 11-year break from recording and touring. 2000's: "Hey Hey Hey Hey (Going Back to Birmingham" (2011) Due to his general lack of production during the new millennium, we decided to count Seger's 2011 single "Hey Hey Hey Hey (Going Back to Birmingham)" as his single for the current century. The song had been recorded by Little Richard nearly 50 years before Seger put his own spin on it for the greatest hits compilation Ultimate Hits: Rock and Roll Never Forgets. The track may not have reached the Hot 100 like the rest of the entries on this list, but it did find a home among a willing audience: "Hey Hey Hey Hey" would end up becoming Seger's third no. 1 single on the US Rock charts, joining "Shakedown" and "Like A Rock." Will it be the last? We hope not!

i don't know

How many Gilbert & Sullivan operas are there?

G&S101: The Gilbert & Sullivan Story I (All the photos below are thumbnails – click on them to see larger versions.) William Gilbert – Arthur Sullivan – Richard D'Oyly Carte Beginning in the 1870s, three Englishmen -- playwright William S. Gilbert and composer Arthur Sullivan --revolutionized the musical theatre, creating a series of witty, melodic operettas that set a new standard for stage professionalism. Sullivan's music sparkled with fresh melody, and Gilbert's librettos blended silliness and satire in settings that ranged from pure fantasy to the utterly realistic. Innovative producer Richard D'Oyly Carte publicized these shows as "light operas", but by any name, they were musicals – some of the finest the world would ever see in any language. Beginnings Gilbert was an unsuccessful attorney before a series of his illustrated comic poems were published in several popular British magazines. This opened the way to a successful career as a London playwright and director. At the same time, Sullivan was winning acclaim as Britain's most promising serious composer, but he was quite willing to compose lighter pieces to cover the expenses of the high-society lifestyle he craved. Both men had written minor musical shows with other collaborators, but neither expected that musical theatre would be their key to lasting fame. In the 1860s, the British musical theatre consisted of variety shows, French operettas, and the slapdash comic light operas presented by John Hollingshead at his Gaiety Theatre. Hollingshead hired Gilbert and Sullivan to create Thespis (1871 - 63), a mythological spoof involving a theatrical troupe that stumbles onto Mount Olympus and trades places with the aging Greek gods. Written and staged in a frantic five weeks, Gilbert himself later dismissed this show as "crude and ineffective," but it impressed at least one audience member – aspiring producer Richard D'Oyly Carte. Four years later, when Carte needed a one-act "curtain raiser" to share the bill with his production of Offenbach's La Perichole at London's Opera Comique, he convinced G&S to adapt one of Gilbert's satirical poems. Trial By Jury: The Curtain Raiser The opening night of Trial By Jury as recreated for The Gilbert and Sullivan Story. The resulting thirty five minute musical eclipsed La Perichole and became the talk of London. Trial By Jury (1875 - 131) was a delicious spoof of a breach of promise trial, a now-forgotten procedure where a man could be sued by a woman for withdrawing a proposal of marriage. In the show, the defendant is a roguish playboy, the pretty plaintiff (wearing her wedding dress) flirts shamelessly with the all-male jury, and an amoral judge shamelessly resolves the case by marrying the girl himself. Trial By Jury established several comic themes that would run through most of Gilbert and Sullivan's shows – unqualified men who have oiled their way into high public office the course of true love flows in surprising directions a flagrant disdain for women over 40 years of age Example: Trial's "Learned Judge" (originally portrayed by Sullivan's brother Frederic) sings of the questionable tactics that brought him to his exalted position -- At Westminster Hall In the dusk, With a light behind her!" Although both Gilbert and Sullivan looked on operetta as a sideline, they realized it could prove very profitable. So D'Oyly Carte had little if any trouble persuading them to attempt a full-length work. The Sorcerer George Grossmith, who originated most of the G&S comic "patter" roles – seen here as John Wellington Wells in The Sorcerer. The Sorcerer (1877 - 178) involved magician John Wellington Wells, who wreaks havoc in a small English village with a love potion. By having members of the upper and lower classes fall in love with each other, The Sorcerer lampooned Victorian notions of social propriety and class distinction, but it's comedy was so polished, witty and utterly respectable that no one took offense. It had a healthy run, and unauthorized productions soon appeared in the United States, which at that time did not recognize international copyrights. Gilbert and Sullivan were initiating a form of British operetta that was quite unlike its continental predecessors. The sexual references and situations found in Offenbach were avoided. Where French operettas usually had cartoonish characters, G&S made a conscious effort to use more familiar, believable characters. Most of the townspeople in The Sorcerer were the sort that British audiences knew from everyday life -- with the obvious exception of the slightly bizarre title character. Encouraged by The Sorcerer's profitable run, the authors next wrote an operetta that had even greater fun with British social conventions. They succeeded beyond their wildest dreams, creating a show that would reshape the popular musical theatre on both sides of the Atlantic.

thirteen

"Who said, ""Middle age is when your age starts to show around your middle?"""

Gilbert Sullivan Their Operas - AbeBooks Gilbert Sullivan Their Operas Results (1 - 30) of 124 1   (86) Search Within These Results: Published by The Heritage Press Used Published by The Heritage Press Used Hardcover Published by The Heritage Press Used Hardcover Published by The Heritage Press Used Published by Benjamin Blom, New York and London (1970) Used Hardcover Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: Benjamin Blom, New York and London, 1970. Hardcover. Book Condition: Good. Reissued. Salmon colored cloth covered boards with black spine titles; mild edge wear; spine is sun faded; 8vo 7 3/4" - 9 3/4" Tall; no jacket. Ex library with typical stamps and markings; frontispiece and additional illustrations in black and white; interior is unmarked; 443 pages. Bookseller Inventory # SKU1019570 Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: 2013. Book Condition: New. ***This is the EBook version (.pdf format) of the 1914 edition. Scanned from the original book !!** You will be receiving the text of this book via download. An email will be sent shortly to your email address containing the download instructions. Refund requests for 'Buyer does not want item' after an ebook has been received will not be accepted. Bookseller Inventory # 669299 Gilbert, W. S. / Sullivan, Arthur / Allen, Reginald {edited} / Carte, Bridget D'Oyly {Foreword} Published by Heritage Press, New York (1958) Used Hardcover Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: Heritage Press, New York, 1958. Slipcased Hardcover. Book Condition: Good. No Jacket. Various (illustrator). Some light wear on slipcase. Books has minor wear. Text is clean and tight in binding. Size: 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall. Bookseller Inventory # 088412 More Information About This Seller | Ask Bookseller a Question 7. Bookseller Image Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: Whitbread & Co. Paperback. Book Condition: AVERAGE. Paperback; English language; a fair reading copy. Your book will be securely packed and promptly dispatched from our UK warehouse. For buyers outside the UK we now offer significantly lower rates on our airmail shipping. Bookseller Inventory # 11445ric004 Published by The Heritage Press (1958) Used Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: The Heritage Press, 1958. WORKBOOK. Book Condition: Very Good. New York, 1958; with a Prologue and Copious Descriptive Particulars and a Foreword; illustrated with Contemporary drawings;one quarter burgundy and green cloth covered boards; no dust jacket; book in gold slipcase which is slightly soiled but sturdy; thin box with facsimiles of first night programmes also in slipcase; Sandglass pamphlet a bit crumpled but laid in; book has tight binding; Interior clean and unmarked; 4to - over 9 3/4" - 12" Tall; 465 pages. Bookseller Inventory # SKU1043832 More Information About This Seller | Ask Bookseller a Question 9. Stock Image ISBN 10: 0903443104 ISBN 13: 9780903443104 Used Hardcover Published by The Bass Publishers, New York (1935) Used Hardcover Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: The Bass Publishers, New York, 1935. Cloth. With Lyrics and Sheet Musics (illustrator). 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall. VG/no dust jacket. Light wear to spine ends and edgewear. Hardcover copy. Second printing. Former owners name on front endpaper. Nice solid copy. Bookseller Inventory # 008379 Published by The Heritage Press (1958) Used Hardcover Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: The Heritage Press, 1958. Hardcover. Book Condition: Used: Very Good. Very good hardcover with fair slipcase. Pages are clean and unmarked. Covers show light edge wear with rubbing/light scuffing. Binding is tight, hinges strong. Facsimiles of the First Night Programmes are in very good condition. Slipcase show edge wear with rubbing/soiling.; 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed! Ships same or next business day!. Bookseller Inventory # 51606020069 Published by Crown Pub. (1939) Used Hardcover More Information About This Seller | Ask Bookseller a Question 13. Bookseller Image Allen, Reginald (Ed); Carte, Bridget D'Oyly (foreword) Published by Heritage Press, New York, NY, U.S.A. (1958) Used Hardcover First Edition Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: Heritage Press, New York, NY, U.S.A., 1958. Hardcover. Book Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: SLIPCASE. 1st. Check Seller's image, know what you are getting! ORIGINAL, NOT A REPRINT OR PHOTOCOPY!! This is a box set in slipcase, the slipcase has wear to edges, scrape to top side, small tears at bottom . Has minor wear and soil to volume covers, program box has pull tab. Owner markings NOT noted. Please see pictures. The Copyright date is 1958 for this Printing. EXTRA MEDIA MAIL SHIPPING WOULD BE REQUIRED BUT WILL NOT BE COLLECTED AS $2.00 OF PRICE IS FOR EXTRA POSTAGE! So it will ship at the One Book rate. Please consider this when comparing pricing! Thank you for your purchase from Sunset Books! Help Promote World Literacy, GIVE a Book as a GIFT!! In stock, Ships from Ohio. WE COMBINE SHIPPING ON MULTIPLE PURCHASES!!!! SEE PICTURES!!!!! ANY ODD/GREEN TONES ON THE SCANS ARE CAUSED BY MY SCANNER!! All of our Technical/Textbook/Ex-Library volumes were obtained legally through Public or Auction sales. This volume was purchased through Local Public sale. Size: 4to - over 9¾ - 12" tall. Book. Bookseller Inventory # 026439 Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: 2016. Softcover. Book Condition: New. 561 Lang:- eng, Pages 561, Print on Demand. Reprinted in 2016 with the help of original edition published long back[1970]. This book is Printed in black & white, sewing binding for longer life with Matt laminated multi-Colour Soft Cover {HARDCOVER EDITION IS ALSO AVAILABLE}, Printed on high quality Paper, re-sized as per Current standards, professionally processed without changing its contents. As these are old books, there may be some pages which are blur or missing or black spots. If it is multi volume set, then it is only single volume. We expect that you will understand our compulsion in these books. We found this book important for the readers who want to know more about our old treasure so we brought it back to the shelves. (Customisation is possible). Hope you will like it and give your comments and suggestions. Language: eng. Bookseller Inventory # PB1111005017134 Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: 2016. Softcover. Book Condition: New. 564 Lang:- English, Pages 564, Print on Demand. Reprinted in 2016 with the help of original edition published long back[1914]. This book is Printed in black & white, sewing binding for longer life with Matt laminated multi-Colour Soft Cover {HARDCOVER EDITION IS ALSO AVAILABLE}, Printed on high quality Paper, re-sized as per Current standards, professionally processed without changing its contents. As these are old books, there may be some pages which are blur or missing or black spots. If it is multi volume set, then it is only single volume. We expect that you will understand our compulsion in these books. We found this book important for the readers who want to know more about our old treasure so we brought it back to the shelves. (Customisation is possible). Hope you will like it and give your comments and suggestions. Language: English. Bookseller Inventory # PB1111002647372 Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: 2016. Softcover. Book Condition: New. 572 Lang:- eng, Pages 572, Print on Demand. Reprinted in 2016 with the help of original edition published long back[1914]. This book is Printed in black & white, sewing binding for longer life with Matt laminated multi-Colour Soft Cover {HARDCOVER EDITION IS ALSO AVAILABLE}, Printed on high quality Paper, re-sized as per Current standards, professionally processed without changing its contents. As these are old books, there may be some pages which are blur or missing or black spots. If it is multi volume set, then it is only single volume. We expect that you will understand our compulsion in these books. We found this book important for the readers who want to know more about our old treasure so we brought it back to the shelves. (Customisation is possible). Hope you will like it and give your comments and suggestions. Language: eng. Bookseller Inventory # PB1111006357752 Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: Forgotten Books, United States, 2015. Paperback. Book Condition: New. 229 x 152 mm. Language: English . Brand New Book ***** Print on Demand *****.Excerpt from Gilbert and Sullivan: And Their Operas; With Recollections and Anecdotes of Doyly Carte Other Famous Savoyards About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works. Bookseller Inventory # AAV9781331986317 Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: The Bass Publishers, New York, 1935. Cloth Hardcover. Book Condition: Good to Very Good. No Jacket. Sir W.S. Gilbert (illustrator). Second Edition. 209 pgs. Good to Very Good condition brown cloth hardcover with black lettering and decoration to front board. External wear to cloth along edges and corners with a few small bumps and dings to boards. Internally, bookplate of former owned (now detached, with glue residue on front endpaper) otherwise clean and unmarker throughout. With a Foreword by Frederick Hobbs, Company Manager of the D'Oyly Opera Company Including Famous Musical Selections and Original "Bab" Illustrations Drawn by Sir W.S. Gilbert. Contents: The Gondoliers, The Pirates of Penzance, Iolanthe, H.M.S. Pinafore, The Mikado, The Yeoman of the Guard, Ruddigore, Princess Ida, Patience, Trial By Jury. Book #2520. Size: Small 4to., 6.75 X10 Inches. Bookseller Inventory # 2520 Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: 2016. Hardcover. Book Condition: New. 561 Lang:- eng, Pages 561, Print on Demand. Reprinted in 2016 with the help of original edition published long back[1970]. This book is in black & white, Hardcover, sewing binding for longer life with Matt laminated multi-Colour Dust Cover, Printed on high quality Paper, re-sized as per Current standards, professionally processed without changing its contents. As these are old books, there may be some pages which are blur or missing or black spots. If it is multi volume set, then it is only single volume. We expect that you will understand our compulsion in these books. We found this book important for the readers who want to know more about our old treasure so we brought it back to the shelves. (Customisation is possible). Hope you will like it and give your comments and suggestions. Language: eng. Bookseller Inventory # 1111005017134 Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: 2016. Hardcover. Book Condition: New. 564 Lang:- English, Pages 564, Print on Demand. Reprinted in 2016 with the help of original edition published long back[1914]. This book is in black & white, Hardcover, sewing binding for longer life with Matt laminated multi-Colour Dust Cover, Printed on high quality Paper, re-sized as per Current standards, professionally processed without changing its contents. As these are old books, there may be some pages which are blur or missing or black spots. If it is multi volume set, then it is only single volume. We expect that you will understand our compulsion in these books. We found this book important for the readers who want to know more about our old treasure so we brought it back to the shelves. (Customisation is possible). Hope you will like it and give your comments and suggestions. Language: English. Bookseller Inventory # 1111002647372 Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: 2016. Hardcover. Book Condition: New. 572 Lang:- eng, Pages 572, Print on Demand. Reprinted in 2016 with the help of original edition published long back[1914]. This book is in black & white, Hardcover, sewing binding for longer life with Matt laminated multi-Colour Dust Cover, Printed on high quality Paper, re-sized as per Current standards, professionally processed without changing its contents. As these are old books, there may be some pages which are blur or missing or black spots. If it is multi volume set, then it is only single volume. We expect that you will understand our compulsion in these books. We found this book important for the readers who want to know more about our old treasure so we brought it back to the shelves. (Customisation is possible). Hope you will like it and give your comments and suggestions. Language: eng. Bookseller Inventory # 1111006357752 Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: ReInk Books, 2015. Hardcover. Book Condition: New. Reprinted from 1914 edition. NO changes have been made to the original text. Illustrations, Index, if any, are included in black and white. Each page is checked manually before printing. Fold-outs, if any, are not part of the book. If the original book was published in multiple volumes than this reprint is of only one volume, not the whole set. This hardback book is SEWN, where the book block is actually sewn (smythe sewn/section sewn) with thread before binding which results in a more durable type of hardback binding. It can also be open wide. The pages will not fall out and will be around for a lot longer than normal hardbacks. This book is printed on demand on acid-free paper.(Original publisher, Little, Brown) 564 pages. Bookseller Inventory # HB451450776 Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: Forgotten Books, United States, 2015. Paperback. Book Condition: New. 229 x 152 mm. Language: English . Brand New Book ***** Print on Demand *****. Excerpt from Gilbert and Sullivan: And Their Operas; With Recollections and Anecdotes of Doyly Carte Other Famous Savoyards About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works. Bookseller Inventory # AAV9781331986317

i don't know

"About whom did Kenneth Tynan say, ""What one sees in other women drunk, one sees in... sober?"""

Kenneth Tynan - Wikiquote Kenneth Tynan Jump to: navigation , search No theater could sanely flourish until there was an umbilical connection between what was happening on the stage and what was happening in the world . Kenneth Tynan ( 2 April 1927 – 26 July 1980 ) was a British author most famous for his theatre criticism. Contents Quotes[ edit ] We shall be judged by what we do, not by how we felt while we were doing it. How far should one accept the rules of the society in which one lives? To put it another way: at what point does conformity become corruption ? Only by answering such questions does the conscience truly define itself. A good many inconveniences attend playgoing in any large city, but the greatest of them is usually the play itself. Article in the New York Herald Tribune (17 February 1957) I believe in neither a director’s nor a writer’s theatre, but a theatre of intelligent audiences. I count myself as a member of an intelligent audience, and I wrote to you as such. That you should disagree with me I can understand, but that you should resent my expressing my opinions is something that frankly amazes me. I thought we had outgrown the idea of theatre as a mystic rite born of secret communion between author, director, actors and an empty auditorium. Letter to George Devine (10 March 1964), printed in Kenneth Tynan : A Life by Dominic Shellard [Yale University Press, 2003, ISBN 0-300-09919-3 ], p. 292 I doubt if there are very many rational people in this world to whom the word "fuck" is particularly diabolical or revolting or totally forbidden. Spoken during a discussion on censorship, broadcast live on the BBC program BBC-3, (13 November 1965) Tynan was the first to say this word on British television, leading to an apology from the BBC and several motions in the House of Commons. Any country that has sexual censorship will eventually have political censorship. As quoted in "Critic Kenneth Tynan Has Mellowed But Is Still England's Stingingest Gadfly" by Godfrey Smith in The New York Times (9 January 1966) I hope I never need to believe in God . It would be an awful confession of failure . As quoted in "Critic Kenneth Tynan Has Mellowed But Is Still England's Stingingest Gadfly" by Godfrey Smith in The New York Times (9 January 1966) A critic is a man who knows the way but can't drive the car. As quoted in "Critic Kenneth Tynan Has Mellowed But Is Still England's Stingingest Gadfly" by Godfrey Smith in The New York Times (9 January 1966) No theater could sanely flourish until there was an umbilical connection between what was happening on the stage and what was happening in the world. As quoted in "Critic Kenneth Tynan Has Mellowed But Is Still England's Stingingest Gadfly" by Godfrey Smith in The New York Times (9 January 1966) Not content to have the audience in the palm of his hand, he goes one further and clinches his fist. As quoted in "Kenneth Tynan — The Critic As Elegant Conversationalist" by by Robert Cushman in The New York Times (17 August 1980) A neurosis is a secret that you don't know you're keeping. Quoted in Kathleen Tynan , The Life of Kenneth Tynan (1987), p. 188 Tynan Right and Left (1967)[ edit ] A good drama critic is one who perceives what is happening in the theatre of his time . A great drama critic also perceives what is not happening. The man who reacts to the universe with a cry of impotent anguish is acceptable as an artist only if he can persuade us that he has sanely considered the other possible reactions and found them inadequate. A good drama critic is one who perceives what is happening in the theatre of his time . A great drama critic also perceives what is not happening. Foreword, p. viii John Osborne spoke out in a vein of ebullient, free-wheeling rancour that betokened the arrival of something new in the theatre — a sophisticated, articulate lower-class. Most of the critics were offended by Jimmy Porter , but not on account of his anger; a working-class hero is expected to be angry. What nettled them was something quite different: his self-confidence. This was no envious inferior whose insecurity they could pity. "Decade in Retrospect: 1959" (1959), p. 13 When you've seen all of Ionesco 's plays, I felt at the end, you've seen one of them. Review of Victims of Duty by Eugène Ionesco (1960), p. 36 A villain who shares one's guilt is inevitably more attractive than a hero convinced of one's innocence . Review of The Changeling, by Thomas Middleton (1961), p. 75 We shall be judged by what we do, not by how we felt while we were doing it. Review of Altona, by Jean-Paul Sartre (1961), p. 97 The man who reacts to the universe with a cry of impotent anguish is acceptable as an artist only if he can persuade us that he has sanely considered the other possible reactions and found them inadequate. "Anatomy of the Absurd" (1962), p. 104 How far should one accept the rules of the society in which one lives? To put it another way: at what point does conformity become corruption? Only by answering such questions does the conscience truly define itself. Review of Le Misanthrope, by Molière , at the Piccadilly (1962), p. 117 When a society has doubts about its future , it tends to produce spokesmen whose main appeal is to the emotions, who argue from intuitions, and whose claim to be truth-bearers rests solely on intense personal feeling. Review of After the Fall, by Arthur Miller , at the ANTA Washington Square Theatre, New York; Blues for Mister Charlie, by James Baldwin at the ANTA Theatre, New York (1962), p. 143 I attacked those Western playwrights who use their influence and affluence to preach to the world the nihilistic doctrine that life is pointless and irrationally destructive, and that there is nothing we can do about it. Until everyone is fed, clothed, housed and taught, until human beings have equal leisure to contemplate the overwhelming fact of mortality, we should not (I argued) indulge in the luxury of "privileged despair ." "Conference at Edinburgh" (1963), p. 146 Does the critic wish to influence the kind of film that costs more than £250,000? It is as if he were to send a postcard to General Motors explaining that he would like them to make a raft next year, or a helicopter, instead of a car. "Footnote on Cinema" (undated), p. 260 Everyone is vulnerable who is at once gifted and gregarious. " Orson Welles " (1961), p. 297 Judge and prosecutor had hammered it home that Lady Chatterly was an immoral woman, that she had had sexual relations before marriage, that she had committed adultery under her husband's roof; as if these charges somehow disqualified her from participation in serious literature. Indeed, there were long periods of the trial during which an outsider might well have assumed that a divorce case was being heard. "Lady Chatterly's Trial (The Old Bailey, 20 October - 2 November 1960)", p. 409 The buttocks are the most aesthetically pleasing part of the body because they are non-functional. Although they conceal an essential orifice, these pointless globes are as near as the human form can ever come to abstract art. "Meditations on Basic Baroque," IV (1966), p. 432 Harper/Collins, ISBN 0-06-096557-6 One would have thought that the notion of an impersonal critic was as patently absurd as that of an impersonal person: yet playwrights still cherish it as a sort of holy ideal. Admittedly, we all make mystiques: but this one is particularly wishful. The man who asks for an anonymous, impersonal criticism is trying to elevate criticism to the status of a science; whereas it is, I am afraid, only an art. The critic's business is to write readable English: the playwright's to write speakable English. Beyond that it is every man for himself. " George Jean Nathan " (1953), p. 61 Welles is at once as abnormal and as natural as Niagara Falls. (p. 65) "Orson Welles" (1953), p. 65 What, when drunk, one sees in other women, one sees in Garbo sober. (p. 79) " Greta Garbo " (1954), p. 79 All writing is an antisocial act, since the writer is a man who can speak freely only when alone; to be himself he must lock himself up, to communicate he must cut himself off from all communication; and in this there is something always a little mad. " Tennessee Williams " (1956), p. 97 In most writers, style is a welcome, an invitation, a letting down of the drawbridge between the artist and the world. Shaw had no time for such ruses. Unlike most of his countrymen, he abominated charm, which he regarded as evidence of chronic temperamental weakness. " Bernard Shaw " (1956), p. 102 His puritan, muscular, moor-tramping soul (superbly mirrored in Higgins's hymn to the intellect in Pygmalion ) bred in him a loathing of all things, whether poems or gadgets, that were designed to comfort the human condition without actively trying to improve it. (p. 103) "Bernard Shaw," p. 103 Every speech, for Olivier, is like a mass of marble at which the sculptor chips away until its essential form and meaning are revealed. No matter how ignoble the character he plays, the result is always noble as a work of art. " Laurence Olivier " (1966), p. 208 Her style looks absurdly simple — an effortless act of projection, a serpentine lasso whereby her voice casually winds itself around our most vulnerable fantasies. But it is not easy. It is what remains when ingratiation, sentimentality and the manifold devices of heart-warming crap have been ruthlessly pared away. Steel and silk are left, shining and durable. " Marlene Dietrich " (1967), p. 215 She shows herself to the audience like the Host to the congregation. "Marlene Dietrich," p. 217 Misattributed[ edit ] Art is a private thing, the artist makes it for himself; a comprehensible work is the product of a journalist. We need works that are strong, straight, precise, and forever beyond understanding.

Greta Garbo

Michael Jackson's Will You Be There came from which movie?

Greta Garbo, 84, Screen Icon Who Fled Her Stardom, Dies Greta Garbo, 84, Screen Icon Who Fled Her Stardom, Dies By THE NEW YORK TIMES Greta Garbo, the enigmatic and elusive star of some of Hollywood's most memorable romantic movies of the 1930's and a 50-year focus of curiosity and myth, died yesterday at New York Hospital in Manhattan. She was 84 years old. A hospital spokesman, Andrew Banoff, saying he was respecting the wishes of the family, provided no details of her death, and said services would be private. The Swedish-born actress had a classic beauty and a natural talent for conveying deep emotions before a camera. Her performances in such classics as ''Anna Christie,'' ''Grand Hotel,'' ''Queen Christina,'' ''Anna Karenina,'' ''Camille'' and ''Ninotchka'' were an arresting mix of urbaneness and vulnerability, with a glint of mockery. The Screen's Great Sufferer The finest element in a Garbo film was Garbo. She invariably played a disillusioned woman of the world who falls hopelessly and giddily in love. Tragedy is often imminent, and her tarnished-lady roles usually required her to die or otherwise give up her lover. No one could suffer like Garbo. Mysterious and aloof, she appealed to both men and women, and she exerted a major influence on women's fashions, hair styles and makeup. On screen and off, she was a remote figure of loveliness. Garbo's career spanned only 19 years. In 1941, at the age of 36, she made the last of her 27 movies, a slight comedy called ''Two Faced Woman.'' She went into what was to be temporary retirement, but she never returned to the screen. Yet generations later, her best movies were shown on television, in sold-out retrospectives and in revival houses, and she remained one of the greatest screen actresses, evergreen, eternally young. In the 1930's she was called ''the screen's first lady,'' the standard against whom others were judged. Andre Sennwald wrote in The New York Times that she was ''the most miraculous blend of personality the screen has ever seen.'' Alistair Cooke termed her ''every man's fantasy mistress.'' The French called her ''La Divine.'' And Kenneth Tynan concluded, ''What when drunk one sees in other women, one sees in Garbo sober.'' For more than half a century, the actress remained an enigma, ''the Swedish sphinx,'' because of her deep fear of reporters and other strangers and her insistence on guarding her privacy. Ironically, in seeking to avoid publicity, she became one of the most publicized women in the world. Her penchant for privacy broke all of Hollywood's rules, said her biographer, John Bainbridge. Except at the start of her career, he wrote in ''Garbo,'' she ''granted no interviews, signed no autographs, attended no premieres, answered no fan mail.'' A declaration often attributed to her was, ''I want to be alone.'' Actually she said, ''I want to be let alone.'' Her screen image was exotic and inscrutable, while her private life was simple, even mundane. In a rare statement to reporters she acknowledged, ''I feel able to express myself only through my roles, not in words, and that is why I try to avoid talking to the press.'' Garbo's aloofness frustrated the press, which published thousands of photographs of her frantically clutching a drooping hat over her face as she shopped or raced for a train, ship or plane. Speculations About Her Escorts Her presumed love affairs - she was never known to have married - were the subject of voluminous gossip and speculation. Over the decades her frequent escorts included the actor John Gilbert; the conductor Leopold Stokowski; the nutrition theorist Gayelord Hauser; Baron Erich Goldschmidt-Rothschild, an art connoisseur, and George Schlee, a figure in haute couture. Garbo's movies earned her more than $3 million, a record at a time of low income taxes, and her frugality and astute investments, particularly in Manhattan real estate, increased her wealth. Her life had begun in virtual poverty. Greta Lovisa Gustafsson was born in Stockholm on Sept. 18, 1905, the daughter of Karl Alfred and Anna Lovisa Gustafsson. Her father was an unskilled laborer of peasant stock who was often out of work. The family lived in a shabby district of Stockholm, and Greta had to leave school at the age of 13 to help care for her seriously ill father. Every week she took him to a charity clinic, where they had to wait hours for his treatment. She vowed to build her life so she would never be financially dependent. Her father died when she was 14 and she had to go to work, first as a latherer in a barber shop and then as a salesclerk in a department store. Her beauty soon gained her a role in a short film sponsored by the store, a part in a publicity short for a bakery and then a leading role as a frolicking bathing beauty in a slapstick feature, ''Peter the Tramp.'' She won a two-year scholarship to Stockholm's Royal Dramatic Theater Academy, where she was discovered by Mauritz Stiller, a famous, worldly and flamboyant director. He and Victor Seastrom were the leaders of the golden age of Swedish silent movies. The 40-year-old Mr. Stiller took absolute command of the professional and private life of the 17-year-old novice. He named her Garbo and cast her as the ingenue in his film epic of Selma Lagerlof's novel ''Saga of Gosta Berling.'' Doubts in Sweden, A Hit in Berlin The four-hour movie drew mixed notices in Stockholm, but a three-hour version was a hit in Berlin, where reviewers found Garbo ''a soul-revealing Nordic princess.'' Her next role was as a poor prospective prostitute in ''Streets of Sorrow,'' directed by G. W. Pabst. Louis B. Mayer, the production chief of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, saw ''Gosta Berling'' in Berlin and offered Mr. Stiller a contract. He accepted on condition that his plump protegee also be hired. Mr. Mayer agreed reluctantly, muttering, ''In America, men don't like fat women.'' The first of Garbo's 24 Hollywood movies, all made for M-G-M, was ''The Torrent,'' a 1926 melodrama starring the Latin lover Ricardo Cortez. The daily rushes revealed the young actress's extraordinary film-acting talent, and her salary was raised before the movie was released. As soon as a camera began rolling, the awkward girl with the moody eyes and large hands suddenly and charismatically sprang to life. Now slimmer and only 20, she played a seductive Spanish peasant who becomes an opera star. She was an overnight sensation. Mr. Stiller, still smarting from being barred from directing ''The Torrent,'' began directing her in ''The Temptress,'' a variation of ''The Torrent'' starring another Latin, Antonio Moreno. The director had repeated arguments with M-G-M executives and was abruptly dismissed in mid-shooting. He went to Paramount Pictures, but soon also antagonized executives there, and they let him go. Unable to hold a job in Hollywood, he returned to Sweden in 1928. Within a year, he died of several ailments at the age of 45. His death devastated Garbo, who was said to feel deep guilt for many years for not returning to Sweden to see him. His dynamic personality set the pattern for her later lovers. A Movie Succeeds And Rumors Fly Her third Hollywood role was a heartless adulteress in ''Flesh and the Devil,'' co-starring John Gilbert, the epitome of silent-movie masculinity. Their love scenes, peppered with suggestive gestures and language, were electrifying. Reports of a Garbo-Gilbert romance swept the country, and their passionate on-screen lovemaking was regarded as a reflection of their off-screen lives. The gossip fueled the movie's triumph. M-G-M then co-starred the couple in ''Love,'' a 1927 modern-dress version of Tolstoy's ''Anna Karenina,'' another huge success. In only two years, Garbo became a superstar. By shrewd negotiating, threatening to return to Sweden and staging a strike, she also won unheard-of raises. In only three years, her weekly salary soared from $350 to $5,000, and six years later she won a record $270,000 per movie. She made seven more silent films in two years, ''The Divine Woman,'' portraying Sarah Bernhardt; ''The Mysterious Lady''; ''A Woman of Affairs,'' which was adapted from the novel ''The Green Hat'' by Michael Arlen; ''Wild Orchids''; ''The Single Standard,'' and ''The Kiss.'' All made money despite the new dominance of sound movies. Off screen, there were continuing rumors of a Garbo-Gilbert love affair, with photographers invariably dogging them. There was gossip about an abortive elopement and reports of a wedding ceremony at which she failed to appear. At any rate, apparently weary of the actor's overbearing bravado, she ended the relationship in 1929. Talkies were destroying the careers of many Europeans, and M-G-M delayed Garbo's sound debut more than two years. She was astutely presented in an adaptation of Eugene O'Neill's ''Anna Christie,'' where her accent was appropriate. The publicity slogan was simply: ''Garbo Talks!'' Her speech was heavily accented and husky, but this new dimension of the Swedish enigma gave her even greater stature, and the movie played to packed houses across the country. Her opening line of dialogue was widely quoted and became classic:. She wearily enters a waterfront saloon and orders the bartender to ''Gimme a visky with chincher ale on the side and don't be stingy, baby.'' Garbo's other early sound movies included ''Susan Lenox: Her Fall and Rise'' (1931), co-starring Clark Gable; ''Mata Hari'' (1932), with Ramon Novarro, and a version of Luigi Pirandello's mystical play ''As You Desire Me'' (1932), co-starring Melvyn Douglas, in which she adroitly portrayed an amnesiac. An adaptation of Vicki Baum's novel ''Grand Hotel'' featured four other stars John and Lionel Barrymore, Joan Crawford and Wallace Beery but Garbo, as a fading ballerina, stole the movie. The film, directed by Edmund Goulding, won an Academy Award as the best picture of 1932. M-G-M honored Garbo's distaste for publicity and her insistence that all visitors be barred from her sets. When close-ups were shot, black screens were placed around Garbo and the camera. Asked why she objected to visitors, she said: ''When people are watching, I'm just a woman making faces for the camera. It destroys the illusion.'' Questioned about the screens, she said, ''If I am by myself, my face will do things I cannot do with it otherwise.'' Old Co-star Tries To Regain Career Despite these demands, her directors and other associates respected her thorough professionalism and lack of temperament and admired her graciousness. ''Queen Christina'' (1933) gave Garbo a long-sought chance to portray the eccentric 17th-century Swedish monarch. She co-starred with Mr. Gilbert in an effort to bolster his sagging career. Sound had revealed his thin voice, totally inadequate for his image of a dashing lover. He did well in ''Queen Christina,'' but his career continued to wither. He drank heavily, and died of a heart attack in 1936 at the age of 41. The largely fictional ''Queen Christina'' provided Garbo with one of her most radiant roles. The tragic film ended with an enormous five-and-a-half-second-long close-up of her face as she stood on the prow of a ship. The queen has given up her throne for her lover, who is now dead. She is taking his body back to Spain and then faces a voyage to nowhere. Her breathtaking and mystical expression has often been likened to that of the Mona Lisa. Rouben Mamoulian, who directed, told her the audience must use its imagination to interpret her thoughts, and instructed her ''to make your face a mask, to think and feel nothing.'' Recalling the movie after 50 years, Mr. Mamoulian revealed in a 1983 interview that Garbo had often directed herself. ''When we got to the first intimate scene, she asked me to leave the set.'' he said. ''I asked her why. She said, 'During these scenes I allow only the cameraman and lighting man on the set. The director goes out for a coffee or a milkshake.' I replied, 'When I'm directing a movie, I don't go out for a milkshake.' Reluctantly, she agreed I could stay.'' Garbo's title roles in ''Anna Karenina,'' with Fredric March, and an adaptation of Alexandre Dumas fils's ''Camille,'' co-starring a youthful Robert Taylor, were two of her finest performances. They won her the New York Film Critics Awards for best actress in 1935 and 1936. She never received an Oscar for best actress. But in 1955 the motion picture academy sought to make amends by awarding her a special Oscar for ''a series of luminous and unforgettable performances.'' Comedy Is Tried To Reclaim Fans By the late 1930's Garbo's box-office appeal was declining, and M-G-M's solution was to have her do her first comedy. The vehicle was ''Ninotchka,'' a brilliant satire written by Billy Wilder, Charles Brackett and Walter Reisch and directed by Ernst Lubitsch. Garbo superbly played a humorless, self-absorbed Soviet envoy who is humanized by Paris and the urbane Melvyn Douglas. The slogan for the 1939 movie read, ''Garbo Laughs.'' Her second comedy was ''Two Faced Woman,'' a frivolous, heartless farce and her only unsuccessful movie. Meanwhile, the European market, which provided the major income from her pictures, was largely cut off by World War II, and M-G-M refused to meet her salary demands. She announced her retirement. During the war, Garbo was criticized for not aiding the Allies. But in 1976, in a book titled ''A Man Called Intrepid: The Secret War,'' William Stevenson disclosed that she had helped Britain by identifying high-level Nazi sympathizers in Stockholm and by providing introductions and carrying messages for British agents. Garbo hoped to return to movies after the war. There were repeated reports over two decades of projects that were to include her, but, for various reasons, none ever materialized. In later years, Garbo called herself ''a wanderer'' and traveled often to Switzerland, the French Riviera and Italy, though she became an American citizen in 1951. For more than 40 years her home base was a Manhattan apartment on East 52d Street, overlooking the East River. She was as secretive about her relatives as about herself, and the names of her survivors could not immediately be learned. Usually alone, Garbo regularly strolled, shopped and browsed in the East 50's and 60's, where New Yorkers savored fleeting glimpses of her haunting face. She wore fashionable but simple outfits, large hats and flat shoes and almost no makeup. The occasional descriptions of her offered by friends suggest she had a childlike innocence and was selfish and self-absorbed. They deplored the aimlessness of her life. But another friend, Jane Gunther, said, ''She has a poetic magic, so difficult to describe, and all one knows is that one wants this in one's life.'' Assaying Garbo's art and life, John Bainbridge offered this tribute: ''She did nothing that was second-rate. She had dignity and nobility. Like so many great actresses, she may never have possessed a particle of intellectual power, but she had genius before the camera because she was guided by a secret, sublime, infallible instinct to do the right thing in the right way. So unerring was her instinct that it produced the illusion of a most subtle intelligence.'' The Films Before the Solitude These are Greta Garbo's most important films. Her first talkie was ''Anna Christie.'' The Legend of Gosta Berling 1924 The Street of Sorrow 1925 Flesh and the Devil 1927 Love 1927

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Who had a 60s No 1 hit with The Theme From a Summer Place?

BT 100 1960 No 1 - Theme From a Summer Place by Percy Faith - YouTube BT 100 1960 No 1 - Theme From a Summer Place by Percy Faith Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Nov 12, 2014 "Theme from A Summer Place" is a song with lyrics by Mack Discant and music by Max Steiner, written for the 1959 film A Summer Place, which starred Sandra Dee and Troy Donahue. It was recorded for the film by Hugo Winterhalter. Originally known as the "Molly and Johnny Theme", the piece is not the main title theme of the film, but a love theme for the characters played by Dee and Donahue. Percy Faith recorded the most popular version of the tune in the Columbia 30th Street Studio in New York City, which spent an at-the-time record of nine consecutive weeks at #1 on the still-young Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in early 1960. It remains the longest-running #1 instrumental in the history of the chart. Billboard ranked Faith's version as the No. 1 song for 1960.[3] It reached #2 in the UK. It hit #1 in Italy under the title "Scandalo Al Sole". Faith won a Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 1961 for his recording. This was the first movie theme and the first instrumental to win a Record of the Year Grammy. Faith re-recorded the song twice – first, in 1969, as a female choral version, then, in 1976, as a disco version titled "Summer Place '76". In 2008, Faith's original version was ranked at #18 on Billboard's top 100 songs during the first 50 years of the Hot 100 chart. Category

Percy Faith

Who won the Best Director Oscar for Platoon?

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(C) 2016 Columbia Records, a division of Sony ... 2:02 Play Stop Download Lyrics Cliff Richard Theme from A Summer Place CLIFF AT MOVIES The "Theme from A Summer Place" is a song with lyrics by Mack Discant and music by Max Steiner, written for the 1959 movie A Summer ... 2:36 Play Stop Download Lyrics 14 Theme from a Summer Place. Bruce Welch's Shadows. 2012 Shadowmania filmed at Lakeside Frimley on Sat 15 Sept 2012 Bruce Welch Alan Jones Cliff Hall Bob Watkins Daniel Martin standing in for Phil Kelly on Lead guitar. 3:51 Play Stop Download Lyrics Percy Faith - Theme From A Summer Place Percy Faith - Theme From A Summer Place. The original 1960 analog version . 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Full LP/Album - Easy Listening | Billy Vaughn - Theme From A Summer Place (Vinyl) Enjoy this full album upload of Billy Vaughn's "Theme From A Summer Place," released on DOT records. 31:49 Play Stop Download Lyrics Skeeter Davis - Theme From A Summer Place Skeeter Davis - (Theme from) A Summer Place (1966) THEME FROM A SUMMER PLACE (Mack Discant - Max Steiner) There's a summer place Where it may ... 2:01 Play Stop Download Lyrics theme from a summer place - percy faith and his orchestra A Summer Place is a 1959 romantic drama film based on the novel of the same name by Sloan Wilson. It was directed by Delmer Daves and stars Richard Egan, ... 2:39 Play Stop Download Lyrics "Theme From A Summer Place" ❤ (Lyrics) ✿ THE LENNON SISTERS I Love This Version Of "Theme From A Summer Place" by The Lennon Sisters ~ Dianne "Dee Dee", Peggy, Kathy & Janet Lennon. I Only Watched The Lawrence ... 2:18 Play Stop Download Lyrics The Lettermen Theme from a Summer Place b/w 60's tv show. A request for my good friend Virginia...... this is a great old number we never tire of hearing.... this is the original 1966 version sung by Tony Jim and Bob NO ... 2:20 Play Stop Download Lyrics Andy Williams - A Summer Place - 1962 Andy Williams - A Summer Place - 1962 This version of the song sounds better with Andy William's vocals don't you think? :) 2:50 Play Stop Download Lyrics Theme From A Summer Place - Percy Faith Orchestra! (ALBUM) SONG LIST: "Percy Faith-While We're Young", sound recording administered by: IODA Your dispute awaiting response by 6/28/15 "Felicia Sanders-Moulin ... 16:15 Play Stop Download Lyrics Max Steiner / 101 Strings Orchestra: Theme From 'A Summer Place' - Movie Clips Max Steiner wrote the "Theme from A Summer Place" for the 1959 film, "A Summer Place," which starred Sandra Dee and Troy Donahue. It was recorded for the ... Theme From A Summer Place - Al Caiola Motion Picture Themes Cha Cha Cha - Tito Rodriguez Orchestra (1961) 2:32 Play Stop Download Lyrics Percy Faith: ♫ Theme from A Summer Place ♫ (Tema do filme Amores Clandestinos) Quem frequentou as antigas salas de cinema deve se lembrar da música "A summer place", de Max Steiner, executada à exaustão antes do início da exibição ... Percy Faith Theme from a Summer Place.flv Purely Music, no sound - For your discerning. Percy Faith - Theme From a Summer Place Buy your copy here on iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/ch/album/the-best-of-1960/id542261867?l=it. 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In which decade of the 20th century was Jessica Lange born?

Helen Hayes - Biography - IMDb Helen Hayes Jump to: Overview  (5) | Mini Bio  (1) | Spouse  (1) | Trivia  (27) | Personal Quotes  (11) Overview (5) First Lady of the American Theater Height 5' (1.52 m) Mini Bio (1) Known as "The First lady of the American Theater", Helen Hayes had a legendary career on stage and in films and television that spanned over eighty years. Hayes was born in Washington, D.C., to Catherine Estelle "Essie" Hayes, an actress who worked in touring companies, and Francis van Arnum Brown, a clerk and salesman. Her maternal grandparents were Irish. A child actress in the first decade of the 20th century, by the time she turned twenty in 1920 she was well on her way to a landmark career on the American stage, becoming perhaps the greatest female star of the theatre during the 1930s and 1940s. She made a handful of scattered films during the silent era and in 1931 was signed to MGM with great fanfare to begin a career starring in films. Her first three films, 'Arrowsmith', 'The Sin of Madelon Claudet', and 'A Farewell to Arms (1932)', were great hits and she would win the 1932 Oscar for Best Actress for her work in Madelon Claudet. Alas, her lack of screen glamour worked against her becoming a box office star during the golden era of Hollywood, and her subsequent films were often not well received by critics. Within four years she had abandoned the screen and returned to the stage for the greatest success of her career, "Victoria Regina", which ran for three years starting in 1935. Helen Hayes returned to motion pictures with a few featured roles in 1950s films and frequently appeared on television. In 1970, she made a screen comeback in 'Airport' (1970), a role originally offered to Claudette Colbert , who declined it, earning Hayes her second Oscar, this time for Best Supporting Actress. Helen Hayes retired from the stage in 1971 but enjoyed enormous fame and popularity over the next fifteen years with many roles in motion pictures and television productions, retiring in 1985 after starring in the TV film 'Murder With Mirrors'. - IMDb Mini Biography By: HarlowMGM Spouse (1) ( 17 August  1928 - 21 April  1956) (his death) (2 children) Trivia (27) Lived for many years in an historic house in Nyack, New York called "Pretty Penny." Located at 235 North Broadway, she regularly offered tours of her well maintained gardens to the local garden clubs. The house was purchased by television personality and actress Rosie O'Donnell , a few years after her death, from her surviving son, actor James MacArthur . Received the Women's International Center (WIC) Living Legacy Award in 1985. Pre-eminent US stage actress. She was regarded as the First Lady of the American Theater. Interred at Oak Hill Cemetery, Nyack, New York, USA. Mother of stage actress Mary MacArthur, who died in 1949 at the age of nineteen, and adoptive mother of actor James MacArthur . Charter member of the National Women's Hall of Fame in 1973. She had a career than spanned over 80 years beginning as a child actress at age 5. The lights of Broadway were dimmed for one minute at 8:00 p.m. on the day she died. She made frequent trips to hospitals because of asthma attacks aggravated by backstage dust. When asthma ended her theatrical career, Hayes wrote books and raised funds for organizations that fight asthma. In 1958, she became the second performer to win the Triple Crown of Acting. Oscars: Best Actress, The Sin of Madelon Claudet (1931) and Best Supporting Actress, Airport (1970), Tony: Best Actress-Play, "Time Remembered" (1958), and Emmy: Best Actress of 1953. Won three Tony Awards, two Best Actress (Dramatic) awards -- one in 1947 for "Happy Birthday," an award that was shared with Ingrid Bergman for "Joan of Lorraine," another in 1958, for "Time Remembered" -- and a third, Special Tony Award in 1980, namely: The Lawrence Langer Memorial Award for Distinguished Lifetime Achievement in the American Theatre. She was also nominated as Best Actress (Dramatic) in 1970 for a revival of "Harvey." Is one of only a few actors to win an Oscar for a supporting role after winning an Oscar for a leading role. Was a supporter of the Republican Party, attending all the conventions up until her death. Shares the distinction with actors José Ferrer , 'Fredric March' and Ingrid Bergman of being the first winners of acting Tony Awards when the annual event was established in 1947. First actress to win an Oscar, for playing a prostitute in The Sin of Madelon Claudet (1931), her first talkie. She was awarded the American National Medal of the Arts in 1988 by the National Endowment of the Arts in Washington D.C. Although she played Ingrid Bergman 's grandmother in Anastasia (1956), she was less than fifteen years older than she. The Helen Hayes Awards are given out annually to worthy theatrical productions in the Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia area, her birthplace and where she gained her first acting experience. As of 2013, she is one of only 6 actors who have a 2-0 winning record when nominated for an acting Oscar. The others are Luise Rainer for The Great Ziegfeld (1936) and The Good Earth (1937); Vivien Leigh for Gone with the Wind (1939) and A Streetcar Named Desire (1951); Kevin Spacey for The Usual Suspects (1995) and American Beauty (1999); Hilary Swank for Boys Don't Cry (1999) and Million Dollar Baby (2004); and Christoph Waltz for Inglourious Basterds (2009) and Django Unchained (2012). She has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame: for motion pictures at 6258 Hollywood Boulevard, and for radio at 6549 Hollywood Boulevard. Two Broadway theaters were named after her. The first, at 210 W. 46th Street, was named after Hayes in 1955. After it was demolished in 1982, another theater, at 240 W. 44th Street, was renamed in Hayes' honor. Her likeness appears on a nondenominated USA commemorative postage stamp issued in her honor on 25 April 2011. Price on day of issue was 44¢.

1940s

"Which film poster included the line ""I told you... you know nothing about wickedness?"""

Helen Hayes - Biography - IMDb Helen Hayes Jump to: Overview  (5) | Mini Bio  (1) | Spouse  (1) | Trivia  (27) | Personal Quotes  (11) Overview (5) First Lady of the American Theater Height 5' (1.52 m) Mini Bio (1) Known as "The First lady of the American Theater", Helen Hayes had a legendary career on stage and in films and television that spanned over eighty years. Hayes was born in Washington, D.C., to Catherine Estelle "Essie" Hayes, an actress who worked in touring companies, and Francis van Arnum Brown, a clerk and salesman. Her maternal grandparents were Irish. A child actress in the first decade of the 20th century, by the time she turned twenty in 1920 she was well on her way to a landmark career on the American stage, becoming perhaps the greatest female star of the theatre during the 1930s and 1940s. She made a handful of scattered films during the silent era and in 1931 was signed to MGM with great fanfare to begin a career starring in films. Her first three films, 'Arrowsmith', 'The Sin of Madelon Claudet', and 'A Farewell to Arms (1932)', were great hits and she would win the 1932 Oscar for Best Actress for her work in Madelon Claudet. Alas, her lack of screen glamour worked against her becoming a box office star during the golden era of Hollywood, and her subsequent films were often not well received by critics. Within four years she had abandoned the screen and returned to the stage for the greatest success of her career, "Victoria Regina", which ran for three years starting in 1935. Helen Hayes returned to motion pictures with a few featured roles in 1950s films and frequently appeared on television. In 1970, she made a screen comeback in 'Airport' (1970), a role originally offered to Claudette Colbert , who declined it, earning Hayes her second Oscar, this time for Best Supporting Actress. Helen Hayes retired from the stage in 1971 but enjoyed enormous fame and popularity over the next fifteen years with many roles in motion pictures and television productions, retiring in 1985 after starring in the TV film 'Murder With Mirrors'. - IMDb Mini Biography By: HarlowMGM Spouse (1) ( 17 August  1928 - 21 April  1956) (his death) (2 children) Trivia (27) Lived for many years in an historic house in Nyack, New York called "Pretty Penny." Located at 235 North Broadway, she regularly offered tours of her well maintained gardens to the local garden clubs. The house was purchased by television personality and actress Rosie O'Donnell , a few years after her death, from her surviving son, actor James MacArthur . Received the Women's International Center (WIC) Living Legacy Award in 1985. Pre-eminent US stage actress. She was regarded as the First Lady of the American Theater. Interred at Oak Hill Cemetery, Nyack, New York, USA. Mother of stage actress Mary MacArthur, who died in 1949 at the age of nineteen, and adoptive mother of actor James MacArthur . Charter member of the National Women's Hall of Fame in 1973. She had a career than spanned over 80 years beginning as a child actress at age 5. The lights of Broadway were dimmed for one minute at 8:00 p.m. on the day she died. She made frequent trips to hospitals because of asthma attacks aggravated by backstage dust. When asthma ended her theatrical career, Hayes wrote books and raised funds for organizations that fight asthma. In 1958, she became the second performer to win the Triple Crown of Acting. Oscars: Best Actress, The Sin of Madelon Claudet (1931) and Best Supporting Actress, Airport (1970), Tony: Best Actress-Play, "Time Remembered" (1958), and Emmy: Best Actress of 1953. Won three Tony Awards, two Best Actress (Dramatic) awards -- one in 1947 for "Happy Birthday," an award that was shared with Ingrid Bergman for "Joan of Lorraine," another in 1958, for "Time Remembered" -- and a third, Special Tony Award in 1980, namely: The Lawrence Langer Memorial Award for Distinguished Lifetime Achievement in the American Theatre. She was also nominated as Best Actress (Dramatic) in 1970 for a revival of "Harvey." Is one of only a few actors to win an Oscar for a supporting role after winning an Oscar for a leading role. Was a supporter of the Republican Party, attending all the conventions up until her death. Shares the distinction with actors José Ferrer , 'Fredric March' and Ingrid Bergman of being the first winners of acting Tony Awards when the annual event was established in 1947. First actress to win an Oscar, for playing a prostitute in The Sin of Madelon Claudet (1931), her first talkie. She was awarded the American National Medal of the Arts in 1988 by the National Endowment of the Arts in Washington D.C. Although she played Ingrid Bergman 's grandmother in Anastasia (1956), she was less than fifteen years older than she. The Helen Hayes Awards are given out annually to worthy theatrical productions in the Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia area, her birthplace and where she gained her first acting experience. As of 2013, she is one of only 6 actors who have a 2-0 winning record when nominated for an acting Oscar. The others are Luise Rainer for The Great Ziegfeld (1936) and The Good Earth (1937); Vivien Leigh for Gone with the Wind (1939) and A Streetcar Named Desire (1951); Kevin Spacey for The Usual Suspects (1995) and American Beauty (1999); Hilary Swank for Boys Don't Cry (1999) and Million Dollar Baby (2004); and Christoph Waltz for Inglourious Basterds (2009) and Django Unchained (2012). She has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame: for motion pictures at 6258 Hollywood Boulevard, and for radio at 6549 Hollywood Boulevard. Two Broadway theaters were named after her. The first, at 210 W. 46th Street, was named after Hayes in 1955. After it was demolished in 1982, another theater, at 240 W. 44th Street, was renamed in Hayes' honor. Her likeness appears on a nondenominated USA commemorative postage stamp issued in her honor on 25 April 2011. Price on day of issue was 44¢.

i don't know

Who wrote the very last episode of Seinfeld?

Seinfeld | WikiSein | Fandom powered by Wikia [ show ] Overview The show has been famously described as "the show about nothing" (a self-referential phrase from an episode describing Jerry and George's attempt to create a sitcom idea), as most of the comedy was based around the largely inconsequential minutiae of every-day life, and often involved petty rivalries and elaborate schemes to gain the smallest advantage over other individuals. Seinfeld himself notes that his original premise — and the purpose for the standup excerpts that bookended each show — was that the show would be about how a comedian gathers material for his act. The characters have also been described as utterly selfish and amoral; the show stood out by depicting these traits in a comedic fashion. However, it should be noted that a common motif concerns characters' attempts to do nice things for people, only to have them backfire exponentially. In contrast to many other sitcoms, the allowing of scenes to lapse into sentimentality was generally avoided, and Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David's dictum of "no hugging, no learning" gave the show its distinctively cold and cynical tone. However, themes of illogical social graces and customs, neurotic and obsessive behavior, and the mysterious workings of relationships ran in numerous episodes, making it possible to categorize the show as a comedy of manners. The show's creators made a conscious effort to reflect the activities of real people, rather than the idealized escapist characters often seen on television, although many of the show's plots involve intricate, and often cyclical strings of events that converge in the end to form a grand irony. Previous shows on television were almost always family or co-worker driven, but Seinfeld holds itself up as being a then-rare example of a sitcom wherein none of the characters were related by blood or employed in the same building or business. In fact, many characters were not employed at all. According to Bruce Fretts' 1993 The "Entertainment Weekly" "Seinfeld" Companion, Seinfeld’s audience was, "TV-literate, demographically desirable urbanites, for the most part-who look forward to each weekly episode in the Life of Jerry with a baby-boomer generation's self-involved eagerness." Likewise, in episodes adhering to the original concept, the show featured clips of Seinfeld himself delivering a standup routine at the beginning and end of each episode, the theme of which relates to the events depicted in the plot. By this device the distinction between the actor Jerry Seinfeld and the character who is portrayed by him is deliberately blurred. In later seasons, these standup clips became less frequent. All of the main characters were modeled after Seinfeld's or Larry David's real-life acquaintances. In fact, many of the plot devices are based on real-life counterparts - such as the Soup Nazi (based on Al Yeganeh) and J. Peterman of the J. Peterman Catalog . Another violation of the fiction convention of isolating characters from the actors playing them, and separating the characters' world from the actors' and audience's world, was a story arc that concerned the characters' roles in promoting a television sitcom series named Jerry. Jerry was much like Seinfeld in that Seinfeld played himself, and that the show was "about nothing". Jerry was launched in the 1993 season finale of Seinfeld, in an episode titled "The Pilot". This story arc, along with other examples of self-reference, have led many critics to point out the postmodern nature of the show. According to Katherine Gantz, this entanglement of character and actor relationships "seems to be a part of the show's complex appeal. Whereas situation comedies often dilute their cast, adding and removing characters in search of new plot possibilities, Seinfeld instead interiorizes; the narrative creates new configurations of the same limited cast to keep the viewer and the characters intimately linked. In fact, it is precisely this concentration on the nuclear set of four personalities that creates the Seinfeld community." Another attribute that makes Seinfeld exceptional is that in almost every episode, several story threads are presented at the beginning, generally involving the various characters in separate and unrelated situations, which then converge and are interwoven towards the end of the episode in an ironic fashion. Due to the densely-plotted construction of the storylines, attempts to summarize the action in a given script are generally more verbose than one would expect for a sitcom. Despite any separate plot strands, the narratives show "consistent efforts to maintain [the] intimacy" between the small cast of characters. "Much of Seinfeld’s plot and humor hinge on outside personalities threatening—and ultimately failing—to invade the foursome, ... especially where Jerry and George are concerned." (Gantz 2000) Gantz maintains that another factor in, or further proof of, spectators' and characters' participation in a Seinfeld community is the large amount of in-slang, "a lexicon of Seinfeldian code words and recurring phrases that go unnoticed by the infrequent or 'unknowing' viewer". These include " Bubble Boy ", " Master of My Domain ", " Shrinkage ", " Mulva ", "Crazy" Joe Davola , " Man Hands ", " Yada Yada Yada ", "Dr. Van Nostrand", " Spongeworthy ", and "Art Vandelay" (which is a menu option at Moe's Southwest Grill). The show premiered as The Seinfeld Chronicles on Thursday, May 31, 1990 on NBC . Seinfeld was not an immediate success. After the pilot was shown, on July 5, 1989, a pickup by NBC did not seem likely and the show was actually offered to Fox, which declined to pick up the show. It was only thanks to Rick Ludwin, head of late night and special events for NBC, for diverting money from his budget, that the next four episodes were filmed. After nine years on the air and 180 episodes filmed, the series finale of Seinfeld aired on Thursday, May 14, 1998. It was watched by a huge audience, estimated at 76 million viewers. Jerry Seinfeld holds both the record for the "most money refused" according to the Guinness Book of World Records by refusing an offer to continue the show for 5 million dollars per episode, and another record for the Highest Ever Annual Earnings For A TV Actor [1] , while the show itself held the record for the Highest Television Advertising Rates through 2004, when the final episode of Friends aired [2] . In 2004 a deal was negotiated to make Seinfeld available on DVD for the first time. Due to legal problems with the cast involving episode commentary and other DVD extras, the release was pushed back. The first 3 seasons were released November 23, 2004, and season 4 was released on May 17, 2005. Season 5 and season 6 were released on November 22, 2005. Characters Jerome (Jerry) Seinfeld Jerome (Jerry) Seinfeld (played by Jerry Seinfeld )—A stand up comedian who seeks out relationships with very attractive women which rarely last more than one episode. He usually notices some very minor defect they have and makes a big deal about it, causing his relationships to end in very embarrassing ways. He is always making observations about everything and mocking people. Of the main characters, he seems to be the most sensible, in that he usually just sarcastically comments on the strange things the others do, instead of participating. On occasion he will reluctantly help his friends, but he seems to take the most pleasure in seeing them fail. However, he does put up with a lot from his friends, particularly Kramer's constant mooching. Among other things, he is obsessed with cleanliness, cereal, and Superman (there were visual, conversational, and thematic references to Superman throughout the series). His constant need to dissect tiny events in his life begins to wear the other characters thin in later episodes, especially Elaine. Jerry is the only character to appear in every episode of the show. George Costanza George Louis Costanza (played by Jason Alexander )—A "short, stocky, slow-witted, bald man" (as described by Elaine), the neurotic George is a self-loathing, congenital liar domineered by his parents, Frank and Estelle . He has held many jobs, including that of a real estate agent and assistant to the traveling secretary for the New York Yankees . He also worked briefly at a sporting equipment company called Play Now and at Kruger Industrial Smoothing (and — very briefly — at Pendant Publishing) in addition to nearly acquiring a job as a bra salesman for Sid Farkus, a friend of his father's. George was also a hand model for less than one episode. His relationships with women were always unsuccessful, although ironically, his most disastrous relationship, an engagement to Susan Ross (played by Heidi Swedberg ) was one of the few that ended "well" for George. (He feared marriage and the death of Susan bailed him out, although her parents continued to torment him after her demise.) His talents include lying, the video game Frogger , parallel parking, finding good deals, knowing whether someone's uncomfortable at a party, and the ability to recall the best public restroom near a given location in Manhattan. The character of George was based on a combination of the show's co-creator, comedian Larry David, and Jerry's real-life childhood friend Michael Costanza. Episode plots would frequently feature George manufacturing elaborate deceptions at work or in his relationships, in order to gain or maintain some petty advantage. These schemes would invariably backfire. Most of George's reprehensible actions are the result of his taking the advice of others too seriously. For example, Jerry once jokingly suggested that he should only do the opposite of what his instinct tells him, as instinct has led only to misfortune. This comment led George to try and center his whole life around the principle. His disastrous engagement to Susan also began with a remark made by Jerry. Thus it can be argued that George is not really a bad person but just easily swayed by others. Many of George's predicaments were based on those that Larry David had found himself in at one point or another in his own life. Elaine Benes Elaine Marie Benes Elaine Marie Benes (played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus )—Like Jerry, much of Elaine's life revolves around trying to arrange relationships with attractive individuals, although some of hers last longer than Jerry's. Her most memorable is her on-again, off-again relationship with David Puddy (played by Patrick Warburton ). She has also held jobs for Pendant Publishing, The J. Peterman Catalog , and as a personal assistant to the wealthy Mr. Justin Pitt . Elaine was a composite of many female acquaintances of the writers, the two most prominent being writer Carol Leifer, Seinfeld's real-life ex-girlfriend, and the other being Monica Yates, Larry David's ex-girlfriend. In the show Elaine and Jerry dated, and "broke up", timeline-wise, just before the first episode, remaining friends over the course of the show. The couple rekindled their romance in " The Deal " and slept together in " The Mango " (in order to save their friendship, which was deteriorating due to the revelation that Elaine faked her orgasms while they dated), but the relationship reverted to platonic in both instances without any significant explanation. Elaine went to Tufts University (her "safety school") and usually works as a writer-editor. Elaine is most often a victim of circumstance, usually coming into conflict with inadequate boyfriends or the arbitrary demands of her eccentric employers. She is usually fairly apathetic to the problems of others, unless of course they affect her directly. She can be surprisingly ruthless, and seems to be inwardly bitter about the state her life is in. (In one episode, in a discussion about what she wanted to be when she grew up, Elaine says she doesn't remember, but "it wasn't this." She also occasionally remarks that she needs to find new friends, and even tried to fit in with Bizarro Jerry, George and Kramer before they rejected her in " The Bizarro Jerry .") She is also known for her unusual spastic dancing style. Cosmo Kramer Cosmo Kramer (played by Michael Richards )—Tall, wild-haired, and almost always wearing pants too short for him, Kramer is the most eccentric Seinfeld character. He is perhaps most famous for his "entrance", opening the door to Jerry's apartment and sliding into the room. Until the 6th season, his first name was unknown. Once his full name was revealed in " The Switch " by his mother, Babs Kramer , most minor characters began calling him Cosmo, but the main group continued calling him Kramer. In the pilot, he is actually referred to as "Kessler" by Jerry, since the writers were worried about upsetting the real-life Kramer. Kramer is perpetually unemployed after going on strike from a bagel shop that he worked at before the show began. In "The Strike" (episode 166, season 9 ), Kramer briefly goes back to work at the shop after 12 years of striking only to go back on strike a few days later. Throughout the series, he frequently pursues hare-brained money-making schemes, nearly all of them his own invention. Despite the failure of the majority of these schemes and his unwillingness to even apply for a normal job, he always seems to have money when he needs it; this running joke was never explained. One of the most popular characters on the show, Kramer is often described as the "action character" that draws audiences with his wild and unusual antics displaying Michael Richard's skillful physical comedy. In one show, Kramer is called a "hipster doofus." He is based on Larry David's neighbor, Kenny Kramer , whose real-life "Seinfeld Reality Tour" was actually spoofed in one episode as the Cosmo's "J. Peterman Reality Tour". In contrast to the other characters, his eccentricities lead him to be almost always painfully honest. He is friends with Newman, as well as a wide variety of (mostly off-screen) acquaintances and shady partners, including Lomez and Bob Sacamano . Recurring characters Main article: Minor characters in Seinfeld Newman Newman (played by Wayne Knight ) — Jerry and Kramer's neighbor; a portly, vengeful and spasmodic U.S. postal carrier. Newman is Jerry's archenemy, and at the same time Kramer's friend. In his first (offscreen) appearance, (" The Revenge ," Season 2, Episode 12), Newman was voiced by Larry David. Wayne Knight later re-dubbed the voice in "The Revenge" for syndication. Newman and Jerry often use a specific routine of greeting each other when they meet, Newman saying "Hello, Jerry," and Seinfeld replying "Hello, Newman," both speaking in a venomous tone of mutual disgust. He never misses a chance to get Jerry into trouble. Nevertheless, he never seems to mind hanging around in Jerry's apartment from time to time as if they were friends. Occasionally, a story places him in the role of a fifth member of the group, though usually he is an antagonist. Like many of the Seinfeldian characters, Newman is a paradigm of contradiction. On the one hand he is slovenly (realizes he is sitting on a fork in his apartment), lazy (doesn't deliver mail when it rains, despite the famed saying, "Neither snow, nor rain, nor sleet," misquoted by George in the show as "neither rain..."), and completely selfish. However, he displays a surprising sensitivity, as in his infatuation with Elaine and his poetry for Kramer in the bookstore, as well as intelligence, such as when he decides in a Solomon-esque way to assign the rightful owner of the bicycle. Others Mr. Wilhelm (played by Richard Herd) — George's superior at the New York Yankees Mr. Lippman (played by Richard Fancy ) — Elaine's boss at Pendant Publishing; later owner of Top Of the Muffin To You! Mr. (Justin) Pitt (played by Ian Abercrombie ) — an eccentric millionaire who hired Elaine as his personal assistant Jackie Chiles (played by Phil Morris ) — Kramer's lawyer and parody of Johnnie Cochran Kenny Bania (played by Steve Hytner ) — a stand-up comedy hack, and one of Jerry's nemeses "Crazy" Joe Davola (played by Peter Crombie ) — a "lunatic" who stalks Elaine, George, Jerry and Kramer. At one point he tries to attack Jerry while yelling "Sic Semper Tyrannis!" Sue Ellen Mischke (played by Brenda Strong ) - Elaine's rival, she is often referred to as "The Braless Wonder." She is also the heiress to the Oh Henry! candy bar fortune. Sally Weaver (played by Kathy Griffin ) - In "The Doll" Susan's old roommate from college, Sally Weaver, gives Jerry a package that she wants him to be careful with. In "The Cartoon" Sally opens her stand-up one-woman show, Jerry Seinfeld Is the Devil. Bob Sacamano - Kramer's oft-referenced but never-appearing friend, who often is the source of bizarre anecdotal advice. Mr. Kruger (played by Daniel von Bargen) - George's boss at Kruger Industrial Smoothing. Memorable incidents The Contest One of the most controversial Seinfeld episodes, " The Contest ", centers around a pact of self-denial between Jerry, George, Kramer and Elaine. The four place a bet (with Elaine contributing a higher stake) on who can go the longest without masturbating. In the show, however, they were able to convey the meaning without actually using the word "masturbation". Kramer's early exit from the bet has become a classic moment in Seinfeld history, with his simple "I'm out!" as he slams his cash on the counter. This episode also features Jane Leeves (of Frasier fame) as " The Virgin ", Jerry's girlfriend at the time. Other classic moments include: Jerry's rant about the woman across the street, who struts around naked in her apartment, compromising his ability to remain "Master of His Domain" (and the same woman responsible for Kramer's early departure); Elaine's fascination with John F. Kennedy, Jr. ; George's subtle introduction of the subject matter with the phrase, "My mother caught me"; and the "ease" with which the characters can sleep at night, depending on their current standing in the contest. It was revealed in " The Puffy Shirt " that George was the winner of The Contest, although in "The Finale" four years later, George admitted that he had cheated and that Jerry was the true master of his domain. In a 2001 episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm , during an argument between Larry David and Jason Alexander, it is mentioned that David participated in a contest exactly like this one, after Jason comments that that sort of thing would never happen. On the second DVD of the Season 4 Seinfeld collection, Kenny Kramer states that David did participate in such a contest and complained to him at the time about how difficult it was. On the third week, according to Kenny Kramer, David was the victor. Moops In the episode " The Bubble Boy ", George claims "The Moops" is the answer to the Trivial Pursuit question, "Who invaded Spain in the 8th century?" The Bubble Boy contested the answer, claiming it was the Moors (which is correct). George, with his stubborn nature, in reaction to the belligerent arrogance of the Bubble Boy, and out of spite, refused to accept the response in favor of the (presumably misprinted) answer given by the card. This incident is based on an actual error spotted by one of the writers while playing the home edition of Jeopardy!. The Junior Mint Jerry accompanies Elaine on a hospital visit to a seriously ill ("something with his spleen") ex-boyfriend and artist, Roy (Sherman Howard), whom she broke up with because he was fat. Kramer tags along to steal latex gloves, and is invited by the surgeon to view the surgery. When his date cannot make it to the surgery, Kramer asks Jerry to join him. During the surgery, Kramer persistently offers Jerry a Junior Mint which he tries to paw away; instead, it flies over the viewing mezzanine, and falls into Roy's open abdominal cavity. The doctor notices something, but cannot figure out what, and closes the cavity. Roy's condition turns critical, and George decides to buy some of his triangle art thinking that if the artist dies, he could make a profit if the value of the art increases. However, Roy's condition significantly improves, something Roy credits to the fact that George bought his art. The doctor credits the upturn to "something beyond science, something, from above." "Dolores!" In the same episode as the Junior Mint, Jerry is dating an attractive woman whose name he cannot remember, though she told him her name rhymes with a part of the female anatomy. He spends the episode avoiding the use of her name, and trying to find ways to ascertain it, including digging in her purse and having his friends stop by, hoping she will introduce herself. Jerry and George try to guess the name, with choices of Bovary, Mulva, Loreola, Hest and Gipple. She finally realizes Jerry doesn't know her name, and breaks up with him, leaving his apartment in a huff. Jerry then suddenly remembers her name, and calls out to her from his window, "Dolores!" According to an interview with Castle Rock executive Glenn Padnick that is included on the Seinfeld Season Four DVD, the script originally called for Jerry to call out the name "Cloris." However, between scenes during the taping of the episode, the audience was asked what they thought the woman's name was, and an audience member answered with "Dolores". Padnick decided that this name was better than what the script had and went down to the stage and had the scene taped with the audience member's guess. The "mystery woman" was played by Susan Walters . The Move From the episode " The Fusilli Jerry ". "The Move" refers to a complex sexual technique invented by Jerry that he shares with George with the promise that if George can master it he'll "never be alone again." Elaine's on/off boyfriend, Puddy, uses it on Elaine, leading Elaine to chastise Jerry for sharing intimate secrets with Puddy, a hallmark of male-bonding. The entire technique of The Move is never shared with the audience, leaving the audience to fill in the gaps themselves. George attempts to use it on his own girlfriend at the time, but she catches him with "crib notes" detailing the maneuvers written on his hand. The Soup Nazi Larry Thomas as Yev Kassem, better known as the Soup Nazi In this episode, Jerry introduces George and Elaine to a soup restaurant run by a draconian owner, whom the customers have nicknamed " the Soup Nazi " (it is revealed in the last episode that the Soup Nazi's name is actually Yev Kassem). The restaurant is based on Soup Kitchen International in New York City. The owner enforces strict rules about ordering: State your order, then move quickly down the line with your money ready. Jerry coaches Elaine on the rules, but she disregards them, wasting the Soup Nazi's time and infuriating him. He kicks her out, yelling, "No soup for you!", which would become a catch phrase. The episode also includes a plot about an armoire that Elaine buys and then leaves on the street, asking Kramer to watch it. It is stolen right in front of him by a pair of effeminate, antique-loving men, who Kramer later refers to as "street toughs." Later, Elaine finds the Soup Nazi's recipes and distributes them widely in an act of vengeance, ruining his business. Larry Thomas received an Emmy nomination for his role as the Soup Nazi. The Dry Heave In the episode " The Little Kicks " Elaine performs her notorious "Full Body Dry Heave" dance in front of co-workers at a J. Peterman party. George (and later Jerry) exclaim "Sweet fancy Moses!" in reference to Elaine's dancing skill. Throughout the episode she is mercilessly mocked behind her back by co-workers; at first she believes George has caused her troubles, but later learns her dancing is at fault. The dance involves her hands in thumbs up mode and little kick-ups with her feet. She is eventually informed by Jerry through an unfortunate illegal video pirating incident. "Serenity NOW!" From the Season Nine episode of the same title , it is a relaxation technique used by George's father, especially when arguing with Mrs. Costanza. It turns out to be quite ineffective, according to George's nemesis, Lloyd Braun, who spent time in a mental institution because he suppressed his own anger for years ("serenity now, insanity later"). Kramer tries using the technique but explodes anyway, destroying 25 computers that George had been storing in Kramer's apartment. Then George's father uses "Hoochie mama" while Mrs. Costanza tries to put her car into the garage. Story Arcs and Themes "I proclaim this, the Summer of George!" - George, " The Summer of George " "I don't wanna be a pirate!" - Jerry, " The Puffy Shirt " also rephrased in following episodes Criticism and Development Seinfeld ran for nine seasons, one of the longest and most succesful runs for a sitcom in television history. While it never strayed from its basic premise of following four observant but neurotic New York City singles, and had plenty of devoted fans right up through the end, it was also widely criticized for losing its inspiration over time. As with any long-running series, the question of if and when the show "jumped the shark" is fiercely debated, with many differing opinions held. In seasons 1 and 2, the show moved relatively slowly with more of an emphasis on real-life situations. Standout episodes included "The Deal", in which Jerry and Elaine try to add casual sex to their friendship, and "The Chinese Restaurant", which documented Jerry, Elaine and George waiting over twenty minutes to be seated for dinner. With its focus squarely on dialogue and everyday troubles, the show developed a cult following and glowing write-ups in the press. At the same time, viewership was fairly low and these episodes can seem lathargic to many viewers better acquainted with the later seasons. Seasons 3-5 are generally considered to be Seinfeld’s "Golden Era," where it was lauded by critics for being intelligent and consistently funny. It was also becoming increasingly popular with viewers, and became known as a "watercooler show" [3] , in that the previous nights' episode would commonly be talked-about around the workplace the next day (usually at the watercooler, between tasks.) Many of the series' most famous episodes, such as "The Parking Garage", "The Boyfriend", "The Contest", "The Outing" and "The Puffy Shirt", hail from this period, and catch-phrases like "are you master of your domain?" and "...not that there’s anything wrong with that" (from two aforementioned episodes) became pop culture staples. In the middle of its fourth season, NBC placed the show on Thursday nights at 9:30 pm, following Cheers. The following year, Seinfeld replaced the departed Cheers at 9:00, where it became the anchor of NBC's "Must See TV" lineup. During season 6, the show received some criticism for being slightly wackier and faster-paced, relying heavily on incredible misunderstandings for its plot-twists, ala Three's Company; this coincided with a change in directors ( Andy Ackerman replacing Tom Cherones ) and what Jerry Seinfeld admitted was a slight creative drought - he told TV Guide that he and his writers were "crawling" by the seasons' end. The series still remained generally well-regarded, producing infamous episodes such as "The Fusilli Jerry" and "The Jimmy". Despite its continued success, the cast and crew publicly stated that the next season would be the series' last, a proclamation that would not come to pass. At the beginning of season 7, there was a critical buzz that Seinfeld was returning to full form. This followed a drastic change in the writing staff, as well as the introduction of a story arc involving George Costanza's engagement. It also relaxed its pace a bit, and re-introduced the character of Susan Ross (one of the NBC executives from the pilot thread in season 4) as George's fiancée. Now-classic episodes such as "The Soup Nazi", "The Sponge" and "The Rye" followed, and it was decided that the series would continue indefinitely. As the seventh season came to a close, TV Guide devoted a front page cover asking, "Is Seinfeld the best comedy ever?" They answered the question in 2002 by naming Seinfeld the #1 TV show of all time. The renewed critical favor was spoiled somewhat with the season's final episode, " The Invitations ", in which Susan is killed as a result of George's buying very old, very cheap wedding invitations with a toxic glue on the envelopes. All four characters reacted to news of her death with indifference, George even seeming slightly elated after about a minute, which many viewers found to be in exceedingly poor taste. The show didn't backpedal in the face of this mild uproar, even going so far as to mock the reaction in its eight season premiere, in which Jerry and George briefly get sentimental as they reflect on the death of Spock in a Star Trek movie - right after nonchalantly coming home from a visit to Susan's grave with her parents. The beginning of season 8 marked the departure of co-creator and executive producer Larry David. Jerry Seinfeld admitted to TV Guide that Seinfeld would be "a different show" as a result of David's absence, and many viewers noticed a distinct change in the series' tone from this point on. Reality and continuity were largely abandoned in favor of more outlandish storylines; the humor was now rooted in slapstick, farce and occassionally pure fantasy. The opening stand-up comedy segments were also discarded, replaced by more conventional opening sketches at the beginning of each episode. Some of the earlier off-beat entries were greeted as weird but fun diversions, such as "The Bizarro Jerry", in which Elaine befriends exact opposites of Jerry, George and Kramer (a play on 'The Bizarro World' in Superman comics). As the season progressed however, and especially during Season 9, most critics felt the show had gotten too silly and cartoonish for its own good. The New York Post took a poll during the 9th season, asking readers whether or not the series was as strong as it used to be, based on that season's first four episodes. More than half of those polled said that it was not up to its previous standards. Jerry Seinfeld responded with a letter to the Post thanking them for considering his show worthy enough for such a poll to be conducted. Some fans argue that even as Seinfeld changed its comedic approach in later years, it remained funny and watchable. [4] A few of the show's most popular plots and catch-phrases ( Festivus , "Serenity Now") come from its final year, and the series never faced a decline in the Nielson ratings (always remaining in the Top 3 since its fifth season). It also managed to stir up one last controversy with its second-to-last episode, "The Puerto Rican Day", in which the gang gets stuck in traffic during New York City's annual Puerto Rican Day Parade. During the episode, Kramer accidentally lights a Puerto Rican flag on fire, which offended activist groups and led to the episode being barred from repeat airings and syndication. Ratings Here is a list of Seinfeld's ratings per season throughout its nine-year run. [5] Season 1: Not in the top 30 Season 2: Not in the top 30 Season 3: Not in the top 30 Season 4: #25 Season 9: #1 Ending On December 26, 1997, Jerry Seinfeld announced that the series would end production the following spring. While he had been making casual pronouncements of the series' demise frequently since about the sixth season, this was the first time he actually turned down an offer from NBC to sign on for another year. The announcement made the front page of all the major New York newspapers, including the New York Times. Seinfeld was featured on the cover of Time Magazine's first issue of 1998. The end of Seinfeld garnered media hype that hadn't been seen since the end of Cheers in 1993, with many speculating how the series would end. Some suggested Jerry and Elaine would get married, and more cynical fans favored Julia Louis-Dreyfus's suggestion that the foursome die in a car accident after all their wishes come true. The producers of the show tweaked the media about the hype, spreading a false rumor about Newman ending up in the hospital and Jerry and Elaine sitting in a chapel, presumably to get married [6] . The actual Finale poked fun at the many rumors that were circulating, with Elaine saying "I've always loved you" to Jerry (and eventually correcting herself, explaining that she was going to say "I've always loved United Airlines.") and the gang nearly getting into a plane crash. The series ended with a 75 minute episode (cut down to 60 minutes in syndication, two parts) in which the "New York Four" are sentenced to one year in prison in Latham County, Massachusetts. After Jerry accepts a sitcom deal with NBC, the four decide to take NBC's private aircraft to Paris as a "last hurrah". They are delayed in Latham County after engine trouble (caused by Kramer hopping up and down, trying to get water out of his ears), and while killing time in town, they witness a fat man being robbed. Instead of helping him, they make wisecracks about his weight while Kramer videotapes the robbery. The victim sees them doing this, and mentions it to the reporting officer. All four are arrested for breaking a fictional Good Samaritan law that requires citizens to assist in such a situation. A lengthy trial ensues, bringing back many characters from past shows as character witnesses testifying against the group for their "selfish" acts from throughout the series. The Virgin, the low talker, the Bubble Boy, Babu Bhatt, the Soup Nazi, and Susan Ross' parents are called to the witness stand, among many more enemies and acquaintances. The four are eventually found guilty, and sentenced to a year in prison, with Judge Arthur Vandelay proclaiming: "I can think of nothing more fitting than for the four of you to spend a year removed from society so that you can contemplate the manner in which you have conducted yourselves." In the final scene before the credits, the four main characters sit in a jail cell and begin a conversation about George's shirt buttons, using lines from the very first episode of the series ("The second button is the key button. It literally makes or breaks the shirt."). In a last bit of comedy during the credits, Jerry is seen wearing an orange prison suit, doing a stand-up routine of prison-related jokes. "So what is the deal with the yard? I mean when I was a kid my mother wanted me to play in the yard. But of course she didn't have to worry about my next door neighbor Tommy sticking a shiv in my thigh." He is eventually threatened by a heckler/fellow prisoner voiced by Larry David. The final line of the series is Jerry, being yanked off stage, saying, "Hey, you've been great. I'll see you in the cafeteria!" The finale was not filmed in front of an audience, for the sake of keeping its plot secret, though a laugh track was later added. It was scripted by co-creator Larry David , who returned after a two-season hiatus. It also was the first episode since the 7th season to feature opening and closing stand-up acts by Jerry Seinfeld. The final Seinfeld was criticized by many for being vindictive towards the characters - who are shown to be amoral, selfish misanthropes - and, by extension, towards the audience who tuned in to watch them every week. Some valued it for the perceived in-joke of the four characters being convicted and imprisoned on the charge that they did nothing, a play on the "show about nothing" mantra. " The Chronicle " (the 45-minute clip show preceding the final episode) and "The Finale" garnered a 41.3 rating and a 58 share in the Nielsen Ratings, or about 76 million people. Seinfeld finished as the #1 most watched show of its final season. The only other shows to do so were I Love Lucy (in 1957) and The Andy Griffith Show (in 1968). It also broke a new world record in 30 sec Ad Cost on TV, $2 million for 30-sec ad back in 1998, which still stands today. Cast careers after Seinfeld Since the end of the program, Alexander has acted in film, theater and television, including guest appearances on Larry David's new HBO series Curb Your Enthusiasm. Louis-Dreyfus also appeared on Enthusiasm and has received on-screen and voice credits in television (such as Arrested Development) and animated film. Richards continues to appear in new film and television work as well. Alexander, Louis-Dreyfus and Richards have all attempted unsuccessfully to launch new sitcoms as title-role characters. Despite decent acclaim and even some respectable ratings each show was cancelled quickly, usually within the first season. This has given rise to the term "Seinfeld Curse" to describe sitcom failure by an actor following massive success on an ensemble show, a phrase oft-used in reference to Matt LeBlanc's Friends spin-off Joey. "It's so completely idiotic.... It's very hard to have a successful sitcom," Larry David once said of the curse. [7] Most new sitcoms do not enjoy the success of hits like Seinfeld, though David's Curb Your Enthusiasm went on to win Emmy awards; the series relied on his signature humor, embodied in the Seinfeld character of George. The relevant shows were Jason Alexander's Bob Patterson and Listen Up!, Michael Richards' The Michael Richards Show, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus' Watching Ellie. Though most of the aforementioned shows did not last more than a season, Louis-Dreyfus' The New Adventures of Old Christine was her claim to having broken the Seinfeld curse; it lasted five seasons. However, it was cancelled by CBS in May 2010. Patrick Warburton , who played David Puddy , was also hit by the curse when his superhero-themed show, The Tick, was cancelled after just one season. However, he has found success in voice acting. His repertoire includes the voice of Joe Swanson in Family Guy, Brock Samson in The Venture Bros and Kronk in The Emperor's New Groove. Lately he can be seen on ABC's show Less Than Perfect as Jeb Denton, and on CBS's Rules of Engagement as Jeff Bingham. Alexander was also the voice of Duckman, which had a certain amount of success (although this series ran from 1994 until 1997, which coincided with the run of Seinfeld). Wayne Knight has since had some roles with more or less the same importance of Newman, like the one in the not so successful The Edge, and one as a police officer in 3rd Rock from the Sun. He also had a voice cameo as a minor demon from hell in Justice League Unlimited animated series, and achieved some success as the voice of the human villain Al in Toy Story 2 in 1999, a year after Seinfeld's finale. However, the actor who really broke the curse, at least for recurring guest stars, was Jerry Stiller who was cast successfully as Doug Heffernan's annoying father-in-law Arthur, in The King of Queens. In the summer of 2005, John O'Hurley , who played Jacopo Peterman in a recurring role on the final seasons of Seinfeld, received extensive publicity when he finished as the runner-up on the highly rated American ABC reality series Dancing With The Stars to Kelly Monaco. Product placement A recurring feature of Seinfeld was its use of specific products as plot points, especially various candy products. These products might be a central feature of a plot narrative (e.g. Junior Mints, Twix and Pez), or associating the candy with a guest character (e.g. Oh Henry! bars), or simply discussing the merits of the candy in a conversational aside (e.g. Chuckles). Examples of non-candy products featured in Seinfeld are Rold Gold pretzels (whose advertisements at the time featured Jason Alexander), Kenny Rogers Roasters (a chicken restaurant chain), Drake's Coffee Cakes, Bosco , Snapple, Specialized Bicycles, Ovaltine, Arby's, TV Guide , the board game Risk, Entenmann's and the J. Peterman clothing catalog (which actually went bankrupt while the show was still active). The computers in Jerry's apartment are always Apple Computers, which were changed every few seasons. While the show's creators claim that they themselves were not engaging in a product placement strategy for commercial gain, Seinfeld is widely credited by marketers and advertisers with affecting a change in attitude toward product placement in US primetime TV shows. [8] [9] In general, product placement became much more frequent in TV shows after Seinfeld demonstrated that a successful show could work specific products into its plots and dialogue. For details of a study on the effectiveness of product placement (without respect to whether it was paid for or intended to promote products), see "Television Programs and Advertising: Measuring the Effectiveness of Product Placement Within Seinfeld" by Dana T. Weaver of Penn State University. Two types of advertising, neither of which were actual product placement, also capitalized on the Seinfeld show. One is described as a "Webisode," a reverse form of product placement. In this form, instead of inserting its product into an episode, American Express "inserted" Jerry Seinfeld and an animated Superman (voiced by Patrick Warburton, who also acted on the show, playing the role of David Puddy) into its commercial. The second type is the use of the show's actors, such as Jason Alexander in a Chrysler commercial. In this type, which ran after the series ended, Alexander behaves much like his character George, and his relationship with Lee Iacocca is said to play on his relationship with George Steinbrenner in the show. Music A signature of Seinfeld is its theme music: distinct solo synthesized bass guitar "pickups" which open the show and connect the scenes. These short riffs were composed by Jonathan Wolff and are considered groundbreaking in their use as sitcom music. They vary throughout each episode, and are played in an improvised blues-funk style. An additional musical theme with an ensemble, led by a synthesized mid-range brass instrument, ends each episode. Non-original music featured in the show: "Superman (Main Theme)" - John Williams - In " The Race " (Season 6, #10) and " The Chronicle , Part One" (Season 9, #177) "Manaña (Is Good Enough For Me)" - Jackie Davis - In " The Blood " (Season 9, #160). Theme from The Greatest American Hero ( [10] ) - In " The Susie " (Season 8, #149) ( [11] ) "Morning Train (9 to 5)" - Sheena Easton - In " The Bizarro Jerry " (Season 8, #137) and " The Butter Shave " (Season 9, #157) "Slow Ride" - Foghat - In " The Slicer " (Season 9, #162). Elaine tunes into her bedside radio and offers up a few characteristic dance moves. "Downtown" - Petula Clark - in " The Bottle Deposit " (Season 7, #131). George looks for clues about his work assignment when Wilhelm mentions the song to him. "Wouldn't It Be Nice" - The Beach Boys - In " The Hamptons " (Season 5, #85). "Desperado" and "Witchy Woman" - Eagles - In " The Checks " (Season 8, #141) "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" - Green Day - From the album "Nimrod"- In " The Chronicle , Part 2" (Season 9, #178). "(Once, Twice) Three Times a Lady" - The Commodores - In " The Pothole " (Season 8 #15). "Hello" - Lionel Richie - In " The Engagement " (Season 7, #1), " The Invitations " (Season 7, #24), " The Voice " (Season 9, #158). "Everybody's Talkin'" - Harry Nilsson - In " The Mom and Pop Store " (Season 6, #94). "Shining Star" - Earth, Wind & Fire - In " The Little Kicks " (Season 8, #138), (Season 9, " The Bookstore ", #173). Elaine does the infamous dry heave dance to this. "Theme From The Godfather" - Nino Rota - In " The Bris " (Season 5, #69) "Mexican Radio" - Wall of Voodoo - In " The Reverse Peephole " (Season 9, #168). "Pagliacci: Vesti la Giubba" - Ruggiero Leoncavallo - In " The Opera " (Season 4, #49). Selected music from "The Barber of Seville" - Pierre Beaumarchais - In " The Barber " (Season 5) Awards Seinfeld won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series in 1993; it was nominated for the award every year from 1992-1998 (seasons 3-9). The show has also won a Golden Globe Award for Best Comedy Series in 1994, the Peabody Award in 1993, the Television Critics Award" in 1992 and 1993, the Screen Actors Guild for Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series in 1995, 1997, and 1998, and the People's Choice Award for Favorite Television Comedy Series from 1997-1999. Jerry Seinfeld Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Comedy Series - 1994. Michael Richards Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series - 1993-1994, and 1997. Julia Louis-Dreyfus Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series - 1996. Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series - 1997-1998 Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress - 1994 Jason Alexander Screen Actors Guild Award in 1995 for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series - 1995 Writing Emmy Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series - " The Fix-Up " - Larry Charles and Elaine Pope (1991); " The Contest " - Larry David (1992); Writers Guild Award for Episodic Comedy - "The Contest" - Larry David (1994); " The Mango " - Lawrence H. Levy (teleplay/story), Larry David (teleplay) (1995); " The Pool Guy " - David Mandel (1997); " The Fatigues " - Gregg Kavet , Andy Robin (1998) DVDs Seinfeld episodes have been collected on a series of DVDs. They are: "Seinfeld: Volume 1: Seasons 1&2" (2004) 3 slim case DVDs in cardboard box, (2012) standard DVD case clear "Seinfeld: Volume 2: Season 3" (2004) 3 slim case DVDs in cardboard box, (2012) standard DVD case clear "Seinfeld: Volume 3: Season 4" (2005) 3 slim case DVDs in cardboard box, (2012) standard DVD case clear "Seinfeld: Volume 4: Season 5" (2005) 3 slim case DVDs in cardboard box, (2012) standard DVD case clear "Seinfeld: Volume 5: Season 6" (2005) 3 slim case DVDs in cardboard box, (2012) standard DVD case clear "Seinfeld: Volume 6: Season 7" 3 slim case DVDs in cardboard box, (2012) standard DVD case clear "Seinfeld: Volume 7: Season 8" 3 slim case DVDs in cardboard box, (2012) standard DVD case clear "Seinfeld: Volume 8: Season 9" (2007) 3 slim case DVDs in cardboard box, (2012) standard DVD case clear References Fretts, Bruce. The Entertainment Weekly Seinfeld Companion. New York: Warner Books. 1993. ISBN 0446670367 . William Irwin (Ed.). Seinfeld and Philosophy: A Book about Everything and Nothing. Peru, Illinois: Open Court Publishing Company. 1999. ISBN 0812694090 . Gantz, Katherine. "Not That There's Anything Wrong with That": Reading the Queer in Seinfeld. In Calvin Thomas (Ed.). Straight with a Twist: Queer Theory and the Subject of Heterosexuality. Champaign. Illinois: University of Illinois Press. ISBN 0252068130 . Gattuso, Greg. The Seinfeld Universe: The Entire Domain. New York: Citadel Press. 1996. ISBN 0806520019 . Rosenthal, Phil (November 18, 2004). Gold, Jerry! Gold! Chicago Sun Times. Seinfeld, Jerry. Sein Language. Bantam. 1993. ISBN 0553096060 .

Larry David

In 1997 which airline replaced the flag on its tail fin with ethnic designs from around the world?

"Seinfeld" The Pilot (TV Episode 1993) - IMDb IMDb 29 December 2016 2:33 AM, UTC NEWS There was an error trying to load your rating for this title. Some parts of this page won't work property. Please reload or try later. X Beta I'm Watching This! Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Error "Jerry"'s pilot finally airs. Elaine avoids the romantic pursue of Dalrymple. Director: a list of 1113 titles created 02 Jan 2013 a list of 23 titles created 09 Nov 2013 a list of 23 titles created 17 Aug 2014 a list of 40 titles created 8 months ago a list of 23 titles created 6 months ago Search for " The Pilot " on Amazon.com Connect with IMDb Title: The Pilot (20 May 1993) 8.8/10 Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. Add Image Add an image Do you have any images for this title? Edit Storyline In the fourth season finale, Jerry and George's pilot is finally a go. But before the taping, Elaine desperately tries to avoid NBC president Russell Dalrymple after an awkward date, while Kramer comes face to face with his TV show counterpart. Before the pilot airs, Crazy Joe Davola (see episode "The Opera") shows up to put a damper in the gang's plans. As the pilot is finally finished and ready for airtime, the executives at NBC aren't impressed with the result. Written by halo1k 20 May 1993 (USA) See more  » Filming Locations: Did You Know? Trivia The series may not have an opening credits sequence, but in the episode "The Pilot" the series "Jerry" does. See more » Goofs When Kramer leaves the auditions to find the bathroom down the hall, the Law & Order poster on the wall reads backwards. Presumably the shot was reversed to be consistent with Stu Shermack's directions of "on the right at the very end." See more » Connections "Did he just stole the raisins?" 18 July 2016 | by juanmaffeo – See all my reviews The finale of Season 4 thankfully meets its season high standards. Larry David had a lot to do on this episode: finish the pilot arc (with closure or not) and deliver an episode that's good in itself. And he delivered. Along Season 4 the pilot arc came and went. Some episodes would go without even mention the arc but thankfully other developed it. Here we get the realization of the show and its airing. I love the scene when the show gets finally aired and the audience gets a round up of mostly every character that has had a part in this season. It helps end this season with a nice bow. Getting specific, we have 3 stoylines this time. Jerry and George with the pilot, Elaine with the waitress problem and Kramer with his intestinal situation. The pilot story is of course the more developed and maybe the funniest. We get to meet the cast and the three of them are fantastic. We also get a lot of easter eggs of the real set and get to the Tom Cherones! The Elaine story is actually two things: her situation with Dalrymple and the Monks thing. The Dalrymple stuff is really boring. Actually, everything involving him is what drags this episode down. Bob Balaban actually gave good performances is the other episodes he was involved, but here he gives a very out of place performance. It's overly serious and the contrast with the show's light tone just rings awkward. It's also ridiculous the amount of screen time they spent on this subplot. Back to the Elaine story, when the Monks incident starts, that's when this story gets better. A story so true to the Elaine character (or at least the one they wrote for the first half of the series) and also a really entertaining one. We get a look at the Equal Employment Office (again, David with the social issues) and Elaine as a strong female character. And Kramer's story is just really funny. I mean, it's all Richards. He gets the perfect material to shine and, again, something that has happened to everybody. As I said in other reviews, the best Kramer stories are the ones everybody can relate and when we get to see his eccentric persona react to normal events. On a side note, there are some odd directing choices, mainly Davola's freezeframe and the weird pilot-floating-in-the-sea final shot. Nevertheless, the pace is good and the rest is just fine. Overall, it's a nice way to end an amazing season. 2 of 4 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you? Yes

i don't know

Where did Anne Frank die?

Anne Frank - World War II - HISTORY.com Google Anne Frank’s Childhood Anne Frank was born Anneliese Marie Frank in Frankfurt, Germany, on June 12, 1929, to Edith Hollander Frank (1900-45) and Otto Frank (1889-1980), a prosperous businessman. Less than four years later, in January 1933, Adolf Hitler became chancellor of Germany and he and his Nazi government instituted a series of measures aimed at persecuting Germany’s Jewish citizens. Did You Know? In 1960, the building at Prinsengracht 263, home to the Secret Annex, opened to the public as a museum devoted to the life of Anne Frank. Her original diary is on display there. By the fall of 1933, Otto Frank moved to Amsterdam, where he established a small but successful company that produced a gelling substance used to make jam. After staying behind in Germany with her grandmother in the city of Aachen, Anne joined her parents and sister Margot (1926-45) in the Dutch capital in February 1934. In 1935, Anne started school in Amsterdam and earned a reputation as an energetic, popular girl. In May 1940, the Germans, who had entered World War II in September of the previous year, invaded the Netherlands and quickly made life increasingly restrictive and dangerous for Jewish people there. Between the summer of 1942 and September 1944, the Nazis and their Dutch collaborators deported more than 100,000 Jews in Holland to extermination camps. Anne Frank’s Family Goes into Hiding In early July 1942, after Margot Frank received a letter ordering her to report to a work camp in Germany, Anne Frank’s family went into hiding in an attic apartment behind Otto Frank’s business, located at Prinsengracht 263 in Amsterdam. In an effort to avoid detection, the family left a false trail suggesting they’d fled to Switzerland. A week after they had gone into hiding, the Franks were joined by Otto’s business associate Hermann van Pels (1898-1944), along with his wife Auguste (1900-45) and their son Peter (1926-45), who were also Jewish. A small group of Otto Frank’s employees, including his Austrian-born secretary, Miep Gies (1909-2010), risked their own lives to smuggle food, supplies and news of the outside world into the secret apartment, whose entrance was situated behind a movable bookcase. In November 1942, the Franks and Van Pels were joined by Fritz Pfeffer (1889-1944), Miep Gies’ Jewish dentist. Life for the eight people in the small apartment, which Anne Frank referred to as the Secret Annex, was tense. The group lived in constant fear of being discovered and could never go outside. They had to remain quiet during daytime in order to avoid detection by the people working in the warehouse below. Anne passed the time, in part, by chronicling her observations and feelings in a diary she had received for her 13th birthday, a month before her family went into hiding. Addressing her diary entries to an imaginary friend she called Kitty, Anne Frank wrote about life in hiding, including her impressions of the other inhabitants of the Secret Annex, her feelings of loneliness and her frustration over the lack of privacy. While she detailed typical teenage issues such as crushes on boys, arguments with her mother and resentments toward her sister, Frank also displayed keen insight and maturity when she wrote about the war, humanity and her own identity. She also penned short stories and essays during her time in hiding. The Franks are Captured by the Nazis On August 4, 1944, after 25 months in hiding, Anne Frank and the seven others in the Secret Annex were discovered by the Gestapo, the German secret state police, who had learned about the hiding place from an anonymous tipster (who has never been definitively identified). After their arrest, the Franks, Van Pels and Fritz Pfeffer were sent by the Gestapo to Westerbork, a holding camp in the northern Netherlands. From there, in September 1944, the group was transported by freight train to the Auschwitz-Birkenau extermination and concentration camp complex in German-occupied Poland. Anne and Margot Frank were spared immediate death in the Auschwitz gas chambers and instead were sent to Bergen-Belsen, a concentration camp in northern Germany. In March 1945, the Frank sisters died of typhus at Bergen-Belsen; their bodies were thrown into a mass grave. Several weeks later, on April 15, 1945, British forces liberated the camp. Edith Frank died of starvation at Auschwitz in January 1945. Hermann van Pels died in the gas chambers at Auschwitz soon after his arrival there in 1944; his wife is believed to have likely died at the Theresienstadt concentration camp in what is now the Czech Republic in the spring of 1945. Peter van Pels died at the Mauthausen concentration camp in Austria in May 1945. Fritz Pfeffer died from illness in late December 1944 at the Neuengamme concentration camp in Germany. Anne Frank’s father, Otto, was the only member of the group to survive; he was liberated from Auschwitz by Soviet troops on January 27, 1945. Anne Frank’s Diary When Otto Frank returned to Amsterdam following his release from Auschwitz, Miep Gies gave him five notebooks and some 300 loose papers containing Anne’s writings. Gies had recovered the materials from the Secret Annex shortly after the Franks’ arrest by the Nazis and had hidden them in her desk. (Margot Frank also kept a diary, but it was never found.) Otto Frank knew that Anne wanted to become an author or journalist, and had hoped her wartime writings would one day be published. Anne had even been inspired to edit her diary for posterity after hearing a March 1944 radio broadcast from an exiled Dutch government official who urged the Dutch people to keep journals and letters that would help provide a record of what life was like under the Nazis. After his daughter’s writings were returned to him, Otto Frank helped compile them into a manuscript that was published in the Netherlands in 1947 under the title “Het Acheterhuis” (“Rear Annex”). Although U.S. publishers initially rejected the work as too depressing and dull, it was eventually published in America in 1952 as “The Diary of a Young Girl.” The book, which went on to sell tens of millions of copies worldwide, has been labeled a testament to the indestructible nature of the human spirit. It is required reading at schools around the globe and has been adapted for the stage and screen. Tags

Bergen-Belsen concentration camp

"According to the British Bishop Mervyn Stockwood, who would ""go to the Follies Bergere and look at the audience?"

"I Saw Anne Frank Die" - Jewish Holidays Irma Sonnenberg Menkel February 4, 2012 At the age of 100, remembering the horrors of the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp BY IRMA SONNENBERG MENKEL As Printed in July 21, 1997 Edition of Newsweek© Magazine I TURNED 100 YEARS OLD IN APRIL AND HAD A BEAUTIFUL birthday party surrounded by my grandchildren, great grandchildren and other family members. I even danced a little. Willard Scott mentioned my name on television. But such a time is also for reflection. I decided to overcome my long reluctance to revisit terrible times. Older people must tell their stories. With the help of Jonathan Alter of NEWSWEEK, here’s a bit of mine: I was born in Germany in 1897, got married and had two children in the 1920s. Then Hitler came to power, and like many other Jews, we fled to Holland. As the Nazis closed in, we sent one daughter abroad with relatives and the other into hiding with my sister and her children in The Hague. My husband and I could not hide so easily, and in 1941 we were sent first to Westerbork, a transit camp where we stayed about a year, and later to Bergen-Belsen, a work and transit camp, from where thousands of innocent people were sent to extermination camps. There were no ovens at Bergen-Belsen; instead the Nazis killed us with starvation and disease. My husband and brother both died there. I stayed for about three years before it was liberated in the spring of 1945. When I went in, I weighed more than 125 pounds. When I left, I weighed 78. After I arrived at the Bergen-Belsen barracks, I was told I was to be the barracks leader. I said, “I’m not strong enough to be barracks leader.” They said that would be disobeying a command. I was terrified of this order, but had no choice. It turned out that the Nazi commandant of the camp was from my home town in Germany and had studied with my uncle in Strasbourg. This coincidence probably helped save my life. He asked to talk to me privately and wanted to know what I had heard of my uncle. I said I wanted to leave Bergen-Belsen, maybe go to Palestine. The commandant said, “If I could help you, I would, but I would lose my head.” About once every three weeks, he would ask to see me. I was always afraid. It was very dangerous. Jews were often shot over nothing. After the war, I heard he had committed suicide. There were about 500 women and girls in my barracks. Conditions were extremely crowded and unsanitary. No heat at all. Every morning, I had to get up at 5 and wake the rest. At 6 a.m., we went to roll call. Often we had to wait there for hours, no matter the weather. Most of the day, we worked as slave labor in the factory, making bullets for German soldiers. When we left Holland, I had taken only two changes of clothes, one toothbrush, no books or other possessions. Later I had a few more clothes, including a warm jacket, which came from someone who died. Men and women lined up for hours to wash their clothes in the few sinks. There were no showers in our barracks. And no bedding. The day was spent working and waiting. At 10 p.m., lights out. At midnight, the inspection came-three or four soldiers. I had to say everything was in good condition when, in fact, the conditions were beyond miserable. Then up again at 5 a.m. One of the children in my barracks toward the end of the war was Anne Frank, whose diary became famous after her death. I didn’t know her family beforehand, and I don’t recall much about her, but I do remember her as a quiet child. When I heard later that she was 15 when she was in the camps, I was surprised. She seemed younger to me. Pen and paper were hard to find, but I have a memory of her writing a bit. Typhus was a terrible problem, especially for the children. Of 500 in my barracks, maybe 100 got it, and most of them died. Many others starved to death. When Anne Frank got sick with typhus, I remember telling her she could stay in the barracks – she didn’t have to go to roll call. There was so little to eat. In my early days there, we were each given one roll of bread for eight days, and we tore it up, piece by piece. One cup of black coffee a day and one cup of soup. And water. That was all. Later there was even less. When I asked the commandant for a little bit of gruel for the children’s diet, he would sometimes give me some extra cereal. Anne Frank was among those who asked for cereal, but how could I find cereal for her? It was only for the little children, and only a little bit. The children died anyway. A couple of trained nurses were among the inmates, and they reported to me. In the evening, we tried to help the sickest. In the morning, it was part of my job to tell the soldiers how many had died the night before. Then they would throw the bodies on the fire. I have a dim memory of Anne Frank speaking of her father. She was a nice, fine person. She would say to me, “Irma, I am very sick.” I said, “No, you are not so sick.” She wanted to be reassured that she wasn’t. When she slipped into a coma, I took her in my arms. She didn’t know that she was dying. She didn’t know that she was so sick. You never know. At Bergen-Belsen, you did not have feelings anymore. You became paralyzed. In all the years since, I almost never talked about Bergen-Belsen. I couldn’t. It was too much. When the war was over, we went in a cattle truck to a place where we stole everything out of a house. I stole a pig, and we had a butcher who slaughtered it. Eating this-when we had eaten so little before -was bad for us. It made many even sicker. But you can’t imagine how hungry we were. At the end, we had absolutely nothing to eat. I asked an American soldier holding a piece of bread if I could have a bite. He gave me the whole bread. That was really something for me. When I got back to Holland, no one knew anything. I finally found a priest who had the address where my sister and daughter were. I didn’t know if they were living or not. They were. They had been hidden by a man who worked for my brother. That was luck. I found them and began crying. I was so thin that at first they didn’t recognize me. There are many stories like mine, locked inside people for decades. Even my family heard only a little of this one until recently. Whatever stories you have in your family, tell them. It helps. © Newsweek Magazine

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In which city was the peace treaty ending the Vietnam war signed?

Paris Peace Accords signed - Jan 27, 1973 - HISTORY.com Paris Peace Accords signed Publisher A+E Networks The United States, South Vietnam, Viet Cong, and North Vietnam formally sign “An Agreement Ending the War and Restoring Peace in Vietnam” in Paris. Due to South Vietnam’s unwillingness to recognize the Viet Cong’s Provisional Revolutionary Government, all references to it were confined to a two-party version of the document signed by North Vietnam and the United States—the South Vietnamese were presented with a separate document that did not make reference to the Viet Cong government. This was part of Saigon’s long-time refusal to recognize the Viet Cong as a legitimate participant in the discussions to end the war. The settlement included a cease-fire throughout Vietnam. It addition, the United States agreed to the withdrawal of all U.S. troops and advisors (totalling about 23,700) and the dismantling of all U.S. bases within 60 days. In return, the North Vietnamese agreed to release all U.S. and other prisoners of war. Both sides agreed to the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Laos and Cambodia and the prohibition of bases in and troop movements through these countries. It was agreed that the DMZ at the 17th Parallel would remain a provisional dividing line, with eventual reunification of the country “through peaceful means.” An international control commission would be established made up of Canadians, Hungarians, Poles, and Indonesians, with 1,160 inspectors to supervise the agreement. According to the agreement, South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu would continue in office pending elections. Agreeing to “the South Vietnamese People’s right to self-determination,” the North Vietnamese said they would not initiate military movement across the DMZ and that there would be no use of force to reunify the country. Footnote: The last U.S. serviceman to die in combat in Vietnam, Lt. Col. William B. Nolde, was killed by an artillery shell at An Loc, 60 miles northwest of Saigon, only 11 hours before the truce went into effect. Related Videos

Paris

What was Scotland's answer to California's Silicon Valley called?

Vietnam Peace Treaty Agreed To In Paris Vietnam Peace Treaty Agreed To In Paris By Patrick Mondout On January 23, 1971, the U.S. and North Vietnam jointly announced from Paris that the terms of a cease-fire agreement had been accepted by both sides. The nine-point cease-fire agreement, negotiated between Henry Kissinger and North Vietnam's Le Duc Tho, was signed in Paris on January 27, 1973, to become effective on January 28. It called for the U.S. to remove all of its forces from South Vietnam and for all POWs to be returned within 60 days. Peace With Honor President Nixon hailed the agreement as meeting "the goals that we considered essential for peace with honor." Nixon ran for president in 1968 on a pledge of bringing the war to an end, but only by achieving what he called "peace with honor." He was unable to achieve it in his first term but then settled with the North Vietnamese on terms that were exactly the same as the Johnson Administration had negotiated shortly before the election in 1968. By 1975, 57,000 Americans and untold numbers of Vietnamese had died in Vietnam. The United States had spent $155 billion in Southeast Asia since 1950. The war eroded Americans' faith in their government. Paris Peace Talks After years of arguing over such things as the size of the table they would negotiate at, both sides finally came to an agreement they could live with and the cease fire agreement was signed on January 27, 1973. NARA Image As the war escalated in the mid to late 1960's, its critics became more outspoken. University students and teachers began holding teach-ins in 1965. Hundreds of young men escaped the draft by fleeing to Canada. Protest marches happened across the country. Those opposing the war argued that the war cost too much--both in lives and dollars--and couldn't be won. Soon after the tragedy at Kent State in 1970, the majority of Americans opposed the war.     Share Your Memories! Do you have any interesting thoughts or memories to share about this news story? Share your stories with the world ! (We print the best stories right here!)   JUST THE FACTS President Nixon meets with Henry Kissinger in the Oval Office after the return of U.S. POWs. NARA/Nixon Library Image

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What was St. Petersburg called for most of the 20th century?

St-Petersburg: 20th Century St-Petersburg: 20th Century June 24th, 2010 | Author: admin Emperor Alexander III, the “Pacifier”, a mighty man of enviable health, died on 20 October 1894 from a kidney disease at the age of 49. The heir, Tsesarvich Nicholas, a man of average abilities, was not ready to take control of the huge country. Infantile, timid and shy at 26, when he had to inherit the throne, Nicholas was completely lost, and moreover, the political situation was rather difficult indeed when he succeeded the crown. On 14 November 1894 he urgently married Princess Alice of Hesse-Darmstadt, who took the name of Alexandra Fiodorovna after accepting the Orthodox faith. The luxurious and majestic wedding in the church of the Winter Palace was not accompanied by any especial merry-making and their honeymoon passed against the background of funeral visits. The reign of the last Russian Emperor began in a tragic atmosphere – during the coronation of Nicholas II many people were crushed by the jostling crowd. But except for the Khodynka tragedy, the course of life in Russia was still rather steady and quiet in the first years of his reign. Ilya Repin. The Marriage of Nicolas II and Grend Duchess Alexandra Feodorovna in the Winter Palase. 1894 Meanwhile serious changes were ripening. From the second half of the nineteenth century Russia was rapidly catching up with Europe в its industry had an accelerated development. At the turn of the centuries St Petersburg turned into an immense industrial centre. Changes in everyday life were unusually swift: many aristocrats replaced horse-drawn vehicles by cars; telephones, electricity, water supply lines and other modern conveniences were introduced. Modern trends in the design of clothes, hair-styles and a mode of conduct were changing as short-lived fancies. A new type of businessmen – bankers and entrepreneurs who owned large fortunes – have emerged. It was in this period that the last grand style, Art Nouveau, rapidly broke into the city’s architectural silhouette. New buildings at the Petrograd Side and Vasilyevsky Island were so unusual in design that they seemed to implement the early Romanticists’ dream of changing the world by means of beauty. Not only dwelling houses were then designed in the “Northern Art Nouveau” style – sometimes combined with Neo-Classicism – many banks and shops reminiscent of palaces by their richly decorated facades were also erected. The 1910s saw a rise, within this new stylistic movement, of a more experimental trend, Constructivism, that became especially widespread in industrial architecture. A short period dominated by the Art Nouveau style – merely some three decades – was a crucial era in the history of St Petersburg and entire Russia. That was a contradictory time marked by an upsurge of creative activities of the Russian intelligentsia and a presentiment of an imminent catastrophe. The turn of the nineteenth and twentieth century coincided with a decline of old thinking and it was the northern capital that became the focus of intense spiritual quests and the main arena of the so-called Silver Age of Russian culture. The creative destinies of artists, actors, poets and musicians were interwoven no less whimsically than the lines of Art Nouveau itself. The atmosphere of the capital was permeated with mysticism and poetry. Disputes, lectures and editorial tea-drinking parties where writers and poets could meet with their readers were then popular; various ideas connected with the most profound and vital problems of the age were put forward. Nathan Altman. Portrait of Anna Akhmatova, 1914. Russian Museum The uncrowned queen of this bohemian world was the poet Anna Akhmatova who held supreme authority in the Wandering Dog cabaret and became its symbol of a sort. The most notable phenomenon in the artistic life of the capital was the World of Art society, with the artist Alexander Benois as one of its founders. The World of Art members arranged exhibitions, issued a magazine of the same name and eventually formed a new artistic movement. They succeeded to show to their contemporaries the fleeting, phantasmal charm of St Petersburg, despite the then prevailing opinion about its exceedingly official character. Sergei Diaghilev played a special role in this circle. Energetic and enterprising, he organized the “Russian Seasons”, a festival of Russian opera and ballet performances which enjoyed a great success in Paris from 1907 onwards. The turn of the century saw a growing passion for the theatre, although the inhabitants of St Petersburg had been inveterate theatre-goers since time immemorial. With the appearance of folk theatres all layers of population could acquaint themselves with this kind of art. Small theatres, cabarets with performing actors and private stages emerged in the capital. Worthy of special note among them was the theatre headed by the actress Vera Kommissarzhevskaya. It was she who invited the now famous Vsevolod Meyerhold from Moscow in 1906. Meyerhold, a creator of an avant-garde theatrical theory, believed that “secret doors to the Wonderland” were open to him as an artistic director, although many people regarded him as a mere “scenic juggler” Alexander Gerasimov. Lenin at the Rostrum. 1930 The age of Art Nouveau, seeking to innovate life and to tie it with art, suddenly had to face the terrible bloody revolution on 9 January 1905, when peaceful people were attacked by armed cavalrymen. The atrocities of the troops continued throughout the day, people were dying in the streets and it seemed that the capital was given for ravage to conquerors. The Tsar, scaring an attempt at his life, sat out at Tsarskoye Selo having relegated his duties to the subordinates. The circumstances resulted in an undeclared state of emergency. This first Russian revolution, however, soon began to decline. Life in the brilliant St Petersburg went along the routine lines again, but not for a very long time. In less than a decade the events grew threatening again. In the summer of 1914 the capital of the Empire was shocked by the news that the First World War broke out. The city was soon seized with patriotic fervour and destruction attacks of all German companies began, In August 1914 St Petersburg was renamed Petrograd – the “German” name was replaced with a “Slavic” version, The giant state machine was collapsing; the Empire, like its capital, was in a turbulent state. In 1913 a luxurious celebration of the Tercentenary of the Romanov House was held, but four years later, in 1917, Nicholas II, the last Russian Emperor, unable to control the country any longer, signed his abdication. The Revolution of 1917 resulted in the fall of monarchy in Russia. In July 1918 Nicholas II and members of his family were shot by the Bolsheviks in the Urais. In February 1917 the state power went to the Provisional Government and later to the Bolsheviks headed by Lenin. An inspired orator with a keen insight into a mob’s psychology, Lenin often spoke in public promising peace and prosperity at once after the elimination of the bourgeois power. It was he who became the head of the new government after the Bolsheviks had arrested the Provisional Government having its session in the Winter Palace. A signal for the attack of the former imperial residence was a blank shot from the cruiser Aurora. The Cruiser Aurora. Built in 1897-1903. Put at the permanent berth near the Petrogradskaya Embankment   The radical Bolsheviks succeeded in quickly establishing their cruel regime in the capital. Troublesome rumours spread around the city; life was getting increasingly chaotic. In March 1918 the Bolsheviks shifted the capital of the newly formed state, the country of the Soviets, to Moscow. The loss of the status of the capital city greatly affected Petrograd – it lost its former glitter, money and power. Unemployment, devastation, famine, frosts and other disasters came down upon the city. Everything was frozen, from water supply lines to lavatories; people were dying on ice-bound pavements; they burnt furniture and books and demolished wooden houses for use as firewood. In January 1924, after Lenin’s death, the city was renamed Leningrad and the authorities did their best to obliterate every trace of the brilliant past of St Petersburg from one’s mind. Triumphal return of Russian soldiers after the Victory in the War of 1941-1945 The twentieth century brought to the “granite city of glory and disasters” new unheard-of cataclysms, such as mass arrests and executions in the years of Stalin’s “Great Terror”, the War of 1941-45 (known in Russia as the Great Patriotic War) and the siege, unparalleled in the world’s history. Hitler’s armies formed a deathly ring around the city that did not come loose from September 1941 to January 1944. These “900 Days” mark the most tragic period throughout the city’s history. Sometimes up to 30,000 people died of starvation in a single day. Not only all poultry and home animals were eaten up, but hungry people boiled leather belts, scraped glue off the wallpaper and ate peat. The former capital was on the verge of complete destruction, but it did not surrender. The people believed that once the enemy’s feet had not stepped on its land before, it would not happen this time, too. The city withstood the trial, won a victory and repaired the ravage wrought by the war. Festive parade in honour of Victory Day. War veterans on Nevsky Prospekt However, the stately and brilliant St Petersburg, as it had been in Pushkin’s era, was gradually turning into a dull and featureless Soviet metropolis, Leningrad. “A window onto Europe” was closed, and now only rare ships from the West could be seen in the port. The residents of the once glorious northern capital began to call it bitterly “a great city with the destiny of a regional centre”. One can hardly say now what would come out of it, where it not for Gorbachev’s perestroika. Among the most positive changes it brought was a decision to give the city its historical name again: on 1 October 1991 it was officially declared St Petersburg.

Saint Petersburg

What is London's biggest airport called?

Illustrated history of St. Petersburg, Russia In times gone by: An era-by-era history of St. Petersburg Each of Russia's Imperial rulers left their personal imprint on St. Petersburg, while the 20th century threw the city into a cycle of turmoil from which it is yet to fully extricate itself. Follow the city's dramatic history in the context of the changes in power in Imperial Russia and the Soviet Union. The Romanovs: Lives of Russia's Imperial family Renowned for their wealth and extravagance as much as their immense power, the Romanovs ruled Russia for over 300 years, and the extended family produced an extraordinary variety of characters in that time, including some of the most celebrated rulers in modern history. Petersburgers: Biographies of the city's greatest residents Peter the Great populated his city with skilled migrants from all over Europe, and his city has ever since attracted the talented and ambitious from all over Russia and beyond, meaning that a pantheon of greats in all fields of human endeavour have called St. Petersburg their home.

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Which country is locked within Belgium, Germany and France?

EUROPA - Germany | European Union website, the official EU website European Union website, the official EU website Germany Overview:  With a landmass that stretches from the North Sea and the Baltic Sea in the north to the Alps in the south, Germany has the largest population of any EU country. Germany borders Denmark to the north, Poland and the Czech Republic to the east, Austria and Switzerland to the south, France and Luxembourg to the southwest, and Belgium and the Netherlands to the northwest.  The most important sectors of Germany’s economy in 2015 were industry (25.9 %), public administration, defence, education, human health and social work activities (18.2 %) and wholesale and retail trade, transport, accommodation and food service activities (15.8 %). Germany’s main export partners are France, the US and the UK while its main import partners are the Netherlands, France and China. Capital:  Population as % of total EU:  16 % (2015) Seats in the European Parliament:  96 Euro. Member of the eurozone  since 1 January 1999 Schengen area member?:  Yes, Schengen Area member since 26 March 1995. Presidency of the Council:  Germany has held the revolving  presidency of the Council of the EU  11 times between 1958 and 2007. The next time will be in 2020. Read more:  Germany in the EU European Parliament European Parliament office in Germany Council of the EU In the Council of the EU , national ministers meet regularly to adopt EU laws and coordinate policies. Council meetings are regularly attended by representatives from the German government, depending on the policy area being addressed. Presidency of the Council of the EU The Council of the EU doesn't have a permanent, single-person president (like e.g. the Commission or Parliament). Instead, its work is led by the country holding the Council presidency, which rotates every 6 months. During these 6 months, ministers from that country's government chair and help determine the agenda of Council meetings in each policy area, and facilitate dialogue with the other EU institutions. Dates of German presidencies: Jul-Dec 1958 | Jul-Dec 1961 | Jul-Dec 1964 | Jul-Dec 1967 | Jul-Dec 1970 | Jan-Jun 1974 | Jul-Dec 1978 | Jan-Jun 1983 | Jan-Jun 1988 | Jul-Dec 1994 | Jan-Jun 2007 | July-Dec 2020 More on the current presidency of the Council of the EU . European Commission The Commissioner nominated by Germany to the European Commission is Günther Oettinger , who is responsible for Budget and Human Resources. The Commission is represented in each EU country by a local office, called a "representation". Commission representation in Germany European Economic & Social Committee Germany has 24 representatives on the European Economic and Social Committee . This advisory body – representing employers, workers and other interest groups – is consulted on proposed laws, to get a better idea of the possible changes to work and social situations in member countries. Committee of the Regions Germany has 23 representatives on the Committee of the Regions , the EU's assembly of regional and local representatives. This advisory body is consulted on proposed laws, to ensure these laws take account of the perspective from each region of the EU. Permanent representation to the EU Germany also communicates with the EU institutions through its permanent representation in Brussels. As Germany's "embassy to the EU", its main task is to ensure that the country's interests and policies are pursued as effectively as possible in the EU. Budgets and Funding How much does Germany contribute and receive? Member countries' financial contributions to the EU budget are shared fairly, according to means. The larger your country's economy, the more it pays – and vice versa. The EU budget doesn't aim to redistribute wealth, but rather to focus on the needs of all Europeans as a whole.  Breakdown of Germany's finances with the EU in 2015:  Total EU spending in Germany – € 11.013 billion Total EU spending as % of German gross national income (GNI) – 0.36 % Total German contribution to the EU budget – € 24.283 billion German contribution to the EU budget as % of its GNI – 0.79 %  More figures on the EU budget, revenue and spending:

Luxembourg

In which category did Marie Curie win her second Nobel Prize?

Belgium Cities Map | Cities in Belgium Disclaimer Close Disclaimer : All efforts have been made to make this image accurate. However Compare Infobase Limited,its directors and employees do not own any responsibility for the correctness or authenticity of the same. The Kingdom of Belgium is a federal state in Western Europe covering an area of 11,787 square miles. It has a population of about eleven million people. The cities map of Belgium shows the national capital, major cities along with the administrative divisions of the state. The map also clearly demarcates the provincial and international boundaries of the country. As the map shows, Belgium is bordered by France, Germany, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. The national capital, Brussels is marked with a red dot within a square. Brussels is also the largest city of Belgium covering an area of 12.6 square miles. The other major cities marked in the cities map of Belgium are Oostende, Brugge, Gent, Mons, Aalst, Namur, Charleroi, Bastogne, Arlon, Liege, Hasselt, Antwerp, and Mechelen. Belgium is a federal parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy. The King is the head of the state, and appoints the Prime Minister and other ministers. Albert II is the current reigning King of Belgians. Elio de Rupo is the Prime Minister of the country. The economy of the state is heavily dependent on the services sector. Industries and agriculture are also important. Major industries in Belgium include engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly, transportation equipments, processed food and beverages, basic metals, textiles, glass, and petroleum. Germany, France, Netherlands, United Kingdom, United States, Italy, Ireland, and China are the principal trading partners.

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What is the largest inland port in Europe?

International Port Cities International Port Cities International Port Cities The Word's Busiest Ports Cranes and containers are seen at the Port of Shanghai, the world's busiest port based on container weight.  Kim Steele/Getty Images By  Jordan R. Fisher, Geography Intern Ports Linking International Cities Our international trade system is composed of a multitude of developments and processes that work harmoniously to create and support a global economy. The international trade system functions in many ways like the human body, where organs operate in their unique ways to support the growth of a healthy human individual. In many ways, globalization represents a long period of growth and development in the human body. Thus, each country represents one of our body's vital organs and specializes in producing or manufacturing useful goods to be exported and imported abroad. Exports and imports travel down navigable shipping routes that act as the veins that connect our world's countries. These "shipping veins" are connected by large port cities that act like the human heart to pump goods, capital, and services throughout each country. We will focus below on how port cities operate throughout the world as a main function to their geographies of place. continue reading below our video 4 Tips for Improving Test Performance The United States' Ports and Port Cities The United States is one particular country whose large landmass, or size, makes it difficult to transport goods far and wide in an efficient manner. For comparison, the United Kingdom is approximately the size of the state of Oregon and Japan is approximately the size of the state of California. The size of the United States, combined with its amount of production and demand of imported goods, creates the need for multiple, large ports. According to the American Association of Port Authorities, or AAPA, the largest port in the United States, by cargo weight, is the Port of South Louisiana. Also the largest port in the western hemisphere, the Port of South Louisiana sits on the mouth of the Mississippi River and incorporates both port cities of New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The significance of the port city of New Orleans made it the third largest United States city in 1840, behind New York and Baltimore, during the early growth of international and domestic shipping trade. The current size of the port of South Louisiana is unique because it covers two port cities on the Mississippi River , which travels over 2500 miles before ending just before the border of the country of Canada. Today, the port cities of New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, are oddly nowhere near the United State's most populated cities, unlike other countries whose port cities generally serve as their larger metropolises. The port of Houston and the port of New York City rank as the United States second and third largest ports, respectively. Houston and New York City also rank high relative to their population size, such that the port city of Houston is the fourth largest city in the United States and New York City is the most populated city in the U.S. We can see that the amount of trade throughout ports does not necessarily relate to the size of the port cities. This is because port cities are often sprawling industrialized areas where manufacturing and transportation takes place. However, most port cities such as Houston, Texas, usually extend far way from their actual port's piers and into the hinterlands that they serve. A portion of a large populated port city, near the docks or shore, usually harbors the city's industrial or manufacturing area while business and service areas are located elsewhere in near vicinity. The Panama Canal is a shipping route currently maintained by the Panama Government and once owned and operated by the United States, France, and Columbia. The Panama Canal is quite single-handedly the most prolific linkage between man's construction and the world's inherent geography. The canal is a tremendous contributing factor to globalization and the rise of international trade between hemispheres. Asia & The Pacific Ports and Port Cities The People's Republic of China is home to many of our world's largest ports, for the same reasons mentioned as the United States, though China is even larger in land area and in population count. In fact, China has seven of the world's top ten ports, measured by cargo weight. China harbors the world's largest port, the Port of Shanghai. Shanghai is a major metropolitan area with a population that likely surpasses 15 million people. The Port of Shanghai is geographically located on three large and navigable shipping routes including the Yangtze River. The Yangtze is the third longest river in the world as it spans nearly 4,000 miles. In comparison, it is one and a half times the size of the United States' Mississippi River. The port and its thriving metropolis have mutually benefited to create an economic explosion of capital, goods, and services among the largest population-base in the world. While this is a feat within itself, the Port of Shanghai should be equally touted for supplying the developed hinterlands of China with access to economic trade. So not only is the Port of Shanghai an integral part of the port city's development, but it is the primary key to China's inland development. Although Singapore is a country that dwarfs in size compared to China and the United States, it is home to the world's second largest port. After being surpassed by the Port of Shanghai in 2005, the Port of Singapore is the primary economic stimulus for the country of only five million people. Despite such a small population, the port city-state of Singapore relies on a tremendous amount of imports received through their port to produce a likewise amount of exports. This is because Singapore relies on refining natural resources, such as oil, received through imports and then re-exporting them abroad in a new form. European Ports and Port Cities Another former world-leading port, measured by cargo tonnage, is the port of Rotterdam located in the Netherlands. Once the largest in the world, and currently the third largest port, the port of Rotterdam is the heart of Europe's venous system because it pumps imports and exports to and from European hinterlands. The port of Rotterdam's geographical access to the North Sea helps goods travel to countries far inland. In addition, the geographical characteristics of the port, such as the ocean depths, allow ships of all sizes to navigate with ease. The port city of Rotterdam is the Netherlands' second largest city with a metropolitan area population of just over one million inhabitants. Likewise, the European country of Belgium provides similar efforts with its Port of Antwerp in the port city of Antwerp, Belgium. Antwerp serves as Belgium's most populous city and as an economic hub to the nation. Not too far way from Antwerp is the Port of Hamburg in the port city of Hamburg, Germany. The Port of Hamburg is the European Union's second largest port behind Rotterdam and Hamburg is the sixth most populated city in the European Union. Together these three ports, although in different countries, help move goods throughout the lower European Union of Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and Germany. While you may be wondering where the Port of London ranks in size, the Port of London cannot provide facilities large enough to support the current size of most transportation vessels presently because of its age. The response has led to most large-scale vessels steering south, or downstream, where they can be accommodated. Similarly, ports throughout Italy, Greece, and other countries of antiquity have trouble accommodating shipping vessels without risking the preservation of their historic coastlines. Source: "American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA)." American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA). N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2012. .

Hamburg

Which company manufactured the first car to run on diesel?

The 10 Largest Ports in Europe - Europeish.com Europe Travel Blog - Capturing the Beauty of a Continent The 10 Largest Ports in Europe Written by: europeish | (2) comments Several centuries ago, the Europeans were the first to sail their ships across the entire world. The economies of the Vikings, the English, the Dutch, the Portuguese and the Spaniards got enormous boosts because of their large ports and sailsmanship. A lot has changed since then. Eight of the ten largest ports in the world are now to be found in China, but Europe still has quite a few very large harbors. Data via American Association of Port Authorities . 1. Rotterdam (the Netherlands) This Dutch harbor was the largest in the world, until Shanghai and Singapore grew even larger in 1986. This satellite photo gives an indication of the size of the Port of Rotterdam. (Image via Mannlines ) 2. Antwerp (Belgium) About an hour and a half to the south of Rotterdam is Antwerp, the largest port in Belgium. It’s around the same size as the harbor of Houston, which is the second-largest port in the USA. (Image via S.Goovy ) 3. Hamburg (Germany) The German city of Hamburg may be nearly 50 miles from the coast, the river Elbe has allowed it to grow to be the third port in Europe.

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"In 1939 who described the actions of Russia as ""a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma?"""

A Riddle Wrapped in a Mystery Inside an Enigma - TV Tropes A Riddle Wrapped in a Mystery Inside an Enigma You need to login to do this. Get Known if you don't have an account Share A Riddle Wrapped in a Mystery Inside an Enigma × — The Riddler, The Long Halloween A Stock Phrase typically used to describe something that is immensely puzzling to figure out or extraordinarily complex to fully understand, often relying on hyperbole and, occasionally, sarcasm. The phrase is often open to great interpretation and variation. Its three distinct-yet-related nouns allow for a variety of setups and gags related to The Triple and dependent on the Rule of Three . Frequently, the last item of the phrase is changed to something completely different and irrelevant to mystery for Rule of Funny , and the exact order of what's wrapped and inside what varies with almost every separate occasion the phrase is evoked. Sometimes, one of the three parts may be dropped for gags and line deliveries that require a faster pacing; conversely, additional clauses can be added for greater exaggeration . The trope name originates from a statement made by Sir Winston Churchill in 1939 about what role The Soviet Union might play in World War II : "I cannot forecast to you the action of Russia. It is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma, but perhaps there is a key. That key is Russian national interest." Not to be confused with Riddle for the Ages . Examples     open/close all folders      American Newspapers  An article from January 2008 in The New York Times that explains why fortune cookies are absent from Chinese restaurants in China was titled "Solving a Riddle Wrapped in a Mystery Inside a Cookie."     Fanfic  At one point in the Homestuck fanfic Moirallegiance Is Science, Vriska is described in this manner. You're complicated. You're like a puzzle, wrapped in a mystery, sealed with obscurity, and shipped through the WTF postal service. That's just the package you come in .''     Films — Animated  In Monsters vs. Aliens , General Monger refers to the top-secret prison Susan is taken to as "an X-File, wrapped in a cover-up, and deep-fried in paranoid conspiracy."     Films — Live-Action  In Oliver Stone's film JFK , David Ferrie refers to the Kennedy Assassination as "a mystery wrapped in a riddle inside an enigma" when trying to convince Jim Garrison to drop his investigation during a paranoia-fueled rant. In Holy Flying Circus , the character Alan Dick uses the phrase "he's a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside a shit" to describe Malcolm Muggeridge's unpredictability.     Literature  From Tiassa , two guardsmen conversing, as rendered by Paarfi of Roundwood: "An Easterner with an Imperial Title!" "Well," said Nill, "this is an enigma wrapped in, ah..." "Another enigma?" "Precisely." In Heat Rises, Jameson Rook claims "What can I say? I'm an enigma inside a conundrum inside a condom." Used by Verin Sedai in The Wheel of Time (namely, in The Dragon Reborn): "Name hidden within name shrouded by name. Secret buried within secret cloaked by secret."     Live-Action TV  In one episode of Seinfeld , Elaine and Jerry get into a discussion about the nature of Newman. Elaine: Maybe he's an enigma—a mystery wrapped in a riddle. Jerry: He's a mystery wrapped in a Twinkie. The Star Trek: Voyager episode "Riddles" sees The Doctor refer to the Vulcan brain as "a puzzle wrapped inside an enigma housed inside a cranium." In the Supernatural episode "Free To Be You And Me," when Sam takes a 10-Minute Retirement and tries to live a "normal" life, a girl curious to learn about Sam's past but at a loss of words to describe his peculiarity gives Sam the opportunity to quip that he's "a riddle wrapped inside an enigma wrapped inside a taco." On Everybody Loves Raymond , Robert once described himself as "an enigma wrapped in a mystery." Ray promptly replied that Robert was more of "an idiot wrapped in a moron." On Eureka , when the characters are trying to shut down an extremely powerful Death Ray Doomsday Device in the episode "Dr. Nobel," Henry calls the weapon "a riddle inside an enigma wrapped in ten inches of titanium alloy." On Homicide: Life on the Street , when Munch and Kellerman work on a case involving a suicide jumper killed by a stray shotgun blast on the way down from a tall building, Munch describes it as "a riddle, surrounded by a mystery, wrapped inside an enigma, and stuffed inside a body bag." On NewsRadio , Jimmy James once referred to himself, saying: "I am a cipher—a cipher, wrapped in an enigma, and smothered in secret sauce." A male-to-female transsexual Liz befriends on the first season of Nip/Tuck is called "a conundrum wrapped in a riddle." On One Tree Hill , Lucas once observes that despite Peyton's desire to express herself through her art, she doesn't want anyone to know it's her. Peyton responds to this, "I'm just a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside a bitch," but Lucas sees something else: A troubled artist. Shawn on Psych once spoke of Juliet as being "an enigma wrapped in a little blonde riddle." In an early episode of Will & Grace , Grace say to Will: "You know, I thought I knew everything about you. But you're a mystery. Wrapped in a riddle. Surrounded by enigma. Growing boobies." On the Doctor Who episode A Nightmare in Silver , the Doctor refers to Clara as "a mystery wrapped in an enigma squeezed into a skirt that's just a little bit too... tight. " In Elementary , Sherlock Holmes' description of Moriarty from the episode "The Diabolical Kind". Sherlock: The woman is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma I've had sex with. I would be lying if I said I was the strongest assessor of her motives at this point. In an episode of 3rd Rock from the Sun , Dick describes an imagined conspiracy as "a riddle wrapped around an enigma fried up in a conundrum with Chinese mustard dipping sauce". A segment of the "La Leyenda del Tio la Vara" series of sketches from La Hora De Jose Mota had Father Tornices saying the trope name word for word.     Magazines  One white-paper front cover for MAD greatly exaggerated this trope for laughs .     Music  The song '"For You" by Barenaked Ladies : "An enigma wrapped in a mystery" "Or a fool consumed by fear"     Tabletop Games  In Werewolf: The Apocalypse , both the Uktena ( Magical Native Americans ) and the Stargazers (ascetic Far Eastern monks) have been referred to as such.     Videogames  Valve 's description of The Spy on the Team Fortress 2 website begins, "He is a puzzle, wrapped in an enigma, shrouded in riddles, lovingly sprinkled with intrigue, express mailed to Mystery, Alaska..." Wario's official profile in Mario Kart : Double Dash!! states that he is "a puzzle, wrapped in an enigma, wrapped in yellow." One of the title screen quips that appears after starting up the indie game Minecraft is, "A riddle wrapped in a mystery!" From MOTHER 3 , during Chapter 2: Wess: The Hummingbird Egg is a ball of secrets inside secrets that are inside even more secrets... Or something like that, supposedly, apparently. Sturm's description in the Advance Wars games is "A riddle within a shadow, revealing nothing." In Spectrobes , this is the description for Mossax. In Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools Of Destruction , Zephyr describes the Lombax Secret as "a cipher, wrapped in an enigma, smothered in super secret sauce!" The Dragonborn expansion for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has Neloth sending you on a Fetch Quest for a Black Book that he believes he has located: Neloth: Now, it's only a rumor of a whisper of a conjecture...     Webcomics  In Questionable Content , when someone references Raven's indecipherable status (Is she just a Ditz given to being unusually insightful, or a Genius Ditz with Obfuscating Stupidity ?), Raven responds, "I'm a mystery wrapped in an enigma wrapped in an AWESOME rack!" In Narbonic , when Helen explains to Artie that she hopes sparing Dave what she went through will make up for the terrible things she's done, before adding "And then I can destroy those fools at the Symposium and RULE THE WORLD!", Artie comments "You're just a mystery wrapped in an enigma wrapped in a peculiar sense of ethics, aren't you?" The Director's Cut commentary says that while there's a backstory explaining why Helen is the way she is, Mell is "a mystery wrapped in an enigma wrapped in a very short skirt".     Web Originals  In one Weebl & Bob short, Bob describes the flat-packed pie they bought from Piekia as "a conundrum wrapped in an enigma wrapped in pastry, wrapped in a lie." Bunchies, the memetic four-legged green llama-like creature, was described on its official website (now defunct) as "a riddle wrapped in a mystery wrapped in a glossy green skin." In Homestuck , WV comments to himself that women are "a riddle draped in a mystery wrapped in post-apocalyptic shroudwear." In WrestleCrap 's induction for TNA's Last Rites Match from 2007, on the matter of Sting describing death as a "choice" where one of those choices is, in fact, life , RD calls the meaning and exact point of Sting's remarks a "riddle wrapped in an enigma wrapped in a crummy TNA storyline".     Western Animation  The Simpsons episode "Lisa's Date With Density" sees Lisa describe Nelson as "a riddle wrapped in an enigma wrapped in a vest." On The Penguins of Madagascar , Skipper calls Alice "a riddle, wrapped in mystery, and dunked in nasty sauce" in the cartoon short "All Choked Up." Parodied in Histeria! . Winston Churchill is shown saying the trope quote, and then we zoom out to reveal that he's behind the counter of a fast food restaurant. In The Tick he says something is "a riddle, wrapped in an enigma and smothered in secret sauce" In Duck Dodgers , The Eager Young Space Cadet describes the title character this way. Cadet: He's so complicated, l-l-l-like a mystery wrapped in a r-r-r-riddle inside an enigma. Manobrain: I'd say he's more like a halfwit wrapped in a hot dog bun inside a coloring book. In one My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic episode, Rainbow Dash parodies this phrase to describe Pinkie's sister Maud Pie, whose only outstanding characteristic seems to be her obsession with rocks. Rainbow: That pony is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an igneous. Rarity: Don't you mean 'inside an enigma'?

Winston Churchill

Who was Hitler's Prime Minister in Prussia?

What is an example of a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma? | Reference.com What is an example of a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma? A: Quick Answer The phrase "a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma" comes from Winston Churchill's radio address broadcast by the BBC on Oct. 1, 1939, in which he discussed his inability to predict what Russia would do during World War II. The phrase has been co-opted by popular culture and used in contexts ranging from movie scripts to scientific papers. Full Answer The phrase has come to refer to anything that is complex or difficult to understand. Oliver Stone used the exact phrase in his 1991 film "JFK" referring to the Kennedy assassination, and the CBS television show "Elementary" had the character Sherlock Holmes use the phrase when describing Moriarty. Film critic Roger Ebert used the quote as the title of his review of the movie "Cloud Atlas." The phrase was even used by Indian gastroenterologist B.S. Ramakrishna to describe the disease tropical sprue. In popular culture, the phrase has come to be used as the set-up to many jokes, sometimes with the order of the words "riddle," "mystery" and "enigma" changed. Typically, the third element of the phrase is changed to create a punch line, as on the TV show "Seinfeld," when Jerry and Elaine described Newman as a "mystery wrapped in a riddle... wrapped in a Twinkie." The phrase has been twisted for comic effect in "Star Trek," "Nip/Tuck," MAD Magazine and the "Mario Kart" video game.

i don't know

Vehicles from which country use the international registration letter L?

Vehicle documents required for international road haulage - GOV.UK GOV.UK Vehicle documents required for international road haulage From: Vehicle documents drivers need to legally cross international borders in a UK-registered vehicle. Contents Further Information When you drive a goods vehicle from one country to another, you must make sure that you have certain documents on board. This guide provides information about the documents you will need as a driver to make sure that your vehicle is legally able to cross international borders. Vehicle registration documents If you take a UK-registered vehicle out of the country for less than 12 months, you must take documentation to show that you are authorised to possess the vehicle. This means you must carry the original Vehicle Registration Certificate (V5C) with you. If you have not received the V5C certificate, or the original has been lost, stolen or defaced, you can download the application for a vehicle registration certificate (V62) . If you take your vehicle out of the UK for more than 12 months (permanent export), you must notify the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency ( DVLA ) by completing the purple section, part 11 (V5C/4) of the VC5. It’s important that you take your registration certificate with you as you may have to hand it to the relevant authority when the vehicle is registered abroad. Read about taking a vehicle out of the UK permanently or temporarily . If your vehicle is hired or leased, the supplier company is unlikely to let you have the original VC5. Instead you can apply for a Vehicle on Hire Certificate (VE103). This certificate is authenticated proof of permission from the owner to take the vehicle abroad. A Vehicle on Hire Certificate is valid for one year and you can buy one from motoring organisations such as: Automobile Association (AA) Road Haulage Association Vehicle insurance documents The basic EU legal requirement is third party vehicle insurance. This covers injury to other people, including your passengers, damage to or loss of other peoples’ property resulting from an accident caused by you. It doesn’t cover any costs incurred by you as a result of an accident. Third party, fire and theft provides the same cover as third party but also includes fire damage and theft of the vehicle. Fully comprehensive provides the same cover as third party, fire and theft and additionally covers any damage to your vehicle. Every motor insurance policy issued in the EU must provide the minimum insurance cover required by law in any other EU country. Green Card In many countries, even those within the EU where a UK insurance certificate is acceptable, you may be asked to produce a Green Card. The Green Card is not an insurance cover. It simply provides proof, in those countries where the Green Card is valid, that the minimum third party liability cover required by law in the visited country is in force. If your insurers aren’t able to issue a Green Card, you can find alternative suppliers on the MIB website . The MIB operates the Green Card system in the UK. Insurance for goods in transit In some countries, you may need to produce a certificate of insurance for the goods carried to avoid paying a premium. See the guide on moving goods by road . It’s also important to ensure that the risk of goods being damaged, delayed, perished, lost or stolen in transit is properly managed. See the guide on transport insurance . Goods vehicle operator’s licence To transport goods abroad in an HGV for hire or reward you must have a standard international operators licence. This allows you to carry goods both in the UK and on international journeys. The licence comes into force once the fee has been paid and the licence documents are issued. Providing the 5 yearly renewal fee is paid and there are no infringements, the licence lasts indefinitely. Identity discs are also issued and must be displayed in each specified motor vehicle. The identity discs show the: operator’s name type of licence Community licences A valid Community Licence is required for all hire or reward operations in or through EU countries. They have replaced the need for community permits, bilateral permits between member states and permits for transit traffic through the EU. They do not replace permits for travel to or through non-EU countries, where these are still required. Only operators and hauliers who hold standard international licences can request Community Licences. The guide to Being a goods vehicle operator contains further information on goods vehicle licensing. DVSA is the authority which deals with operator licensing applications. You can find contact details for Traffic Area Offices in England, Scotland and Wales on the Department for Transport ( DfT ) website . Vehicle tax and nationality signs If you use a vehicle to transport goods abroad you may have to pay a vehicle tax in the countries you drive through. Some countries have an agreement with the UK that means that registered goods vehicles are exempt from this tax. At the moment the following countries charge visiting foreign goods vehicles to use their roads: Albania, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Jordan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey. You can find out more about the costs of vehicle tax in the Vehicle tax rate tables guide . Nationality sign or GB sticker All vehicles registered in the UK must display the international registration letters GB on the rear of the vehicle when taken temporarily abroad. UK registered vehicles displaying Euro-plates (a circle of 12 stars above the national identifier on a blue background) don’t need to fix a GB sticker to the rear of their vehicle when driving in EU countries. In non-EU countries, a GB sticker must still be displayed on the rear of UK-registered motor vehicles, caravans or trailers. Most motoring organisations and many tour operators will supply GB stickers. In addition to the Euro symbol or GB sticker, drivers and keepers of vehicles registered in Great Britain are also permitted to voluntarily display national flags and certain identifiers on their number plates. Help with goods vehicle documentation The following organisations can help with vehicle documentation to ensure that the vehicle can be legally driven across international borders. Government organisations and agencies The Health & Safety Executive ( HSE ) - provides information and advice on controlling risks in the workplace to ensure the protection of people’s health and safety. View details of the requirements of the carriage of dangerous goods on the HSE website . DVSA - a government agency that provides a range of licensing, testing and enforcement services. Find out how to contact DVSA . DVLA - facilitates road safety and general law enforcement by maintaining registers of drivers and vehicles, and collects car tax. Find out how to contact the DVLA . Insurance associations MIB - operates the Green Card system in the UK. Find out about the Green Card system on the MIB website . Motoring organisations

Luxembourg

Where in England is the location of the Glastonbury Festival?

Vehicle documents required for international road haulage - GOV.UK GOV.UK Vehicle documents required for international road haulage From: Vehicle documents drivers need to legally cross international borders in a UK-registered vehicle. Contents Further Information When you drive a goods vehicle from one country to another, you must make sure that you have certain documents on board. This guide provides information about the documents you will need as a driver to make sure that your vehicle is legally able to cross international borders. Vehicle registration documents If you take a UK-registered vehicle out of the country for less than 12 months, you must take documentation to show that you are authorised to possess the vehicle. This means you must carry the original Vehicle Registration Certificate (V5C) with you. If you have not received the V5C certificate, or the original has been lost, stolen or defaced, you can download the application for a vehicle registration certificate (V62) . If you take your vehicle out of the UK for more than 12 months (permanent export), you must notify the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency ( DVLA ) by completing the purple section, part 11 (V5C/4) of the VC5. It’s important that you take your registration certificate with you as you may have to hand it to the relevant authority when the vehicle is registered abroad. Read about taking a vehicle out of the UK permanently or temporarily . If your vehicle is hired or leased, the supplier company is unlikely to let you have the original VC5. Instead you can apply for a Vehicle on Hire Certificate (VE103). This certificate is authenticated proof of permission from the owner to take the vehicle abroad. A Vehicle on Hire Certificate is valid for one year and you can buy one from motoring organisations such as: Automobile Association (AA) Road Haulage Association Vehicle insurance documents The basic EU legal requirement is third party vehicle insurance. This covers injury to other people, including your passengers, damage to or loss of other peoples’ property resulting from an accident caused by you. It doesn’t cover any costs incurred by you as a result of an accident. Third party, fire and theft provides the same cover as third party but also includes fire damage and theft of the vehicle. Fully comprehensive provides the same cover as third party, fire and theft and additionally covers any damage to your vehicle. Every motor insurance policy issued in the EU must provide the minimum insurance cover required by law in any other EU country. Green Card In many countries, even those within the EU where a UK insurance certificate is acceptable, you may be asked to produce a Green Card. The Green Card is not an insurance cover. It simply provides proof, in those countries where the Green Card is valid, that the minimum third party liability cover required by law in the visited country is in force. If your insurers aren’t able to issue a Green Card, you can find alternative suppliers on the MIB website . The MIB operates the Green Card system in the UK. Insurance for goods in transit In some countries, you may need to produce a certificate of insurance for the goods carried to avoid paying a premium. See the guide on moving goods by road . It’s also important to ensure that the risk of goods being damaged, delayed, perished, lost or stolen in transit is properly managed. See the guide on transport insurance . Goods vehicle operator’s licence To transport goods abroad in an HGV for hire or reward you must have a standard international operators licence. This allows you to carry goods both in the UK and on international journeys. The licence comes into force once the fee has been paid and the licence documents are issued. Providing the 5 yearly renewal fee is paid and there are no infringements, the licence lasts indefinitely. Identity discs are also issued and must be displayed in each specified motor vehicle. The identity discs show the: operator’s name type of licence Community licences A valid Community Licence is required for all hire or reward operations in or through EU countries. They have replaced the need for community permits, bilateral permits between member states and permits for transit traffic through the EU. They do not replace permits for travel to or through non-EU countries, where these are still required. Only operators and hauliers who hold standard international licences can request Community Licences. The guide to Being a goods vehicle operator contains further information on goods vehicle licensing. DVSA is the authority which deals with operator licensing applications. You can find contact details for Traffic Area Offices in England, Scotland and Wales on the Department for Transport ( DfT ) website . Vehicle tax and nationality signs If you use a vehicle to transport goods abroad you may have to pay a vehicle tax in the countries you drive through. Some countries have an agreement with the UK that means that registered goods vehicles are exempt from this tax. At the moment the following countries charge visiting foreign goods vehicles to use their roads: Albania, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Jordan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey. You can find out more about the costs of vehicle tax in the Vehicle tax rate tables guide . Nationality sign or GB sticker All vehicles registered in the UK must display the international registration letters GB on the rear of the vehicle when taken temporarily abroad. UK registered vehicles displaying Euro-plates (a circle of 12 stars above the national identifier on a blue background) don’t need to fix a GB sticker to the rear of their vehicle when driving in EU countries. In non-EU countries, a GB sticker must still be displayed on the rear of UK-registered motor vehicles, caravans or trailers. Most motoring organisations and many tour operators will supply GB stickers. In addition to the Euro symbol or GB sticker, drivers and keepers of vehicles registered in Great Britain are also permitted to voluntarily display national flags and certain identifiers on their number plates. Help with goods vehicle documentation The following organisations can help with vehicle documentation to ensure that the vehicle can be legally driven across international borders. Government organisations and agencies The Health & Safety Executive ( HSE ) - provides information and advice on controlling risks in the workplace to ensure the protection of people’s health and safety. View details of the requirements of the carriage of dangerous goods on the HSE website . DVSA - a government agency that provides a range of licensing, testing and enforcement services. Find out how to contact DVSA . DVLA - facilitates road safety and general law enforcement by maintaining registers of drivers and vehicles, and collects car tax. Find out how to contact the DVLA . Insurance associations MIB - operates the Green Card system in the UK. Find out about the Green Card system on the MIB website . Motoring organisations

i don't know

The Channel Islands are in which Channel?

Channel Islands National Park (U.S. National Park Service) Contact Us Close to the California Mainland...Yet Worlds Apart Channel Islands National Park encompasses five remarkable islands and their ocean environment, preserving and protecting a wealth of natural and cultural resources. Isolation over thousands of years has created unique animals, plants, and archeological resources found nowhere else on Earth and helped preserve a place where visitors can experience coastal southern California as it once was. Read More

English Channel

The French region of Grasse is famous for making what?

#4 : Channel Islands Surfboards Channel Islands Surfboards DECK BOTTOM ALL 3D #4 A performance based California utility board, the “four” was the fourth board in a series of numbered concept boards built for Dane Reynolds just prior to the 2012 US Open. Each concept board incorporated a blend of single to double with vee, 13”+ nose and 15”+ tail with a double bump. After a few months of tweaks and refinements, the result is a design that can be ridden in two different dimension sets to dial in the type of waves and conditions you ride. Dane rides a 5’8” x 19 1/2 a 2 7/16 as a GROVELER and a 5’9” 19 1/4 x 2 7/16” as a UTILITY board. Ride the utility a couple inches shorter than you are tall, and the groveler an inch or 2 shorter than that (so about 4″ shorter than you are tall) #SHIMANO#シマノ#SephiaSSR#S803M#CI4+#C3000HGSDH#エギング#ロッド#リール#エギ#エギ王Q#ラトル#まるきん 01.19.2017 Preperations for the weekend done ! #shimano #shimanofishing #technium #nasci #casitas #citica #stradic #ci4 #bassterra #aernos #biomaster #zandersnack #powerpro #aspire #rapala #Lieblingsköder #pike #perch #zander #pikeattack 01.18.2017 My new baby! Mi bebé recien llegado de japon🇯🇵! La shimano Soare SS (S706ULT) tubular tip con un peso pluma de 74gr es para mi una preciosa joya! Muero de ganas de montar, lanzar y catarla ya! #shimanosoare #soaress #shimanorod #rockfishing #lightfishing #ultralightfishing #lrffishing #ajifish #mebaru#fishing#carbon#hipower#xcarbon#fujikl#fujiguides #ci4+ #shimanoci4 01.18.2017 ## 01.18.2017 Love catching these jacks on kayaks they fight so hard #dink #fly #jack #snook #xrap #ci4 #kayak 01.17.2017 #メバリング#アジング#fishing#海#海釣り #シマノ#shimano #soare#ci4#月下美人 #広島#大崎上島 #エギング#イカ#牛深#天草#海#夜釣り#釣り#ci4#美容師 01.16.2017 Went to go pond hoping today and found a snook and tarpon spot caught this little freshy @ethanbosak #snook #tarpon #Bass #redfish #poon #jigs #vodomullet #ci4 #etahnsuck 01.16.2017 #CI4+ #greeeeenspoool #crystal 01.15.2017 1st and 3rd bass of 2017 here! A 6.72 (my new personal best!) lb and a 4.4 lb pre-spawn fatty Last minute trips to unknown places create some of the best experiences! Cant wait to see what else this year brings #BassFishing #Bass #Fishing #PreSpawn #XFactor @shimanofish @fishgloomis #Shimano #ChronarchCi4 #Chronarch #Ci4 #GLoomis #E6X #GLoomisE6X #PowerProSuperslick 01.15.2017 Great bite today, we left them chewing! #ci4 #stcroixrods #tampabayfishing #snooks #zmanfishing 01.15.2017 Feeding the village with this one #51in #30lb #spinfish #gloomis #yozuri #costasunglasses #toplesshookergear #builtforthewild #yeticoolers #dogfishtackle #skinnywaterculture #maverickboatcompany #shimano #ci4 #4000 01.15.2017 First barracuda of 2k17! #saltwaterfishing #spinning #saltwater #fishing #barracuda #1.4kg #shimanofishing #stradic #4000 #ci4+ #majorcraft #turel #duo #tide #minnow #slim #140 #lure #purple 01.15.2017 Fresh from the @yeti custom shop! #yeticustomshop #fathominshore #drumlife #stcroixrods #fishshimano #mustadhooks #drophook #instagramfishing #outdoors360 #spiderwire #officialmauijim #yozuri_lures #yamahaoutboards #keywestboats #wilmington #wilmingtonnc #saltwaterfishing #saragosa #ci4+ #gage #fallfishing #twinpower #trevalajiggingrods #blackdrum #ownerhooks #spiderwire #safishing #redfishdistrict #saragosa4000 #drumspots #snook #safishing 01.15.2017 Get him to 5k!!! Dope edit from some top water bass a few days ago! @davis_bennett_ @davis_bennett_ #bass #fishing #miami #florida #shimano #cumara #stradic #ci4 01.14.2017 3 years of abuse and countless revolutions I finally blow a #bearing on my #shimano #stradic #ci4. Anyone know where I can get a side plate bearing? I'll be using my #penn #SpinfisherV while she's down. #kayakfishing #fishing @bocabearingcompany @shimanofish Sign up for our newsletter Thank you for signing up! More © 2016 Channel Islands Surfboards | All rights reserved | Site by SLTWTR Send me email updates to froth on! Password Sign Up Please enter your username or email address. You will receive a link to create a new password via email. Email address Update your browser to view this website correctly. Update my browser now × daner 01.21.2015 I just picked up a 5'8" 4 Groveler and I'm using a thruster set up with AM2 style fins. Since I brought this bad boy home we've had a nice range of swells in central FL. It has done well in small (waist high) and head high waves under clean conditions. The 5'8" was pretty small board for me since I'm used to riding boards in the 5'11 and bigger- but I was looking for a challenge. Since this board's volume of 28.9 L was similar to my 5'11 V2 short board I felt ok, but was concerned about paddling. I find the 4 paddles very easily into waves groveling well as advertised. You can feel the benefits of the volume forward design while paddling and it helps you get into waves. I chose this over the Weirdo Ripper because I wanted the extra nose rocker. This has also performed as I hoped, making steep drops without pearling, but not so much rocker that it impedes paddling. I went smaller in length because I wanted something that turned easily. I knew it would be a challenge and it has been. My first session the board felt very squirrely but each time I've used it I've become more comfortable on it and I am finding it gets good speed down the line as well able to turn in the pocket well. All in all I'm finding the 4 a very fun board that catches waves, has good speed and turns well. Rob Guglielmo 03.26.2016 Hi, I live and surf mostly in South LA (Torrance, Hermosa Beach, El Porto). I've transitioned from. 9'0" HPLB to a FireWire Addvance at 6'6" 21.5 3" 48L and surf both boards well. I'm 6ft 32yo and 180lb with a avg/above avg fitness level. I can surf both boards well but feel I have outgrown the extreme volume and size of the Addvance and am looking for something that I can throw around a bit more but still have fun on the 1-2x per week I get out. Assuming that this is the right board, what sizing would you recommend? CI Surfboards 03.28.2016 For an intermediate surfer @ 180lbs you want around 35L of volume in your shortboard. Since you are used to boards with more volume we recommend going with the stock 6'2 #4 (groveler dims) with around 38.6L. 6'2 x 21 1/4 x 2 3/4 - 38.6L Jeremy 02.01.2016 Hi CI, I ride the Fishcuit all over North and South Orange County and love it. With some effort I'm able to make it into the steeper drops at the Newport jetties, but of course it's really not built for that. This gets particularly tough at low tide / when the waves are over 6 ft. I'm trying to decide between the Model 4 and the Weirdo Ripper for these more hollow beach breaks. Which would you recommend? Should I expect a significant difference? Thanks! Jeremy CI Surfboards 02.02.2016 The #4 has quite a bit of rocker, more so than the Weirdo Ripper, and would be a perfect model for the punchy beach breaks like Newport! Ray 12.11.2015 Hey CI, Great boards. Which do you think would be a better "4" for me. A 5' 10" utility or a 5' 8" groveler? I'm 5' 10", 165 lbs and surf in socal (HB, El Porto and Ventura). I want a board that can handle mush but has a decent high end also especially for the beaches I mentioned. I have regular short boards for when it really gets big/steep. CI Surfboards 12.11.2015 Since you have some shortboards for bigger, steep surf we recoommend going with the 5'8 #4 groveler dims. This will work well on those small, mushy days and will work for surf up to head high. Andrew scott 11.04.2015 Hi there I have the stick #4 5'9" grovellor and I am from the uk and it's perfect but I am off to indo in a month where the waves have a bit more punch will it work in those kind of waves probably only going surf upto just over head high, or should I get a different board. Many thanks Andrew CI Surfboards 11.05.2015 Hey Andrew- The #4 has a decent amount of rocker and can work in waves up to head high, maybe a touch bigger. If you are looking for a board for head+ with some push, check out the Rook15, Girabbit, Peregrine, and the Proton to name a few. Nick 08.19.2015 Guys I'm looking at getting a #4 in groveller mode. I'm 5'9 and intermediate surfer weighing 65kg. Thinking about getting a 5'9 custom but can't decide on dims. Usually surf around 28.5/29 l so gonna go 5'9 x 19 1/2 x 2 7/16 or should I go 5'9 x 19 5/8 x 2/38 ??? Small difference I know but can't decide. Slightly narrower and thicker or slightly wider and thinner????? Help. OCD is a €$¥+*%%. Which would work best for this model. Nick CI Surfboards 08.20.2015 Hey Nick, If you want the board to have more drive, go with slightly narrower and thicker dims. If you like more of a "skatey" or loose feel, go with slightly wider and thinner dims. Both dims would work, and you are right there is a very tiny difference in feel between the two. Sid 07.22.2015 im currently riding a 5'10 fishcuit and looking to get a more high performace everyday board and i heard a lot of great things about the 4. I mostly surf in huntington beach year round but i also surf in santa barbara/goleta and santa cruz and im curious to hear what you guys think of what size i should get. i am 6'2", 195 lbs, intermediate/advanced experience level. Thanks CI Surfboards 07.22.2015 Hello Sid, Based on the information provided, we recommend the stock 5'10 groveler dims for the #4- 5'10 x 20 x 2 9/16 - 32.1L Luca 02.11.2015 Hi CI! I'm an italian surfer and I'm looking for the #4 because in Italy the waves often are mushy and small! I'm 21 years ild, 1.81 m and 75 kg... I want to buy the #4 in 5.8 groveler (28.9 l) even if I think I should buy the 5.7 (27.4 l) but when the waves are small here in Italy, they are not powerful and You have to pump a lot! I've an intermediate level of surfing, what I should ride in your opinion? the 5.8 groveler is too big for me? Thank you, Luca. Tha Perret, the grovel version is simply shorter wider and thicker. Planshape is the same. Rossco 08.28.2014 Hey Gaspare, I'm a bit heavier than you at 6'0" and 225lbs and I got myself a custom #4 groveller and it's got to be one of the best boards I've ever ridden. Paddles really well and goes like a cut snake (fast!), especially as a quad. I ride it as a 6'1" x 20" x 2 1/2" which gives it about 33 or 34 litres of displacement...I should probably ride it at about 35 litres with my weight ideally but it still works for me as is. I threw a swallow tail on it because I've been riding a Dumpster Diver for a few years and find the tail a bit wide and skatey when waves have a bit more push or bowl and it's working really well with that tail...nice and drivey and really snappy in the pocket and off the top as well as feeling great when I put it on rail. I live in NZ and have surfed it in both grunty west coast barrels and softer east coast mush over here and it goes sick in both kinds of conditions so a really good all round board for me. Love it! Gaspare Aliotti 08.23.2014 Hey, I've been looking into a new more performance based short board and have narrowed my choice down to the #4 or the Fred Rubble. I'm about 6'1" and 185lbs looking for a board with volume around 31cl. What would you recommend for me based on the two options I've narrowed down to, what are the main differences between the two boards and In what waves do they shine best? Thanks! Emilio 08.29.2014 Hey Gaspare, I have both these boards and I thought I'd give you my experience to help you out. For me, in respect to my dims of these boards, they are nothing alike. Firstly, which version of the #4 are you interested in? I have the 5'6" groveller in the stock dims. My intention for this board was for the summer slush so I could catch more waves. In a nutshell, I am very happy with this board. I assume you're probably leaning towards the utility though since you're cross shopping the FR. The FR is more high performance IMO. It can be an "all around" board but it will take more effort when the waves are only knee to chess high. My FR is the stock 5'6" dims. It's super light and easy to toss around in comparison to my #4. For some perspective my FR is 21.5L and my #4 is 26L. I think you would be happy with either board. Sandro 07.12.2014 Hi guys, I live in Brazil and surf just beach breaks here, usually small waves and sometimes with mushy conditions. I'm 1,83m tall and 87 kg weight, intermediate surf level. What should be the best option for me, a 5'10" #4 Groveler (32.2 L), a 5'11" #4 Utility (30.9 L), a 5'9" Weirdo Ripper (31.8 L), or a 5'11" Fred Stubble (31.3L) ? I think the #4 Groveler 5'10" could be great... Thanks !! ...read more XTR Using extruded polystyrene foam, XTR’s goal is for all surfers to have the best performance with the most durability, to make you stand out from the crowd, and never miss a session for a ding, your XTR will never suck water. ...read more HydroFlex Hydroflex Technology is based on the patented 3D-glassing process. The quality and durability of Hydroflex glassing is supported by the use of certified glass materials and is the highest quality materials on the market. 3D glassing process is done by vacuum bagging the boards which helps prevent delaminations and dents. This process gives boards more flexibility and maximum strength without adding weight. Hydroflex is excited to produce the most cutting-edge glass jobs on the market with Channel Islands Surfboards.

i don't know

Which was the last country in mainland Europe to switch from driving on the left?

BBC NEWS | UK | Magazine | Could the UK drive on the right? Could the UK drive on the right? By Tom Geoghegan BBC News Magazine Motorists in Samoa have switched the side of the road they drive on, overnight. It's a move that Britain has considered - but how would it work? It's the kind of interview question that has reduced confident job seekers to quivering wrecks. Imagine you are the minister in charge of the UK's roads and you have to switch the country to driving on the right-hand side. How would you do it? A study of Samoa, in the South Pacific, this week might offer some clues. The country is experiencing its first day of driving on the left on Monday, the start of a special two-day bank holiday to ease Samoans into the new regime. WHY THE RIGHT/LEFT SPLIT? In the pre-industrial era, horses kept to the left so riders could draw their sword Napoleon changed Europe to the right The US followed France See which countries drive where What if the UK were to follow? Driving on the right would make trips to the European mainland easier, when taking or hiring a car. And cars with steering wheels on the left could be cheaper. The idea is not as fanciful as it sounds. Although the Department for Transport says it has no plans to change, it did examine such a plan in the late 1960s, two years after Sweden successfully switched to driving on the right. Its report rejected the idea on grounds of safety and costs. But that was before Britain's entry into the European Union and the opening of the Channel Tunnel, which for the first time established a land link between Britain and the Continent. So, if the UK was to think again about a switch, what would be the key issues? SIGNS & JUNCTIONS Road markings and roadside signs would have to be switched to the other side of the road, but ready in advance of the day of change, in a huge logistical exercise. One-way streets would have to be reconfigured and traffic lights with filters changed, says Paul Watters of the AA. To get an idea of the cost, changing signs from miles to kilometres alone was estimated at £750m, he adds. Japan is also left-hand side The biggest engineering issue would be highway building, says Benjamin Heydecker of the Centre for Transport Studies at University College London. About one in 10 motorway junctions is asymmetric or incomplete, so would need to be dug up and rebuilt. "Motorway signs would have to be turned round and repositioned, so approaches to junctions would not be in the same place." Accident blackspots would all need looking at too, because the signs there are site-specific and so would need to change. ADJUSTING SLIP ROADS "Entrance and exits to motorways are not symmetrical either, so there would be consequences there too," says Mr Heydecker. Slip roads that were deceleration lanes would suddenly be used for accelerating, so their lengths would need to be extended; and vice versa. EDUCATING DRIVERS Although many motorists would be used to driving on the right - thanks to trips abroad - a comprehensive retraining programme would be needed, according to Mr Heydecker. Particular emphasis would be put on negotiating roundabouts (which would run anti-clockwise) and left-hand turns, which would require cutting across oncoming traffic. After years of driving, habits are well entrenched and it might take more than a few lessons to get used to the new arrangements. But where could "learners" practise, before the switch? CAR STEERING WHEELS & BUS DOORS Making life even harder for motorists is the fixed right-hand driver's position of cars sold in the UK - suddenly drivers would find themselves further away from the centre of the road. Over time British drivers would buy cars with left-hand steering, so they would be changing gears with their right hands. The global manufacturing of cars would be simplified if all countries were to opt for left-hand steering, says Mr Heydecker. "If cars were all manufactured the same way, it would reduce the cost of design and improve the quality of vehicles." Public service vehicles like buses would also have to undergo a massive overhaul so that their doors were on the right-hand-side of the vehicle. LEARN FROM SWEDEN Preparations were made long in advance, says Niklas Stavegard of Motormannen, which is the Swedish Automobile Association. WHY DID SWEDEN DO IT? Sweden's neighbours drive on right It already had left-hand steering In 1955, 83% voted against change But the parliament voted in favour in 1963 Samoa braced for change "All road signs were doubled, new signs on the right-hand side, which were covered until the day of the change. On the particular day, the left-hand side signs were covered and right hand side signs were used." The change was made at 0500 on Sunday 3 September 1967. All private traffic was banned between 0100 and 0600 and there was a total stop on all traffic at 0450, with a countdown on the radio to 0500. The speed limit in urban areas was lowered from 50km/h to 40km/h for a period of time after the change. A majority of all cars already had the steering wheel on the left side, so no change was made to cars. COST In 1969, the financial burden of making the switch was calculated by the government to be £264m - about £3.4bn today. But that would now be seen as a ridiculously conservative estimate. "Since that time, the road network and the level of sophistication of the network and its controlling infrastructure has grown enormously," says a spokeswoman for the Department for Transport. Additional costs would include all buses being changed, alteration to motorway entrances and exits, and traffic control systems. "Casualties would also be likely to rise, and the current cost of a fatality is £608,580," she says. "This could be particularly true for elderly road users who are less able to adapt to changed conditions." THE VERDICT The Republic of Ireland, which has already changed its road signs from miles to kilometres, briefly considered this move to greater European integration last year, when a pro-Brussels political party suggested it. But it was swiftly rejected. "When the question came up, it was followed by the question 'Is it needed?' and the answer to that was 'No', says Sean O'Neill of the Irish National Roads Authority. Look left, no right, no wait! "If it was needed or if the UK did it, and left us as one of the last European countries driving on the left-hand side, then we would think differently." For a significantly bigger country, like the UK, with a relatively more developed road network, the challenge would be even greater. The immediate fear would be of road chaos and mass casualties, says Philip Gomm of the RAC Foundation. "Given that any change would have to be instantaneous, and the nation's roads are never quiet, only less busy - indeed Britain has some of the most congested roads in Europe - how do you seamlessly get everyone onto the other side of the carriageway? "The whole concept is mindboggling. It would be a logistical nightmare involving huge public education, vast sums of money and a massive amount of staff - and all so we can be like the French. "So probably the best advice to anyone even contemplating such a scheme is; don't bother. If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Additional reporting by Finlo Rohrer Return to link Below is a selection of your comments. You have to drive on the right when using the the short stretch of (public) road leading from the Strand up to the front of the Savoy hotel in central London. I was once told it was the only such road in Britain, and was something to do with taxi turning circles. Chris H, London The concern would be how it is funded. The driver is already heavily taxed and no doubt the taxes would be increased to fund this, even if the decision is not their own. However, car manufacturers continually state the cost of UK cars is because of making right-hand drive versions (even those, strangely, designed and made here) so we may be able to get cheaper cars here, or if not the penalty for buying abroad and bringing back here will no longer be that the steering wheel is on the wrong side. Neil Hamshaw, Norwich Rather than thrown £billions at changing sides, please can we throw £billions at vastly improving public transport, so that the roads are less congested? Then, in years to come, perhaps it won't be such a big deal. Jerry Cullum, Alton, UK To get the UK to drive on the right would be expensive, disruptive, unpopular and dangerous. So, it's quite surprising that the government hasn't tried to enforce this already. ID cards anyone? Chris, Cambridge Several road sections that come to mind that would be difficult to re-engineer are Spaghetti Junction, parts of the M2 which have extremely small acceleration/deceleration zones for slip roads and of course all of the variable speed limits on the M42, M6 and M25. Those would definitely not be cheap to sort out. The rest of it shouldn't be too hard I'd have thought. Alex, Birmingham, UK As usual, moving to the right seems to have high costs and few benefits. But for much less investment we could sort out our ridiculously muddled measurements. We buy petrol in litres but quote MPG to advertise cars! We buy UHT milk in litres, but fresh in pints! Completing the botched metrication programme would deliver real, affordable benefits. Chris Edwards, Winchester, UK As in so many things, Britain remains a floating heritage museum of the absurd, forever trapped in a pre-industrial era of quaint practices and bizarre traditions. Will we ever drag ourselves into the 21st century? Steve, Suffolk, UK When we drive from the UK to Europe the changeover occurs when we leave the ferry/train terminal. Would it be reasonable to suggest that we move the changeover point further and further inland starting at ports where you can drive into, to get to Europe or away from out of Europe. The transition then could be staged over a period of, say, three years. Paul Gibbons, Milton Keynes My brother lives near Germany and had noticed that there seems to incidents almost every month of Germans driving down the wrong side of the Autobahns. He now reckons that it's more natural to drive on the left. The rest of Europe should join the majority (of population) who drive on the left. Peter S, Sandy GB What would be gained from a switch? The traffic congestion would be just as bad, just on the other side of the street. Although it would be enormously amusing if Ireland made the switch and we didn't. The cross-over at the roads bordering Ulster would be the most chaotic places in the world. I'd be quite happy with metric distances and speed limits. Let's make the speed limit on motorways 80mph so we'd be ready for the (almost) European wide 130kmh limits. Dougie Lawson, Basingstoke, UK Having driven overseas on the 'other' side of the road, I will only do so in a left hand drive car - sightlines are wrong if you try to drive on the right in a right hand drive car. Megan, Cheshire UK Great idea which is well overdue. With increased international travel over the last few years many people will be quite experienced at driving on the right - Europe and USA being the 2 main overseas holiday destinations. I have driven on the right overseas for almost 30 years and have no problems whatsoever with adjusting the mindset to being on the "wrong" side of the road. In the long term the roads would become safer for both people in the UK (overseas lorries are a current problem) and for other countries (UK citizens more used to driving on the right). This is a task which is crying out for the EU to get to grips with - perhaps they could assist with both financing road changes and with subsidising people switching to left hand drive vehicles. Simon in Leigh, Leigh on Sea, Essex, England Everyone drove/rode on the left until the left-handed Napoleon Bonaparte changed it throughout his domain. Therefore, historically speaking, it is the rest of the world that has got it wrong! Changing now would be a huge waste of public money, be almost impossible to implement and cause many extra fatalities, for little gain in practical terms. Now Samoa has changed to the left, there are 75 countries who drive on the same side as us, so we are hardly on our own. Common sense dictates we should leave well alone! Simon, Shropshire, UK All sounds a bit pointless and expensive...but if we were given two extra bank holidays to get used to it like the Samoans (possibly continued every year to mark the momentous change) then it would certainly get my vote. Pamela, London, UK Driving on the left hand side is an anomaly that has become more significant now Britain is no longer an island, but the expense and expected high accident rate that can be expected if there is to be a change, would surely mitigate against it. For Ireland, and Malta who also drive on the left, there is no real incentive to change, as they are still islands with no direct connection to the rest of Europe. However, considering that all public service vehicles and many road layouts would need reconstruction, and the number of drivers who would need retraining, it is almost uncontemplatable. It really cannot be compared with the almost painless way it was done in Sweden, as the UK has a far greater road mileage and a considerably higher number of vehicles than Sweden in the 1960's. Alex Gordon, Ipswich, GB

Sweden

By the end of the 80s, what percentage of British households had two cars?

Driving On the Right In Sweden History of the Volvo Car September 3 1967. 40 years of driving on the right side in Sweden On September 3, 2007, it will be 40 years to the day since Sweden switched from driving on the left side of the road to the right side. Here is a short story of how it came to happen. Traffic in Sweden – if the word can be applied for horses, oxen and carts – started to use the right side of the road in 1718 and did so until 1734, when suddenly left-hand traffic was introduced. Why? No one really knows. Maybe it was to have the swordhand – right for most people – closest to the enemy when meeting on horseback. And on the left side it stayed for more than 200 years. In 1916, however, the Swedish parliament acknowledged left-hand traffic by law, but every year between 1920 and 1939, the parliament discussed whether to stay on the left side or move over to the right side of the road, which Sweden's neighbour countries in Scandinavia and the rest of the continent were already using. Nothing happened though. Switching side against the people's will In 1955 a national referendum was held and there was strong campaigning from both sides. Right side campaigners used rational arguments based on facts, like safer overtaking. The "lefties" played on people's long-time habits and emotions; "Do you want to see your mother killed?" Of course such arguments paid off. The result was a landslide victory to stay on the left side –83 per cent against 15 per cent of the voters. Nevertheless, strong lobbying for switching side continued and this eventually led to the parliament deciding in 1963 that Sweden should eventually make the transition from left-hand traffic to right-hand traffic in 1967. This also led to the establishing of the Swedish National Traffic Safety Board during this period. Preparations for the switch started. On September 3, 1967, at 04.50 in the morning, the traffic everywhere in Sweden was directed over to the right side of the road and stopped. Everything stood absolutely still for 10 minutes, and at 05.00, when it started again, all road users in Sweden from heavy trucks to cyclists were already on the right side of the road, and they have stayed there since. Left: The magic H date and a very clever symbol to remember it by. Right: Kungsgatan in Stockholm on the 3rd of September 1967,  04.50 in the morning. The traffic is directed from the left to the right side of the street and halted. A lot of people witnessed this happen in spite of the early morning hour. There is a nice black/white Volvo Duett police vehicle standing by the kerb in the lower right corner of the picture. Roads, crossings, roundabouts, flyovers etc had already been redesigned and some 360,000 road signs were changed during the night. The date had also been preceeded by an intensive national campaign, informing people about what was going to happen that day.Some 130,000 reminder signs – a large H for Höger (right in Swedish) – had been put up everywhere along streets and roads, and most cars had an H-sticker on the dashboard in front of the driver in order to remind him or her. Very few cars in Sweden were right-hand drive at the time, despite the fact that Swedish road users had been living with left side traffic for 233 years! There was also a temporary but strict speed limit of 30 kph in built-up areas and 50 kph on all other roads during September 3, which was a Sunday. In total, only some 150 minor accidents were reported during that day. The idea worked very well. The total cost of the transition at the time was SEK 628 million, appr equivalent to EUR 64 million. Bye bye to unlimited speed After this, it was goodbye forever to unlimited speed on Swedish roads which had been allowed outside built-up areas until September 1967. Speed limits became a reality to live with, and have been with us ever since. This in a way contradicts the trend that started some two years before the left side/right side transition: a reduction of accidents which was at its lowest number at the time of the switch. A contributing factor was also the introduction of the state-controlled annual vehicle inspection which got a lot of bad vehicles off the road. The number of accidents then slowly rose again and in 1970 was almost back at the 1965 level. During the whole month of September 1967, 59 people were killed in Swedish traffic and 1,077 people during the entire year of 1967. The year before, 1966, 99 people were killed in September and 1,313 during the whole year. This may be explained by the fact that drivers were more alert just after the switch but gradually relaxed and fell back into old routine behaviour as time went by. And if you had to react quickly, maybe "with your spine", in a dangerous situation, you sub-consciously made the wrong turn i.e. to the left. In 1975, the use of safety belts became compulsory in Sweden which in turn had a positive effect on the statistics and in 1977 daytime running lights also became law. Since then, safety belt laws have been enforeced in practically every civilized country and also driving with lights on during the day is also more and more common. Why were pre-1967  Volvos left hand drive? Comes the question why Volvos were offered with left-hand drive in Sweden during the days of left-hand traffic. Let us quote Volvo president Assar Gabrielsson from chapter 74 of his sales handbook, dated 1936: "When automobiles first appeared in Sweden, roads were narrow and twisting. It was very difficult to pass a horse and cart or another car, and you really had to concentrate on the left shoulder of the road. American cars were always delivered with their steering wheels on the left side, and for such a small market as Sweden they were reluctant to change their cars to right-hand drive. Consequently, salesmen of American cars in Sweden often exaggerated the importance of the left shoulder. Through this, the Swedish people has become used to have the steering wheel on the left side, in spite of Sweden having left-hand traffic. In most other countries, the steering wheel is located at the right side when the traffic is left-hand, or at the left when traffic is right-hand. We at Volvo are fully convinced that taking the road standard into consideration, the left shoulder is of little or no importance. It is much more important to have a clear view of the road ahead when overtaking. Therefore, the most logic thing would be that Volvos were made with right-hand drive. In spite of this, we have kept left-hand drive because we do not feel that we have to be pioneers in this area. We believe that we would only meet resistance from our customers and create extra work for our dealers if we only delivered right-hand drive Volvos. We will therefore continue to sell left-hand drive cars. Volvo trucks and buses, however, can be delivered with left-hand drive or right-hand drive at customer request." Be that how it may. The logical thing at the time would still have been to have right-hand drive cars in left-hand traffic but very few cars, most of them British, were right-hand drive in Sweden at the time. The American influence was so strong that Swedes merely accepted the facts as they were. One must remember that American cars topped the Swedish registration statistics until 1948 when Volvo took over the top position (from Chevrolet). The truth is probably that is was much too expensive to convert cars for the relatively small Swedish market. And this continued over the years to follow. When right-hand drive Volvos could be had in Sweden, after 1967, the only people that would use them were countryside postmen and disabled people. As a paradox, though, Swedish railways still run on the left on double tracks, as a reminiscence of old times maybe. No doubt this will also be "harmonized" in due time.

i don't know

In which year did Britain's lease on Hong Kong officially expire?

In which year did Britain's lease on Hong Kong officially expire? View the step-by-step solution to: In which year did Britain's lease on Hong Kong officially expire? This question was answered on May 23, 2016. View the Answer In which year did Britain's lease on Hong Kong officially expire? masfatjr265 posted a question · May 23, 2016 at 11:34pm Top Answer Attached is a detailed explanation... View the full answer {[ getNetScore(29702539) ]} josewriter23 answered the question · May 23, 2016 at 11:34pm Other Answers Here is the answer... View the full answer {[ getNetScore(29702534) ]} Here is the solution... View the full answer {[ getNetScore(29702597) ]} brainetom answered the question · May 23, 2016 at 11:38pm August 1997. Hong Kong consists of Hong Kong Island (ceded by China to Britain in 1842), the... View the full answer {[ getNetScore(29702692) ]} View Full Answer or ask a new question Related Questions which year did the united states of america gain its independence? Recently Asked Questions Need an US History tutor? Ntidai5 8 US History experts found online! Average reply time is 1 min Get Homework Help Why Join Course Hero? Course Hero has all the homework and study help you need to succeed! We’ve got course-specific notes, study guides, and practice tests along with expert tutors and customizable flashcards—available anywhere, anytime. - - Study Documents Find the best study resources around, tagged to your specific courses. Share your own to gain free Course Hero access or to earn money with our Marketplace. 890,990,898 Question & Answers Get one-on-one homework help from our expert tutors—available online 24/7. Ask your own questions or browse existing Q&A threads. Satisfaction guaranteed! 890,990,898 Flashcards Browse existing sets or create your own using our digital flashcard system. A simple yet effective studying tool to help you earn the grade that you want!

one thousand nine hundred and ninety seven

Which Norwegian explorer did Robert Feary beat to the North Pole?

Great Britain: History Great Britain History Until 1707, this section deals primarily with English history. England and Wales were formally united in 1536. In 1707, when Great Britain was created by the Act of Union between Scotland and England, English history became part of British history. For the early history of Scotland and Wales , see separate articles. See also Ireland ; Ireland, Northern ; and the tables entitled Rulers of England and Great Britain and Prime Ministers of Great Britain . Early Period to the Norman Conquest Although evidence of human habitation in Great Britain dates to more than 800,000 years ago, ice sheets forced the inhabitants from the island several times, and modern settlement dates only from about 12,000 years ago. Little is known about the earliest modern prehistoric inhabitants of Britain, but the remains of their tor and causewayed enclosures, dolmens, and barrows and the great stone circles at Stonehenge and Avebury are evidence of the developed culture of the prehistoric Britons. They had developed a Bronze Age culture by the time the first Celtic invaders (early 5th cent. B.C.) brought their energetic Iron Age culture to Britain. It is believed that Julius Caesar's successful military campaign in Britain in 54 B.C. was aimed at preventing incursions into Gaul from the island. In A.D. 43 the emperor Claudius began the Roman conquest of Britain, establishing bases at present-day London and Colchester. By A.D. 85, Rome controlled Britain south of the Clyde River. There were a number of revolts in the early years of the conquest, the most famous being that of Boadicea . In the 2d cent. A.D., Hadrian's Wall was constructed as a northern defense line. Under the Roman occupation towns developed, and roads were built to ensure the success of the military occupation. These roads were the most lasting Roman achievement in Britain (see Watling Street ), long serving as the basic arteries of overland transportation in England. Colchester, Lincoln, and Gloucester were founded by the Romans as colonia, settlements of ex-legionaries. Trade contributed to town prosperity; wine, olive oil, plate, and furnishings were imported, and lead, tin, iron, wheat, and wool were exported. This trade declined with the economic dislocation of the late Roman Empire and the withdrawal of Roman troops to meet barbarian threats elsewhere. The garrisons had been consumers of the products of local artisans as well as of imports; as they were disbanded, the towns decayed. Barbarian incursions became frequent. In 410 an appeal to Rome for military aid was refused, and Roman officials subsequently were withdrawn. As Rome withdrew its legions from Britain, Germanic peoples—the Anglo-Saxons and the Jutes—began raids that turned into great waves of invasion and settlement in the later 5th cent. The Celts fell back into Wales and Cornwall and across the English Channel to Brittany, and the loosely knit tribes of the newcomers gradually coalesced into a heptarchy of kingdoms (see Kent , Sussex , Essex , Wessex , East Anglia , Mercia , and Northumbria ). Late in the 8th cent., and with increasing severity until the middle of the 9th cent., raiding Vikings (known in English history as Danes) harassed coastal England and finally, in 865, launched a full-scale invasion. They were first effectively checked by King Alfred of Wessex and were with great difficulty confined to the Danelaw , where their leaders divided land among the soldiers for settlement. Alfred's successors conquered the Danelaw to form a united England, but new Danish invasions late in the 10th cent. overcame ineffective resistance (see Æthelred , 965?–1016). The Dane Canute ruled all England by 1016. At the expiration of the Scandinavian line in 1042, the Wessex dynasty (see Edward the Confessor ) regained the throne. The conquest of England in 1066 by William, duke of Normandy ( William I of England), ended the Anglo-Saxon period. The freeman (ceorl) of the early Germanic invaders had been responsible to the king and superior to the serf. Subsequent centuries of war and subsistence farming, however, had forced the majority of freemen into serfdom, or dependence on the aristocracy of lords and thanes, who came to enjoy a large measure of autonomous control over manors granted them by the king (see manorial system ). The central government evolved from tribal chieftainships to become a monarchy in which executive and judicial powers were usually vested in the king. The aristocracy made up his witan, or council of advisers (see witenagemot ). The king set up shires as units of local government ruled by earldormen. In some instances these earldormen became powerful hereditary earls, ruling several shires. Subdivisions of shires were called hundreds. There were shire and hundred courts, the former headed by sheriffs, the latter by reeves. Agriculture was the principal industry, but the Danes were aggressive traders, and towns increased in importance starting in the 9th cent. The Anglo-Saxons had been Christianized by missionaries from Rome and from Ireland, and the influence of Christianity became strongly manifest in all phases of culture (see Anglo-Saxon literature ). Differences between Irish and continental religious customs were decided in favor of the Roman forms at the Synod of Whitby (663). Monastic communities, outstanding in the later 7th and in the 8th cent. and strongly revived in the 10th, developed great proficiency in manuscript illumination. Church scholars, such as Bede, Alcuin, and Aelfric—as well as King Alfred himself—preserved and advanced learning. Medieval England A new era in English history began with the Norman Conquest . William I introduced Norman-style political and military feudalism . He used the feudal system to collect taxes, employed the bureaucracy of the church to strengthen the central government, and made the administration of royal justice more efficient. After the death of William's second son, Henry I , the country was subjected to a period of civil war that ended one year before the accession of Henry II in 1154. Henry II's reign was marked by the sharp conflict between king and church that led to the murder of Thomas à Becket . Henry carried out great judicial reforms that increased the power and scope of the royal courts. During his reign, in 1171, began the English conquest of Ireland. As part of his inheritance he brought to the throne Anjou, Normandy, and Aquitaine. The defense and enlargement of these French territories engaged the energies of successive English kings. In their need for money the kings stimulated the growth of English towns by selling them charters of liberties. Conflict between kings and nobles, which had begun under Richard I , came to a head under John , who made unprecedented financial demands and whose foreign and church policies were unsuccessful. A temporary victory of the nobles bore fruit in the most noted of all English constitutional documents, the Magna Carta (1215). The recurring baronial wars of the 13th cent. (see Barons' War ; Montfort, Simon de, earl of Leicester ) were roughly contemporaneous with the first steps in the development of Parliament. Edward I began the conquest of Wales and Scotland. He also carried out an elaborate reform and expansion of the central courts and of other aspects of the legal system. The Hundred Years War with France began (1337) in the reign of Edward III. The Black Death (see plague ) first arrived in 1348 and had a tremendous effect on economic life, hastening the breakdown (long since under way) of the manorial and feudal systems, including the institution of serfdom. At the same time the fast-growing towns and trades gave new prominence to the burgess and artisan classes. In the 14th cent. the English began exporting their wool, rather than depending on foreign traders of English wool. Later in the century, trade in woolen cloth began to gain on the raw wool trade. The confusion resulting from such rapid social and economic change fostered radical thought, typified in the teachings of John Wyclif (or Wycliffe; see also Lollardry , and the revolt led by Wat Tyler . Dynastic wars (see Roses, Wars of the ), which weakened both the nobility and the monarchy in the 15th cent., ended with the accession of the Tudor family in 1485. Tudor England The reign of the Tudors (1485–1603) is one of the most fascinating periods in English history. Henry VII restored political order and the financial solvency of the crown, bequeathing his son, Henry VIII , a full exchequer. In 1536, Henry VIII brought about the political union of England and Wales. Henry and his minister Thomas Cromwell greatly expanded the central administration. During Henry's reign commerce flourished and the New Learning of the Renaissance came to England. Several factors—the revival of Lollardry, anticlericalism, the influence of humanism, and burgeoning nationalism—climaxed by the pope's refusal to grant Henry a divorce from Katharine of Aragón so that he could remarry and have a male heir—led the king to break with Roman Catholicism and establish the Church of England. As part of the English Reformation (1529–39), Henry suppressed the orders of monks and friars and secularized their property. Although these actions aroused some popular opposition (see Pilgrimage of Grace ), Henry's judicious use of Parliament helped secure support for his policies and set important precedents for the future of Parliament. England moved farther toward Protestantism under Edward VI ; after a generally hated Roman Catholic revival under Mary I , the Roman tie was again cut under Elizabeth I , who attempted without complete success to moderate the religious differences among her people. The Elizabethan age was one of great artistic and intellectual achievement, its most notable figure being William Shakespeare . National pride basked in the exploits of Sir Francis Drake , Sir John Hawkins , and the other "sea dogs." Overseas trading companies were formed and colonization attempts in the New World were made by Sir Humphrey Gilbert and Sir Walter Raleigh . A long conflict with Spain, growing partly out of commercial and maritime rivalry and partly out of religious differences, culminated in the defeat of the Spanish Armada (1588), although the war continued another 15 years. Inflated prices (caused, in part, by an influx of precious metals from the New World) and the reservation of land by the process of inclosure for sheep pasture (stimulated by the expansion of the wool trade) caused great changes in the social and economic structure of England. The enclosures displaced many tenant farmers from their lands and produced a class of wandering, unemployed "sturdy beggars." The Elizabethan poor laws were an attempt to deal with this problem. Rising prices affected the monarchy as well, by reducing the value of its fixed customary and hereditary revenues. The country gentry were enriched by the inclosures and by their purchase of former monastic lands, which were also used for grazing. The gentry became leaders in what, toward the end of Elizabeth's reign, was an increasingly assertive Parliament. The Stuarts The accession in 1603 of the Stuart James I , who was also James VI of Scotland, united the thrones of England and Scotland. The chronic need for money of both James and his son, Charles I , which they attempted to meet by unusual and extralegal means; their espousal of the divine right of kings; their determination to enforce their high Anglican preferences in religion; and their use of royal courts such as Star Chamber , which were not bound by the common law, to persecute opponents, together produced a bitter conflict with Parliament that culminated (1642) in the English civil war . In the war the parliamentarians, effectively led at the end by Oliver Cromwell , defeated the royalists. The king was tried for treason and beheaded (1649). The monarchy was abolished, and the country was governed by the Rump Parliament, the remainder of the last Parliament (the Long Parliament) Charles had called (1640), until 1653, when Cromwell dissolved it and established the Protectorate . Cromwell brutally subjugated Ireland, made a single commonwealth of Scotland and England, and strengthened England's naval power and position in international trade. When he died (1658), his son, Richard, succeeded as Lord Protector but governed ineffectively. The threat of anarchy led to an invitation by a newly elected Parliament (the Convention Parliament) to Charles, son of Charles I, to become king, ushering in the Restoration (1660). It was significant that Parliament had summoned the king, rather than the reverse; it was now clear that to be successful the king had to cooperate with Parliament. The Whig and Tory parties developed in the Restoration period. Although Charles II was personally popular, the old issues of religion, money, and the royal prerogative came to the fore again. Parliament revived official Anglicanism (see Clarendon Code ), but Charles's private sympathies lay with Catholicism. He attempted to bypass Parliament in the matter of revenue by receiving subsidies from Louis XIV of France. Charles's brother and successor, James II , was an avowed Catholic. James tried to strengthen his position in Parliament by tampering with the methods of selecting members; he put Catholics in high university positions, maintained a standing army (which later deserted him), and claimed the right to suspend laws. The birth (1688) of a male heir, who, it was assumed, would be raised as a Catholic, precipitated a crisis. In the Glorious Revolution , Whig and Tory leaders offered the throne to William of Orange ( William III ), whose Protestant wife, Mary, was James's daughter. William and Mary were proclaimed king and queen by Parliament in 1689. The Bill of Rights confirmed that sovereignty resided in Parliament. The Act of Toleration (1689) extended religious liberty to all Protestant sects; in subsequent years, religious passions slowly subsided. By the Act of Settlement (1701) the succession to the English throne was determined. Since 1603, with the exception of the 1654–60 portion of the interregnum, Scotland and England had remained two kingdoms united only in the person of the monarch. When it appeared that William's successor, Queen Anne , Mary's Protestant sister, would not have an heir, the Scottish succession became of concern, since the Scottish Parliament had not passed legislation corresponding to the Act of Settlement. England feared that under a separate monarch Scotland might ally itself with France, or worse still, permit a restoration of the Catholic heirs of James II—although a non-Protestant succession had been barred by the Scottish Parliament. On its part, Scotland wished to achieve economic equality with England. The result was the Act of Union (1707), by which the two kingdoms became one. Scotland obtained representation in (what then became) the British Parliament at Westminster, and the Scottish Parliament was abolished. The Growth of Empire and Eighteenth-Century Political Developments The beginnings of Britain's national debt (1692) and the founding of the Bank of England (1694) were closely tied with the nation's more active role in world affairs. Britain's overseas possessions (see British Empire ) were augmented by the victorious outcome of the War of the Spanish Succession, ratified in the Peace of Utrecht (1713). Britain emerged from the War of the Austrian Succession and from the Seven Years War as the possessor of the world's greatest empire. The peace of 1763 (see Paris, Treaty of ) confirmed British predominance in India and North America. Settlements were made in Australia toward the end of the 18th cent.; however, a serious loss was sustained when 13 North American colonies broke away in the American Revolution. Additional colonies were won in the wars against Napoleon I , notable for the victories of Horatio Nelson and Arthur Wellesley, duke of Wellington . In Ireland, the Irish Parliament was granted independence in 1782, but in 1798 there was an Irish rebellion. A vain attempt to solve the centuries-old Irish problem was the abrogation of the Irish Parliament and the union (1801) of Great Britain and Ireland, with Ireland represented in the British Parliament. Domestically the long ministry of Sir Robert Walpole (1721–42), during the reigns of George I and George II , was a period of relative stability that saw the beginnings of the development of the cabinet as the chief executive organ of government. The 18th cent. was a time of transition in the growth of the British parliamentary system. The monarch still played a very active role in government, choosing and dismissing ministers as he wished. Occasionally, sentiment in Parliament might force an unwanted minister on him, as when George III was forced to choose Rockingham in 1782, but the king could dissolve Parliament and use his considerable patronage power to secure a new one more amenable to his views. Great political leaders of the late 18th cent., such as the earl of Chatham (see Chatham, William Pitt, 1st earl of ) and his son William Pitt , could not govern in disregard of the crown. Important movements for political and social reform arose in the second half of the 18th cent. George III's arrogant and somewhat anachronistic conception of the crown's role produced a movement among Whigs in Parliament that called for a reform and reduction of the king's power. Edmund Burke was a leader of this group, as was the eccentric John Wilkes . The Tory Pitt was also a reformer. These men also opposed Britain's colonial policy in North America. Outside Parliament, religious dissenters (who were excluded from political office), intellectuals, and others advocated sweeping reforms of established practices and institutions. Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations, advocating laissez-faire , appeared in 1776, the same year as the first publication by Jeremy Bentham , the founder of utilitarianism. The cause of reform, however, was greatly set back by the French Revolution and the ensuing wars with France, which greatly alarmed British society. Burke became Britain's leading intellectual opponent of the Revolution, while many British reformers who supported (to varying degrees) the changes in France were branded by British public opinion as extreme Jacobins. Economic, Social, and Political Change George III was succeeded by George IV and William IV . During the last ten years of his reign, George III was insane, and sovereignty was exercised by the future George IV. This was the "Regency" period. In the mid-18th cent., wealth and power in Great Britain still resided in the aristocracy, the landed gentry, and the commercial oligarchy of the towns. The mass of the population consisted of agricultural laborers, semiliterate and landless, governed locally (in England) by justices of the peace. The countryside was fragmented into semi-isolated agricultural villages and provincial capitals. However, the period of the late 18th and early 19th cent. was a time of dynamic economic change. The factory system, the discovery and use of steam power, improved inland transportation (canals and turnpikes), the ready supply of coal and iron, a remarkable series of inventions, and men with capital who were eager to invest—all these elements came together to produce the epochal change known as the Industrial Revolution . The impact of these developments on social conditions was enormous, but the most significant socioeconomic fact of all from 1750 to 1850 was the growth of population. The population of Great Britain (excluding Northern Ireland) grew from an estimated 7,500,000 in 1750 to about 10,800,000 in 1801 (the year of the first national census) and to about 23,130,000 in 1861. The growing population provided needed labor for industrial expansion and was accompanied by rapid urbanization. Urban problems multiplied. At the same time a new period of inclosures (1750–1810; this time to increase the arable farmland) deprived small farmers of their common land. The Speenhamland System (begun in 1795), which supplemented wages according to the size of a man's family and the price of bread, and the Poor Law of 1834 were harsh revisions of the relief laws. The social unrest following these developments provided a fertile field for Methodism , which had been begun by John Wesley in the mid-18th cent. Methodism was especially popular in the new industrial areas, in some of which the Church of England provided no services. It has been theorized that by pacifying social unrest Methodism contributed to the prevention of political and social revolution in Britain. In the 1820s the reform impulse that had been largely stifled during the French Revolution revived. Catholic Emancipation (1829) restored to Catholics political and civil rights. In 1833 slavery in the British Empire was abolished. (The slave trade had been ended in 1807.) Parliamentary reform was made imperative by the new patterns of population distribution and by the great growth during the industrial expansion in the size and wealth of the middle class, which lacked commensurate political power. The general elections that followed the death of George IV brought to power a Whig ministry committed to parliamentary reform. The Reform Bill of 1832 (see under Reform Acts ) enfranchised the middle class and redistributed seats to give greater representation to London and the urban boroughs of N England. Other parliamentary legislation established the institutional basis for efficient city government and municipal services and for government inspection of factories, schools, and poorhouses. The competitive advantage British exports had gained from the Industrial Revolution lent new force to the arguments for free trade. The efforts of the Anti-Corn-Law League, organized by Richard Cobden and John Bright , succeeded in 1846 when Robert Peel was converted to the cause of free trade, and the corn laws were repealed. But Chartism , a mass movement for more thorough political reform, was unsuccessful (1848). Further important reforms were delayed nearly 20 years. The Reform Bill of 1867, sponsored by Disraeli and the Conservatives for political reasons, enfranchised the urban working classes and was followed shortly (under Gladstone and the Liberals) by enactment of the secret ballot and the first steps toward a national education system. In 1884 a third Reform Bill extended the vote to agricultural laborers. (Women could not vote until 1918.) In the 1880s trade unions, which had first appeared earlier in the century, grew larger and more militant as increasing numbers of unskilled workers were unionized. A coalition of labor and socialist groups, organized in 1900, became the Labour party in 1906. In the 19th cent. Britain's economy took on its characteristic patterns. Trade deficits, incurred as the value of food imports exceeded the value of exports such as textiles, iron, steel, and coal, wer Sections in this article: e overcome by income from shipping, insurance services, and foreign investments. Victorian Foreign Policy The reign of Victoria (1837–1901) covered the period of Britain's commercial and industrial leadership of the world and of its greatest political influence. Initial steps toward granting self-government for Canada were taken at the start of Victoria's reign, while in India conquest and expansion continued. Great Britain's commercial interests, advanced by the British navy, brought on in 1839 the first Opium War with China, which opened five Chinese ports to British trade and made Hong Kong a British colony. The aggressive diplomacy of Lord Palmerston in the 1850s and 60s, including involvement in the Crimean War , was popular at home. From 1868 to 1880 political life in Great Britain was dominated by Benjamin Disraeli and William E. Gladstone , who differed dramatically over domestic and foreign policy. Disraeli, who had attacked Gladstone for failing to defend Britain's imperial interests, pursued an active foreign policy, determined by considerations of British prestige and the desire to protect the route to India. Under Disraeli (1874–80) the British acquired the Transvaal, the Fiji Islands, and Cyprus, fought frontier wars in Africa and Afghanistan, and became the largest shareholder in the Suez Canal Company. Gladstone strongly condemned Disraeli's expansionist policies, but his later ministries involved Britain in Egypt, Afghanistan, and Uganda. Gladstone's first ministry (1868–74) had disestablished the Church of England in Ireland, and in 1886, Gladstone unsuccessfully advocated Home Rule for Ireland. The proposal split the Liberal party and overturned his ministry. In the last decades of the 19th cent. competition with other European powers and enchantment with the glories of empire led Britain to acquire vast territories in Asia and Africa. By the end of the century the country was entangled in the South African War (1899–1902). Great Britain's period of hegemony was ending, as both Germany and the United States were surpassing it in industrial production. World War I and Its Aftermath Victoria was succeeded by her son Edward VII , then by his son, George V . The Liberals, in power 1905–15, enacted much social legislation, including old-age pensions, health and unemployment insurance, child health laws, and more progressive taxation. The budget sponsored by David Lloyd George to finance the Liberals' program brought on a parliamentary struggle that ended in a drastic reduction of the power of the House of Lords (1911). Growing military and economic rivalry with Germany led Great Britain to form ententes with its former colonial rivals, France and Russia (see Triple Alliance and Triple Entente ). In 1914, Germany's violation of Belgium's neutrality, which since 1839 Britain had been pledged to uphold, caused Britain to go to war against Germany (see World War I ). Although the British emerged as victors, the war took a terrible toll on the nation. About 750,000 men had died and seven million tons of shipping had been lost. In the peace settlement (see Versailles, Treaty of ) Britain acquired, as League of Nations mandates, additional territories in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. But the four years of fighting had drained the nation of wealth and manpower. The postwar years were a time of great moral disillusionment and material difficulties. To the international problems stemming directly from the war, such as disarmament, reparations , and war debts , were added complex domestic economic problems, the task of reorganizing the British Empire , and the tangled Irish problem. Northern Ireland was created in 1920, and the Irish Free State (see Ireland, Republic of ) in 1921–22. The basic domestic economic problem of the post–World War I years was the decline of Britain's traditional export industries, which made it more difficult for the country to pay for its imports of foods and raw materials. A Labour government, under Ramsay MacDonald , was in power for the first time briefly in 1924. In 1926 the country suffered a general strike. Severe economic stress increased during the worldwide economic depression of the late 1920s and early 30s. During the financial crisis of 1931, George V asked MacDonald to head a coalition government, which took the country off the gold standard, ceased the repayment of war debts, and supplanted free trade with protective tariffs modified by preferential treatment within the empire (see Commonwealth of Nations ) and with treaty nations. Recovery from the depression began to be evident in 1933. Although old export industries such as coal mining and cotton manufacturing remained depressed, other industries, such as electrical engineering, automobile manufacture, and industrial chemistry, were developed or strengthened. George V was succeeded by Edward VIII , after whose abdication (1936) George VI came to the throne. In 1937, Neville Chamberlain became prime minister. The years prior to the outbreak of World War II were characterized by the ineffective attempts to stem the rising tide of German and Italian aggression. The League of Nations, in which Britain was a leader, declined rapidly by failing to take decisive action, and British prestige fell further because of a policy of nonintervention in the Spanish civil war . Appeasement of the Axis powers, which was the policy of the Chamberlain government, reached its climactic failure (as became evident later) in the Munich Pact of Sept., 1938. Great Britain had begun to rearm in 1936 and, after Munich, instituted conscription. With the signing of the Soviet-German pact of Aug., 1939, war was recognized as inevitable. World War II and the Welfare State On Sept. 1, 1939, Germany attacked Poland. Great Britain and France declared war on Germany on Sept. 3, and all the dominions of the Commonwealth except Ireland followed suit (see World War II ). Chamberlain broadened his cabinet to include Labour representatives, but after German victories in Scandinavia he resigned (May, 1940) and was replaced by Winston S. Churchill . France fell in June, 1940, but the heroic rescue of a substantial part of the British army from Dunkirk (May–June) enabled Britain, now virtually alone, to remain in the war. The nation withstood intensive bombardment (see Battle of Britain ), but ultimately the Royal Air Force was able to drive off the Luftwaffe. Extensive damage was sustained, and great urban areas, including large sections of London, were devastated. The British people rose to a supreme war effort; American aid (see lend-lease ) provided vital help. In 1941, Great Britain gained two allies when Germany invaded the USSR (June) and the United States entered the war following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor (Dec. 7). Britain declared war on Japan on Dec. 8. The wartime alliance of Great Britain, the USSR, and the United States led to the formation of the United Nations and brought about the defeat of Germany (May, 1945) and Japan (Sept., 1945). The British economy suffered severely from the war. Manpower losses had been severe, including about 420,000 dead; large urban areas had to be rebuilt, and the industrial plant needed reconstruction and modernization. Leadership in world trade, shipping, and banking had passed to the United States, and overseas investments had been largely liquidated to pay the cost of the world wars. This was a serious blow to the British economy because the income from these activities had previously served to offset the import-export deficit. In 1945, the first general elections in ten years were held (they had been postponed because of the war) and Clement Attlee and the Labour party were swept into power. Austere wartime economic controls were continued, and in 1946 the United States extended a large loan. The United States made further assistance available in 1948 through the Marshall Plan . In 1949 the pound was devalued (in terms of U.S. dollars, from $4.03 to $2.80) to make British exports more competitive. The Labour government pursued from the start a vigorous program of nationalization of industry and extension of social services. The Bank of England, the coal industry, communications facilities, civil aviation, electricity, and internal transport were nationalized, and in 1948 a vast program of socialized medicine was instituted (many of these programs followed the recommendations of wartime commissions). Also in 1948, Labour began the nationalization of the steel industry, but the law did not become effective until 1951, after Churchill and the Conservatives had returned to office. The Conservatives denationalized the trucking industry and all but one of the steel companies and ended direct economic controls, but they retained Labour's social reforms. Elizabeth II succeeded George VI in 1952. In postwar foreign affairs Great Britain's loss of power was also evident. Britain had undertaken to help Greece and Turkey resist Communist subversion, but the financial burden proved too great, and the task was assumed (1947) by the United States. The British Empire underwent rapid transformation. British India was partitioned (1947) into two self-governing states, India and Pakistan. In Palestine, unable to maintain peace between Arabs and Jews, Britain turned its mandate over to the United Nations. Groundwork was laid for the independence of many other colonies; like India and Pakistan, most of them remained in the Commonwealth after independence. Great Britain joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (1949) and fought on the United Nations' side in the Korean War (1950–53). The Conservative governments of Churchill and his successor, Anthony Eden (1955), were beset by numerous difficulties in foreign affairs, including the nationalization (1951) of British petroleum fields and refineries in Iran, the Mau Mau uprising in Kenya (1952–56), turmoil in Cyprus (1954–59), and the problem of apartheid in South Africa. The nationalization (1956) of the Suez Canal by Egypt touched off a crisis in which Britain, France, and Israel invaded Egypt. Opposition by the United States brought about a halt of the invasion and withdrawal of the troops. The 1960s and 70s Great Britain helped to form (1959) the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), but in 1961 the government of Harold Macmillan announced its decision to seek membership in the European Economic Community . Because of French opposition as well as Britain's request for special considerations for the countries of the Commonwealth and of EFTA, agreement on British entry was not reached until 1971. Britain finally entered what had become the European Community (now the European Union [EU]) in Jan., 1973. Labour returned to power in 1964 under Harold Wilson , and the steel industry was renationalized. The country faced the compound economic problems of a very unfavorable balance of trade, the instability of the pound sterling, a lagging rate of economic growth, and inflationary wages and prices. A number of sterling crises were followed by government controls and cutbacks. Britain supported U.S. policy in Vietnam. The policy of granting independence to colonial possessions continued; however, Rhodesia (see Zimbabwe ) became a problem when its government, representing only the white minority, unilaterally declared its independence in 1965. Another problem was Spain's demand for the return of Gibraltar. A major crisis erupted in Northern Ireland in late 1968 when Catholic civil-rights demonstrations turned into violent confrontations between Catholics and Protestants. British army units were dispatched in an unsuccessful attempt to restore calm. In 1972 the British government suspended the Northern Ireland Parliament and government and assumed direct control of the province. The sectarian terrorist violence that resulted from the unrest continued to be a significant problem in Northern Ireland into the 1990s. The Conservatives under Edward Heath returned to power in Britain in 1970. At the end of 1973 the country underwent its worst economic crisis since World War II. The balance of payments deficit, after improving in the late 1960s, had worsened. Serious inflation had led to widespread labor unrest in the critical coal-mining, railroad, and electrical industries, leading to a shortage of coal, Britain's main energy source. A further blow, following the 1973 war in the Middle East, was the reduction in oil shipments by several Arab states and a steep increase in the price of oil. When coal miners voted to strike in early 1974, Heath called an election in an attempt to bolster his position in resisting the miners' demands. Neither Labour nor the Conservatives emerged from that election with a plurality in the Commons. After an unsuccessful attempt to form a minority government, Heath resigned (Mar., 1974) and was succeeded as prime minister by Harold Wilson, who moved immediately to settle the miners' dispute. In the elections of Oct., 1974, the Labour party won a slim majority; Wilson continued as prime minister. The early 1970s brought the development of oil and natural gas fields in the North Sea, which helped to decrease Britain's reliance on coal and foreign fuel. Wilson resigned and was succeeded by James Callaghan in Apr., 1976. Neither Wilson nor Callaghan was able to resolve growing disagreements with the unions, and unrest among industrial workers became the dominant note of the late 1970s. In Mar., 1979, Callaghan left office after losing a no-confidence vote. The Thatcher Era to the Present In May, 1979, the Conservatives returned to power under the leadership of Margaret Thatcher , who set out to reverse the postwar trend toward socialism by reducing government borrowing, freezing expenditures, and privatizing state-owned industries. Thatcher also managed to break union resistance through a series of laws that included the illegalization of secondary strikes and boycotts. A violent, unsuccessful yearlong miners' strike (1984–85) was Thatcher's most serious union confrontation. Thatcher gained increased popularity by her actions in the Falkland Islands conflict with Argentina; she led the Conservatives to victory again in 1983 and 1987, the latter an unprecedented third consecutive general election win. In 1985, Great Britain agreed that Hong Kong would revert to Chinese sovereignty in 1997. In 1986, the Channel Tunnel project was begun with France; the rail link with the European mainland opened in 1994. A decade of Thatcher's economic policies resulted in a marked disparity between the developed southern economy and the decaying industrial centers of the north. Her unpopular stands on some issues, such as her opposition to greater British integration in Europe, caused a Conservative party revolt that led her to resign in Nov., 1990, whereupon John Major became party leader and prime minister. Despite a lingering recession, the Conservatives retained power in the 1992 general election. A peace initiative opened by Prime Minister Major in 1993 led to cease-fires in 1994 by the Irish Republican Army and Loyalist paramilitaries in Northern Ireland. Peace efforts foundered early in 1996, as the IRA again resorted to terrorist bombings. In July, 1997, the IRA declared a new cease-fire, and talks begun in September of that year included Sinn Féin . An accord reached in 1998 provided for a new regional assembly to be established in Belfast, but formation of the government was hindered by disagreement over guerrilla disarmament. With resolution of those issues late in 1999, direct rule was ended in Northern Ireland, but tensions over disarmament have led to several lengthy suspensions of home rule since then. The Major government was beset by internal scandals and by an intraparty rift over the degree of British participation in the European Union (EU), but Major called a Conservative party leadership election for July, 1995, and easily triumphed. In Nov., 1995, three divisions of British Rail were sold off in Britain's largest-ever privatization by direct sale. Britain's sometimes stormy relationship with the EU was heightened in 1996 when an outbreak of "mad cow disease" (see prion ) in England led the EU to ban the sale of British beef; the crisis eased when British plans for controlling the disease were approved by the EU. Although the EU ban was ended in 1999, France continued its own ban on British beef, causing a strain in British-French relations and within the EU. In 2001, British livestock farmers were again hurt by an outbreak of disease, this time foot-and-mouth disease . In the elections of May, 1997, Labour won 418 seats in the House of Commons by following a centrist political strategy. Tony Blair , head of what he called the "New Labour" party, became prime minister. In August, Britain mourned Princess Diana , the former wife of Prince Charles, who was killed in a car accident in Paris. Blair's pledge to decentralize government was endorsed in September, when Scotland and Wales both voted to establish legislative bodies, giving them a stronger voice in their domestic affairs. A bill passed by both houses of Parliament in 1999 stripped most hereditary peers of their right to sit and vote in the House of Lords; the shape of the reconstituted upper chamber is to be studied by a commission. Blair and Labour again trounced the Conservatives in June, 2001, though the victory was not so much a vote of confidence in Labour as a rejection of the opposition. Following the devastating Sept., 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States, the British government became the most visible international supporter of the Bush administration in its war on terrorism. Government officials visited Muslim nations to seek their participation in the campaign, and British forces joined the Americans in launching attacks against Afghanistan after the Taliban government refused to hand over Osama bin Laden . The Blair government was also a strong supporter of the United States' position that military action should be taken against Iraq if UN weapons inspections were not resumed under new, stricter conditions, and committed British forces to the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq that began in Mar., 2003. Blair's strong support for the invasion, and the failure to find any weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, were factors in Labour's third-place finish in the June, 2004, local elections; the results reflected the British public's dissatisfaction with the country's involvement in Iraq. Labour, and the Conservative party as well, suffered losses in the subsequent European parliament elections, which saw the anti-EU United Kingdom Independence party double its vote to 16%. In the 2005 parliamentary elections the issue of Iraq again hurt Blair and Labour, whose large parliamentary majority was significantly reduced. Nonetheless, the election marked the first time a Labour government had secured a third consecutive term at the polls. On July, 7, 2005, London experienced four coordinated bombing on its underground and bus system that killed more 50 people and injured some 700. The attacks, which broadly resembled the Mar., 2004, bombings in Madrid, appeared to be the work of Islamic suicide bombers; three of the suspected bombers were born in Britain. Evidence uncovered by the British police indicated that the attacks may have been directed by a member of Al Qaeda . A second set of suicide bombings was attempted later in the month, but the bombs failed to detonate. Prime Minister Blair suffered the first legislative defeat of his tenure in Nov., 2005, when the House of Commons refused to extend, to the degree that he had sought, the time that a terror suspect could be held in custody without being charged. He subsequently had difficulties in early 2006 securing passage of education reforms, and he and the Labour party also were embarrassed by revelations that wealthy individuals who had made campaign loans to the party that had been kept secret (a legal practice) had been nominated for peerages. In the May, 2006, local elections in England, Labour placed third in terms of the overall vote, leading Blair to reshuffle his cabinet. Under pressure from many in his party step aside for a successor, Blair announced in September that he would resign as prime minister sometime in 2007. When he stepped down in June, 2007, Gordon Brown , who had served a decade as chancellor of the exchequer under Blair, succeeded him as prime minister. In July, England experienced its worst flooding in 60 years, primarily on the Severn, Thames, and Ock. Local electons in May, 2008, were seen as a rejection of Brown and Labour, as Labour again placed third in the popular vote. Great Britain was among the nations strongly affected by the global financial crisis in 2008 and subsequent recession, and in Oct., 2008, as the severity of the crisis became evident, Prime Minister Brown took the lead internationally in attempting to stabilize the financial system by recapitalizing a number of major banks with government funds. However, his government also used Britain's antiterrorist laws to freeze British assets of Icelandic banks in an attempt to protect their British depositors, a move that accelerated and aggravated the collapse of those banks. In May, 2009, Britain's political parties became enveloped in a scandal over inappropriate expenses claimed by members of Parliament. Revelations concerning those expenses led a number of legislators to announce they would not run again. Several government ministers resigned—some as a result of the scandal, some in protest against it and the prime minister—and the speaker of the House of Commons, accused of failing to prevent the abuses and of trying to prevent release of the information, was forced to step down. Some £500,000 in expenses were returned. The scandal affected all the parties, but especially Labour, which suffered significant losses in the local English and European parliament elections held in June. In the May, 2010, parliamentary elections, the lingering effects of the 2008 financial crisis and subsequent recession, the parliamentary expenses scandal, and other issues led to a Labour defeat, but the Conservatives failed to win a majority and formed a coalition with the Liberal Democrats, Britain's first coalition government since the 1940s. Conservative leader David Cameron became prime minister. The new government adopted plans for sizable government budget cuts and tax increases as well as other measures to reduce the government deficit and debt, the most significant such changes since Margaret Thatcher's prime ministership. The deficit and debt reduction measures, however, created tensions among the Liberal Democrats, and the Conservative party's strident campaign against an alternative voting method for British elections, a referendum on which had been secured by the Liberal Democrats when they joined the coalition, also led to tensions. Voters subsequently rejected (May, 2011) the voting proposal and also handed Liberal Democrat candidates a sweeping defeat in the concurrent local elections. Tensions within the coalition were visible again in Dec., 2011, when Cameron vetoed European Union treaty changes, proposed as part of a EU response to the financial crisis affecting a number of eurozone nations, after he failed to win protection guarantees from other EU nations for British financial companies. Liberal Democrats were publicly critical of the veto. The country experienced several days of riots in Aug., 2011, after a man was killed by police in Tottenham, London; rioting and looting spread first to other parts of London and then to other English cities. The riots ultimately were suppressed by the use of police in force. In October, Britain and those Commonwealth nations having the British monarch as head of state agreed to alter the terms of succession so that in the future the children of an heir to the throne would inherit the throne on the basis of birth order; previously, male children had precedence over female ones. (The Succession to the Crown Act 2013 enacted the Commonwealth decision of Oct., 2011, in Great Britain.) The country slipped back into recession in late 2011 and early 2012. In mid-2012, attempts by the governing coalition to reform the House of Lords as a largely elected body, a goal of the Liberal Democrats, failed when a large number of Conservative members of Parliament opposed the plan. In Jan., 2013, Cameron promised a referendum on Britain's EU membership if his party remained in power after the 2015 elections. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

i don't know

"""A bridge too far"" referred to airborne landings in which country?"

A bridge too far | History Extra Directory A bridge too far On the 65th anniversary of Operation Market Garden Rob Attar looks back at this daring attempt to bring the Second World War to an early end in the Netherlands Sunday 25th October 2009 BBC History Magazine - 5 issues for £5 A young Dutch girl looked up at the sky on the afternoon of Sunday 17 September 1944 and exclaimed in surprise, “Jesus is throwing people out of heaven!” What she was in fact witnessing was one of the parachute drops that kicked off Operation Market Garden, an audacious and ultimately disastrous Allied plan to smash through the German defences in the Netherlands and win the war by Christmas. Having exceeded their expectations for the campaigns in Normandy and liberated Paris, the Allies were keen to finish off Nazi Germany as quickly as possible. Supreme Allied Commander Dwight Eisenhower favoured a broad assault but Field Marshal Montgomery proposed a more nimble thrust through the Netherlands that would enable Allied forces to bypass much of the defensive Siegfried Line and swing into Germany from the north. To achieve success in such an operation, the Allies would require not only to defeat any Germans in the area but also get across the Rhine and other waterways that criss-crossed the Dutch landscape. Montgomery’s ambitious solution was to drop thousands of Allied paratroopers dozens of miles behind enemy lines where they would secure the necessary bridges to allow a simultaneous ground attack to make progress. For the typically cautious Montgomery, it was an uncharacteristically bold idea and one that stunned US General Omar Bradley, who remarked after seeing the proposals: “If the teetotal Montgomery had wobbled into my headquarters reeking of whisky, I couldn’t have been more surprised.” For Montgomery however it offered an opportunity to get himself back into the forefront of the action and for this he was prepared to embark on a risky operation. Eisenhower was sufficiently convinced to allow Market Garden to take priority of supplies. The operation was hastily conceived, ready for execution in mid-September 1944, just over two months after D-Day. It was to be the biggest airborne assault of all time. For the Market half of the operation the American 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions would secure crossings close to the towns of Nijmegen and Eindhoven respectively. Meanwhile the 1st British Airborne Division would be dropped close to Arnhem where they would need to seize the town’s bridge at the furthest extent of the Allied push. The Garden half would involve a surge by the British XXX Corps along the road into the Netherlands to link up first with the American paratroopers and then finally with the British who should be holding the Arnhem bridge. After defeating the Germans in Normandy the Allies were in confident mood prior to the start of the operation. Corporal Bob Allen later recalled: “A little German armour was reputed to be refitting in the Arnhem area. But morale was sky high. Most of us were straining at the leash to get into battle.” Despite Allen’s bullishness, Operation Market Garden was by no means guaranteed to succeed. For such a daring plan to work virtually everything would have to go as planned. Dropping in on the Germans The American 101st Airborne under General Maxwell Taylor were responsible for the Eindhoven area. After landing they secured virtually all their objectives except for the bridge at Son, which was demolished before they could arrive, causing delays while a replacement was hastily erected. Their fellow Americans of the 82nd Airborne were commanded by the youthful General James Gavin. They initially made good progress but were barred from taking the vital road bridge at Nijmegen by strong German resistance. One of the problems was that the paratroopers had been dropped several miles from their targets in order to land them on safer, better ground. This meant that the Germans had extra time to react to the situation and deploy more effective counter-measures. The British 1st Airborne, led by Major General Robert Urquhart, were also dropped some distance from their target of Arnhem. Again this led to crucial delays and to compound matters their radios did not work properly, resulting in disastrous communication breakdowns.  What few of the Allies seem to have expected was the strength of the German forces in the area. There were two SS Panzer Divisions close-by and although they were far from full strength they were able to provide stiff resistance against the lightly armed paratroopers. Three British parachute battalions set off to reach the bridge at Arnhem on 17 September but only one made it to the bridge. A group of around 500 men led by Colonel John Frost managed to seize one side of the crossing but under heavy fire they were unable to take control of the whole bridge. At the same time the other British forces were facing mounting German attacks and desperately needed support to arrive quickly. Yet the XXX Corps was struggling to make up the required ground. The bridge that had been destroyed over the Son had to be rebuilt causing a hold-up of some 36 hours. To make matters worse, the vast armoured column was travelling along a single road, causing inevitable jams and hold-ups. Too little, too late Further British paratroopers arrived on 18 September but by now the Germans were responding in force. The new additions quickly found themselves in deadly peril with little chance of being able to capture the bridge at Arnhem. Major Blackwood of the 4th Parachute Brigade summed up the situation on 19 September. “Message to say that our attack on the Arnhem bridge had been beaten back and that German tanks had outflanked and surrounded us… Our orders were brief – wait for the tanks, give them everything we had in the way of grenades, shoot up as many infantry as we could before we died.” The ground forces arrived at Nijmegen on 19 September where they linked up with General Gavin’s 82nd Airborne. The crucial bridge over the Waal remained in German hands so Gavin suggested that they cross the water in boats to overwhelm the defenders on the far side. In a brave and highly dangerous action, Allied troops paddled furiously in small boats to the other side of the bridge and eventually it was taken on the afternoon of 20 September. This though was all too late for the British near Arnhem. Polish paratroopers dropped on 21 September to support them but landed too far away to be of immediate assistance. On the same day the perilous toehold that John Frost’s men held on one side of the bridge at Arnhem was lost and the Germans once more commanded the entire crossing. Any chance of success was long gone. The Germans had strengthened their lines and the remnants of the 1st Airborne were running low on supplies and ammunition. No longer could they entertain the possibility of capturing the bridge. Instead their priority was to get out of the inferno alive. On 26 September the survivors of the British 1st Airborne were spirited across the Rhine to safety. Of 10,000 who had landed, little more than 2,000 made it back. Over 1,200 men had been killed and some 6,000 herded into captivity. Casualties for the British XXX Corps were around 1,500, while the American losses were in the region of 4,000. Almost a victory? Montgomery famously said that the operation was “90 per cent successful” and in a way he was correct because most of the bridges were captured. However the vital crossing at Arnhem stayed in German control. Without it, all the Allied plans were dashed. The town of Nijmegen was liberated and for the next few months it stood on the frontier witnessing regular shelling by the forces of the Third Reich. Many civilians died as the buildings were reduced to rubble. One tragic consequence of Operation Market Garden was the hunger winter of 1944-45. During the operation, Dutch railwaymen had gone on strike to support the Allied landings. In retaliation the German occupiers cut off supplies to the western parts of the Netherlands. Some 20,000 civilians died of hunger and malnutrition in the resulting famine. The numbers could have been far higher had the Germans not allowed Allied aircrews to fly low over the country in the spring of 1945 to drop food parcels to the starving people on the ground. On 8 February 1945 the guns started up again in this part of the Netherlands when the Allies launched Operation Veritable. It began with the heaviest artillery barrage of the war in the west thus far. This time the Allies did secure their goals albeit at a slower pace than they had intended. Arnhem itself held out until April that year, over six months after it had been fought over so fiercely during Market Garden. Now, 65 years later, Operation Market Garden excites mixed feelings among historians, veterans and the Dutch people. While few fail to recognise the drawbacks of the scheme and the blunders along the way, there were also moments of heroism and ingenuity. The local inhabitants pay tribute to those who risked their lives attempting to free them, even if the promised liberation had to wait a little longer. Many aspects of Market Garden were immortalised in Richard Attenborough’s 1977 all-star epic A Bridge Too Far. The title is taken from an alleged quote from Airborne Commander General 'Boy' Browning. In the film Browning is discussing the result of Market Garden with Urquhart. He mentions Montgomery’s assertion that the operation was “90 per cent successful” but then reflects and says, “Well, as you know, I always felt we tried to go a bridge too far”.     Get more from BBC History Magazine Listen to an interview with Dutch historian Frank van den Bergh here Get the lowdown on the entire Second World War from our new special collectors edition Discover how the conflict began in our September issue

Netherlands

Who founded the Cubism movement with Picasso?

Airborne forces | Military Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Parawings worn by members of the British Armed Forces who have undergone Parachute Training at RAF Brize Norton . Airborne forces are military units, usually light infantry , set up to be moved by aircraft and "dropped" into battle. Thus they can be placed behind enemy lines, and have the capability to deploy almost anywhere with little warning. The formations are limited only by the number and size of their aircraft, so given enough capacity a huge force can appear "out of nowhere" in minutes, an action referred to as vertical envelopment . Conversely, airborne forces typically lack the supplies and equipment for prolonged combat operations, and are therefore more suited for airhead operations than for long-term occupation; furthermore, parachute operations are particularly sensitive to adverse weather conditions. Advances in helicopter technology since World War II have brought increased flexibility to the scope of airborne operations, and air assaults have largely replaced large-scale parachute operations, and (almost) completely replaced combat glider operations. However, due to the limited range of helicopters and the limited number of troops that can be transported by them, many countries retain paratroopers as a valuable strategic asset.[ citation needed ] Contents Paratroopers from the U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne Division jump from a C-17 Globemaster at Ft. Bragg, N.C. , during Exercise Joint Forcible Entry in April 2005. Airborne forces can be divided into three categories: Paratrooper soldier landed by parachute from aircraft, Airlanding troops—landed by aircraft (usually glider ), Air assault troops or airmobile infantry—transported to the battle by helicopter or by aircraft. The basic premise of the Airborne is that they can arrive with such speed that a coherent defence cannot be mounted quickly. It is assumed that this tactical advantage cannot be sustained for very long, so paratroopers must either use the supplies of the enemy, be continuously resupplied by air or wait to be relieved by ground troops. Though Airborne troops are usually defenceless in transit, their sudden appearance can surprise or 'shock' defending forces for a short time. Airborne forces are generally composed of infantry and light, non-armored vehicles and guns. In World War II light motorcycles were used by paratroopers; the American Cushman Model 53 and the British Welbike . After the Korean war, vehicles light enough to be dropped by parachute were developed, such as the M551 Sheridan tank. The Soviets developed the BMD-1 and BMD-3 fighting vehicles. Helicopters can transport light armored vehicles such as the German Wiesel AWC , LAV-25 and British CVR(T) series. Large transports can carry only small numbers of main battle tanks or heavier infantry fighting vehicles. Early history Edit The idea of "Sky Soldiers" is by no means a recent thought; Benjamin Franklin envisioned a time when soldiers would be delivered from the sky, with a crude, rudimentary understanding of parachutes: "Where is the prince who can afford so to cover his country with troops for its defense, so that ten thousand men descending from the clouds might not, in many places, do an infinite deal of mischief before a force could be brought together to repel them?" —Benjamin Franklin, 1784 Although Winston Churchill had proposed the creation of an airborne force to assault behind the German lines in 1917, [1] the first modern operation dates to late 1918. Major Lewis H. Brereton and his superior Brigadier General Billy Mitchell suggested dropping elements of the United States 1st Infantry Division behind German lines near Metz. The operation was planned for February 1919 but the war ended before such an attack could be seriously planned. Mitchell conceived that US troops could be rapidly trained to utilize parachutes and drop from converted bombers to land behind Metz in sychronisation with a planned infantry offensive. Following the war, the United States Army Air Service experimented with the concept of having troops carried on the wings of aircraft pulled off by the opening of their parachutes. The first true paratroop drop was by Italy in November 1927. Within a few years several battalions had been raised and were eventually formed into two Folgore and Nembo divisions. Although these would later fight with distinction in World War II , the divisions were never used in a parachute drop. Men drawn from the Italian parachute forces were dropped in a special forces operation in North Africa in 1943 in an attempt to destroy parked aircraft of the USAAF . In Peru, on March 27, 1927, Enrique Tavernie entelador from AVRO aircraft, piloted by Captain Clifford, from a height of 2,000 meters, made a leap in Las Palmas, becoming the first Peruvian paratrooper. Subsequently, on May 10, 1928, Second Lieutenant César Álvarez War Palmas Las voluntarily jumped from a height of 3,000 meters, becoming the first military parachutist. Then on May 16, 1928, Major Fernando Melgar Conde and Sergeant 1st. Jose Pineda Castro, jumped from the famous Las Palmas at altitudes of 2,000 and 4,300 meters, respectively. On 24 May of that year, Ensign Peter Griva, the seaplane service from Ancon, jumped from a height of 2,000 meters. As part of events to celebrate the Day of the Air Force, Air Force Base in Chiclayo, and after being summoned by Colonel Cesar Alvarez Guerra CAP and have completed rigorous training, on 23 September 1940, jumped massively from Caproni Ca.111 Panchos, the following: Captain David Rock, Ensign José Luis Quiñones and NCOs Alferano, Oscar Alamo, Antonio Brandariz, Ricardo Colmenares, Nestor and Carlos Raffo Madalengoitia. At about the same time, the Soviet Union was also experimenting with the idea, planning to drop entire units complete with vehicles and light tanks. To help train enough experienced jumpers, parachute clubs were organized with the aim of transferring into the armed forces if needed. Planning progressed to the point that Corps-size drops were demonstrated to foreign observers, including the British Military Attache Archibald Wavell , in the Kiev military district maneuvers of 1935. By the late 1930s, the USSR possessed the largest Airborne forces in the world, but development stagnated prior to World War II as a result of the Great Purge.[ citation needed ] One of the observing parties, Germany, was particularly interested. In 1936, Major F. W. Immans was ordered to set up a parachute school at Stendal (Borstel), and was allocated a number of Junkers Ju 52 aircraft to train on. The military had already purchased large numbers of Junkers Ju 52 aircraft which were slightly modified for use as paratroop transports in addition to their other duties. The first training class was known as Ausbildungskommando Immans. They commenced the first course on May 3, 1936. Other nations, including Argentina, Peru, Japan, France and Poland also organized airborne units around this time. France became the first nation to organize women in an airborne unit. Recruiting 200 nurses who during peace time would parachute into natural disasters but also reservist would be a uniformed medical unit during war time. [2] World War II Edit Several groups within the German armed forces attempted to raise their own paratroop formations, resulting in confusion. As a result, Luftwaffe General Kurt Student was put in overall command of developing a paratrooper force to be known as the Fallschirmjäger . During the invasions of Norway and Denmark in Operation Weserübung , the Luftwaffe dropped paratroopers on several locations. In Denmark, a small unit dropped on the Masnedøfort on the small island of Masnedø to seize the Storstrøm Bridge linking the islands of Falster and Zealand . A paratroop detachment also dropped at the airfield of Aalborg which was crucial for the Luftwaffe for operations over Norway. In Norway, a company of paratroopers dropped at Oslo's undefended airstrip. Over the course of the morning and early afternoon of April 9, 1940, the Germans flew in sufficient reinforcements to move into the capital in the afternoon, but by that time the Norwegian government had fled. In the Battle of France , members of the Brandenburg Regiment landed by Fieseler Fi 156 Storch light reconnaissance planes on the bridges immediately to the south of the 10th Panzer Division 's route of march through the southern Ardennes. In Belgium, a small group of German glider-borne troops landed on top of the Belgian fortress of Eben Emael on the morning of May 10, 1940 and disabled the majority of its artillery. The fort held on for another day before surrendering. This opened up Belgium to attack by German Army Group B . The Dutch were exposed to the first large scale airborne attack in history. During the invasion of the Netherlands , the Germans threw into battle almost their entire Luftlandekorps, an airborne assault army corps that consisted of one parachute division and one division of airlanding troops plus the necessary transport capacity. The existence of this formation had been carefully kept secret until then. Two simultaneous airborne operations were launched. German paratroopers landed at three airfields near The Hague, hoping to seize the Dutch government. From one of these airfields, they were driven out after the first wave of reinforcements, brought in by Ju-52s , was annihilated by anti-aircraft fire and fierce resistance by some remaining Dutch defenders. As a result, numerous crashed and burning aircraft blocked the runway, preventing further reinforcements from landing. This was one of the few occasions where an airfield captured by paratroops has been recaptured. The other two airfields were recaptured as well. Simultaneously, the Germans dropped small packets of paratroopers to seize the crucial bridges that led directly across the Netherlands and into the heart of the country. They opened the way for the 9th Panzer Division. Within a day, the Dutch position became hopeless. Nevertheless, Dutch forces inflicted high losses on German transportation aircraft. Moreover, 1200 German elite troops from the Luftlandekorps taken prisoner around The Hague, were shipped to England just before the capitulation of the Dutch armed forces. The Fallschirmjägers' greatest victory and greatest losses occurred during the Battle of Crete . Signals intelligence, in the form of Ultra , enabled the British to wait on each German drop zone, yet despite compromised secrecy, surviving German paratroops and airlanded mountain troops pushed the Commonwealth forces off the island in part by unexpected fire support from their light 75 mm guns , though seaborne reinforcements were destroyed by the Royal Navy. However, the losses were so great that Adolf Hitler forbade their use in such operations in the future. He felt that the main strength of the paratroopers was novelty, and now that the British had clearly figured out how to defend against them, there was no real point to using them any more. One notable exception was the use of airborne forces in special operations. On September 12, 1943, Otto Skorzeny led a daring glider-based assault on the Gran Sasso Hotel , high in the Apennines mountains, and rescued Benito Mussolini from house arrest with very few shots being fired. On May 25, 1944, paratroopers were dropped as part of a failed attempt to capture Josip Broz Tito , the head of the Yugoslav Partisans and later postwar leader of Yugoslavia. Japanese operations Before the Pacific War began, the Imperial Japanese Army formed Teishin Dan ("Raiding Brigades") and Imperial Japanese Navy trained marine (Rikusentai) paratroopers . They used paratroops troops in several battles in the Dutch East Indies campaign of 1941–42. Rikusentai airborne troops were first dropped at the Battle of Manado , Celebes in January 1942, [3] [4] and then near Usua , during the Timor campaign , in February 1942. [5] Teishin made a jump at the Battle of Palembang , on Sumatra in February 1942. [6] Japanese airborne units suffered heavy casualties during the Dutch East Indies campaign, and were rarely used as parachute troops afterward. On 6 December 1944, a 750-strong detachment from Teishin Shudan ("Raiding Division") and the Takachiho special forces unit, attacked U.S. airbases in the Burauen area on Leyte , in The Philippines. The force destroyed some planes and inflicted casualties, but was eventually wiped out. Japan built a combat strike force of 825 gliders but never committed it to battle. Allied operations Edit Allied planners were unaware of the heavy losses the Germans had suffered in the Battle of Crete.[ citation needed ] Ironically, the battle that ended Germany's paratrooper operations had the opposite effect on the Allies. Convinced of the effectiveness of airborne assaults, the Allies hurried to train and organize their own airborne units. The British established No.1 Parachute Training School at RAF Ringway near Manchester, which trained all 60,000 European paratroopers recruited by the Allies during World War II. A fundamental decision was whether to create small airborne units to be used in specific coup-de-main type operations, or to organize entire airborne divisions for larger operations. Many of the early, successful airborne operations were small, carried out by a few units, such as seizing a bridge. The Allies eventually formed two British and five American airborne divisions: the British 1st Airborne Division and 6th Airborne Division , and the US 11th Airborne Division , 13th Airborne Division , 17th Airborne Division , 82nd Airborne Division , and 101st Airborne Division . By 1944, the British divisions were grouped into the 1st Airborne Corps under General Frederick Browning , while US divisions in the European Theatre (the 17th, 82nd, and 101st) were organized into the XVIII Airborne Corps under US Major General Matthew Ridgway . Both US corps fell under the First Allied Airborne Army under US Lieutenant General Lewis Brereton . Soviet operations Edit The Soviets mounted only one large-scale airborne operation in World War II, despite their early leadership in the field in the 1930s. Russia also pioneered the development of combat gliders, but used them only for cargo during the war. Axis air superiority early in the conflict limited the ability of the Soviets to mount such operations, whilst later in the conflict ongoing shortages of materiel, including silk for parachutes, was also a problem. Nonetheless, the Soviets maintained their doctrinal belief in the effectiveness of airborne forces, as part of their concept of "deep battle" , throughout the war. [7] The largest drop during the war was corp-sized (the Rzhev-Vyazma Operation , the 4th Airborne Corps ). It was unsuccessful. [8] Airborne formations were used as elite infantry units however, and played a critical role in several battles. For example, at the Battle of Kursk , the Guards Airbourne defended the eastern shoulder of the southern penetration and was critical to holding back the German penetration. The Soviets sent at least one team of observers to the British and American airborne planning for D-Day, [9] but took pains not to reciprocate the liaison. Early commando raids Edit Britain’s first airborne assault took place on February 10, 1941, when 'X' Troop, No 11 Special Air Service Battalion (which was formed from No 2 Commando and subsequently became 1st Battalion, The Parachute Regiment) dropped into southern Italy from converted Whitley bombers flying from Malta and demolished a span of the aqueduct near Tragino in a daring night raid named Operation Colossus . Operation Squatter: Raid on Axis airfields in Libya Edit 54 effectives of 'L' Detachment, Special Air Service Brigade (largely drawn from the disbanded Layforce ) mounted a night parachute insertion onto two drop zones in Bir Temrad, North Africa on the night of November 16/17 1941 in preparation for a stealthy attack on the forward airfields of Gambut and Tmimi in order to destroy the Axis fighter force on the ground before the start of Operation Crusader , a major offensive by the British Eighth Army . Operation Biting: The Bruneval raid Edit A Würzburg radar site on the coast of France was attacked by a company of British paratroopers from 2 Battalion, Parachute Regiment, commanded by Major John Frost , in Operation Biting on February 27, 1942. The key electronic components of the system were dismantled by an English radar mechanic and brought back to Britain for examination so that countermeasures could be devised. Mediterranean Main article: Battle of Crete This was the last large-scale airborne assault by Hitler and the Germans. The German paratroopers had such a high casualty rate that Hitler forbade any further large-scale airborne attacks. The Allies, on the other hand, were very impressed by the potential of paratroopers, and started to build their own airborne divisions. Operation Torch: North Africa See also: British airborne operations in North Africa The first United States airborne combat mission occurred during Operation Torch in North Africa on 8 November 1942. 531 men of the U.S. 2nd Battalion 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment flew over 1,600 miles (2,600 km) at night from Britain, over Spain, intending to drop near Oran and capture two airfields. Navigation errors, communications problems, and bad weather scattered the forces. Seven of the 39 C-47s landed far from Oran from Gibraltar to Tunisia, and only ten actually delivered their troops by parachute drop. The remainder off-loaded after 28 C-47 troop carriers, short on fuel, landed on the Sebkra d'Oran dry lake, and marched overland to their objectives. One week later, after repacking their own chutes, 304 men of the battalion conducted a second combat jump on 15 November 1942 to secure the airfield at Youk-les-Bains near the Tunisian border. From this base, the battalion conducted combined operations with various French forces against the German Afrika Korps in Tunisia. A unit of French Algerian infantry, the 3rd Regiment of Zouaves, was present at Youk-les-Bains and awarded the American paratroopers their own regimental crest as a gesture of respect. This badge was awarded to the battalion commander on 15 November 1942 by the 3rd Zouaves' regimental commander, and is worn today by all members of the 509th Infantry. Operation Husky: Sicily Main article: Allied invasion of Sicily As part of Operation Husky , four airborne operations (two British and two American) were carried out, landing during the nights of July 9 and 10. The American troops were from the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division , making their first combat jump. Strong winds encountered en route blew the dropping aircraft off course and scattered them widely. The result was that around half the paratroops failed to make it to their rallying points. British glider-landed troops fared little better. Only 12 out of 137 gliders in Operation Ladbroke landed on target, with more than half landing in the sea. Nevertheless the scattered airborne troops maximised their opportunities, attacking patrols and creating confusion wherever possible. On the night of 11 July, a reinforcement drop of the 82nd Airborne behind American lines at Farello airfield resulted in heavy friendly-fire casualties when, despite forewarnings, Allied antiaircraft fire both ashore and aboard U.S Navy ships shot down 23 of the transports as they flew over the beachhead. [10] Despite a catastrophic loss of gliders and troops loads at sea, the 1st Airlanding Brigade captured the Ponte Grande bridge south of Syracuse . Before the German counterattack, the beach landings took place unopposed and the First Airlanding Brigade was relieved by the 8th Army as it swept inland towards Catania and Messina. [11] On the evening of July 13, 1943, more than 112 aircraft carrying 1,856 men and 16 gliders with 77 artillerymen and ten 6 pounder guns, took off from North Africa in Operation Fustian . The British First Parachute Brigade 's initial target was to capture the Primosole bridge and the high ground around it, providing a pathway for the 8th Army, but heavy anti-aircraft fire shot down many of the Dakotas before they reached their target. Only 295 officers and men were dropped close enough to carry out the assault. They captured the bridge, but the German 4th Parachute Brigade recaptured it. [12] They held the high ground until relieved by the 8th Army, which re-took the bridge at dawn of 16 July. The Allied commanders were forced to reassess the use of airborne forces after the many misdrops and the deadly friendly fire incident. Nevertheless, improved training and some tactical changes kept airborne units in the war, eventually in much-increased numbers.[ citation needed ] Italy Edit Italy agreed to an armistice with the Allies on September 3, 1943, with the stipulation that the Allies would provide military support to Italy in defending Rome from German occupation. Operation Giant II was a planned drop of one regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division northwest of Rome, to assist four Italian divisions in seizing the Italian capital. An airborne assault plan to seize crossings of the Volturno River during the Allied invasion of Italy , called Operation Giant, was abandoned in favor of the Rome mission. However doubts about the willingness and capability of Italian forces to cooperate, and the distance of the mission far beyond support by the Allied military, resulted in the artillery commander of the 82nd, Brig. Gen. Maxwell Taylor (future commander of the 101st), being sent on a personal reconnaissance mission to Rome to assess the prospects of success. His report via radio on September 8 caused the operation to be postponed (and canceled the next day) as troop carriers loaded with two battalions of the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment were warming up for takeoff. With Giant II cancelled, Operation Giant I was reactivated to drop two battalions of the 504th at Capua on September 13. However significant German counterattacks beginning September 12 resulted in a shrinking of the American perimeter and threatened destruction of the beachhead. As a result, Giant I was cancelled and the 504th instead dropped into the beachhead on the night of September 13 using transponding radar beacons as a guide. The next night the 505th PIR was also dropped into the beachhead as reinforcement. In all, 3,500 paratroopers made the most concentrated mass night drop in history, providing the model for the American airborne landings in Normandy in June 1944. An additional drop on the night of September 14–15 of the 2nd Battalion 509th PIR to destroy a key bridge at Avellino , to disrupt German motorized movements, was badly dispersed and failed to destroy the bridge before the Germans withdrew to the north. In April 1945, Operation Herring , an Italian commando -style airborne drop aimed at disrupting German rear area communications and movement over key areas in Northern Italy, took place. However the Italian troops were not dropped as a unit, but as a series of small (8–10 man) groups. Another operation, Operation Potato , was mounted by men drawn from the Folgore and Nembo divisions, operating with British equipment and under British command as No 1 Italian Special Air Service Regiment. The men dropped in small groups from American C-47s and carried out a successful railway sabotage operation in northern Italy. Western Europe Eisenhower speaks with U.S. paratroops of the 502d Parachute Infantry Regiment , 101st Airborne Division on the evening of June 5, 1944. The Allies had learned better tactics and logistics from their earlier airborne drops, and these lessons were applied for the assaults along the Western Front . Operation Neptune Edit One of the most famous of airborne operations was Operation Neptune, the assault of Normandy, part of Operation Overlord of the Normandy landings on June 6, 1944. The task of the airborne forces was to secure the flanks and approaches of the landing beaches in Normandy. The British glider transported troops and paratroopers of the 6th Airborne Division secured the eastern flank in Operation Tonga of which Operation Deadstick, capture of the Pegasus Bridge is the best remembered objective. Another objective was the Merville gun battery . The American glider and parachute infantry of the 82nd (Operation Detroit) and 101st Airborne Divisions (Operation Chicago), though widely scattered by poor weather and poorly marked landing zones in the American airborne landings in Normandy , secured the western flank of VII Corps with heavy casualties. All together, airborne casualties in Normandy on D-Day totaled around 2,300. Operation Dingson (5–18 June 1944) was conducted by about 178 Free French paratroops of the 4th Special Air Service (SAS), commanded by Colonel Pierre-Louis Bourgoin, who jumped into German occupied France near Vannes, Morbihan, southern Brittany, in Plumelec , at 1130 on the night of 5 June and Saint-Marcel (8–18 June). At this time, there was approximately 100,000 German troops and artillery preparing to move to the Normandy landing areas. Immediately upon landing, 18 Free French went into action near Plumelec against German troops (Vlassov's army). The Free French established a base at Saint-Marcel and began to arm and equip of local resistance fighters, operating with up to 3,000 Maquis . However, their base was heavily attacked by a German paratroop division on 18 June, and the men were forced to disperse. Captain Pierre Marienne with 17 of his companions (six paratroopers, eight resistance fighters and three farmers) died a few weeks later in Kerihuel, Plumelec, at dawn of 12 July. The Dingson team was joined by the men who had just completed Operation Cooney . Dingson was conducted alongside Operation Samwest and Operation Lost as part of Overlord. In Operation Dingson 35A, on 5 August 1944, 10 Waco CG-4A gliders towed by aircraft of 298 Squadron and 644 Squadron transported Free French SAS men and armed jeeps to Brittany near Vannes ( Locoal-Mendon ), each glider carrying three Free French troopers and a jeep. One glider was lost with the death of the British pilot. The SAS teams remained behind enemy lines until the Allies arrived. Operation Dragoon: Southern France Edit On August 15, 1944, airborne units of the 6th Army Group provisional airborne division, commanded by US Major General Robert T. Frederick , opened Operation Dragoon , the invasion of Southern France, with a dawn assault. Called the " 1st Airborne Task Force ", the force was composed of the 1st Special Services Forces, British 2nd Independent Parachute Brigade , the 517th Parachute Regimental Combat Team , the 509th and 551st Parachute Infantry Battalions , the glider-borne 550th Airborne Infantry Battalion , and supporting units. Nearly 400 aircraft delivered 5,600 paratroopers and 150 guns to three drops zones surrounding Le Muy , between Frejus and Cannes, in phase 1, Operation Albatross . Once they had captured their initial targets, they were reinforced by 2,600 soldiers and critical equipment carried in 408 gliders daylight missions code-named Operation Bluebird , phase 2, simultaneous with the beach landings, and Operation Dove , phase 3. A second daylight parachute drop, Operation Canary , dropped 736 men of the 551st PIB with nearly 100% effectiveness late on the afternoon of August 15. The airborne objective was to capture the area, destroy all enemy positions and hold the ground until the US Seventh Army came ashore. Operation Market Garden: "A Bridge Too Far" Edit Waves of paratroops land in the Netherlands during Operation Market Garden in September 1944. Operation Market Garden of September 1944, involved 35,000 troops dropped up to 100 miles (160 km) behind German lines in an attempt to capture a series of bridges over the Maas, Waal and Rhine Rivers, in an attempt to outflank German fortifications and penetrate into Germany. The operation was hastily planned and many key planning tasks were inadequately completed. Three complete airborne divisions executed Operation Market, the airborne phase. These were the British 1st Airborne Division , the US 82nd Airborne Division and 101st Airborne Division , as well as the Polish 1st Independent Parachute Brigade . All units were landed or dropped at various points along Highway 69 ("Hell's Highway") in order to create a "carpet" over which the British XXX Corps could rapidly advance in Operation Garden, the land phase. It was a daylight assault, with little initial opposition, and most units achieved high accuracy on drop and landing zones. In the end, after strong German counterattacks, the overall plan failed: the British 1st Airborne Division was all but destroyed at Arnhem, and the final Rhine bridge remained in German hands. Operation Repulse: re-supply of Bastogne Edit Operation Repulse, which took place in Bastogne on December 23, 24, 26, and 27, 1944, as part of the Battle of the Bulge, glider pilots, although flying directly through enemy fire, were able to land, delivering the badly needed ammunition, gasoline, and medical supplies that enabled defenders against the German offensive to persevere and secure the ultimate victory. Operation Varsity: The Rhine Crossing Edit Operation Varsity was a daylight assault conducted by two airborne divisions, the British 6th Airborne Division and the American 17th Airborne Division , both of which were part of the US XVIII Airborne Corps . Conducted as a part of Operation Plunder , the operation took place on 24 March 1945 in aid of an attempt by the British 21st Army Group to cross the Rhine River. Having learnt from the heavy casualties inflicted upon the airborne formations in Operation Market Garden, the two airborne divisions were dropped several thousand yards forward of friendly positions, and only some thirteen hours after Operation Plunder had begun and Allied ground forces had already crossed the Rhine. There was heavy resistance in some of the areas that the airborne troops landed in, with casualties actually statistically heavier than those incurred during Operation Market Garden. The British historian Max Hastings has labelled the operation both costly and unnecessary, writing that "Operation Varsity was a folly for which more than a thousand men paid for with their lives..." [13] Pacific Theater Famous are these airborne operations against the Japanese. Philippines Edit The honors for recapturing the Rock went to the 503rd Parachute Regimental Combat Team of Lieutenant Colonel George M. Jones and elements of Major General Roscoe B. Woodruff's 24th Infantry Division, the same units which undertook the capture of Mindoro island. The U.S. 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment most famous operation was a landing on Corregidor ("The Rock") in February 1945, during the Philippines campaign of 1944–45 . The U.S. 11th Airborne Division saw a great deal of action in the Philippines as a ground unit. The 511th Parachute Regiment made the division's first jump near Tagaytay Ridge on 3 February 1945, meeting no resistance at the drop zone. The division also jumped to liberate 2,000 Allied civilians interned at Los Baños , 23 February 1945. The final operation of the division was conducted on 23 June 1945, in conjunction with an advance by U.S. ground forces in northern Luzon. A task force from the 11th was formed and jumped on Camalaniugan Airfield , south of Aparri . South West Pacific Edit September 5, 1943. C-47 transport planes, silhouetted against clouds of smoke created to provide cover, drop a battalion of the U.S. 503d Parachute Regiment at Nadzab , New Guinea, during the Battle of Lae . A battalion dropped minutes earlier is landing in the foreground. In September 1943, in New Guinea, the U.S. 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment made a highly successful, unopposed landing at Nadzab , during the Salamaua-Lae campaign . This was the first Allied airborne assault in the Pacific Theater . In July 1944, the 503rd jumped again, onto Noemfoor Island , off Dutch New Guinea , in the Battle of Noemfoor . Burma Edit A large British force, known as the Chindits , operated behind Japanese lines during 1944. In Operation Thursday , most of the units were flown into landing grounds which had been seized by glider infantry transported by the American First Air Commando Group, commencing on March 5. Aircraft continued to land reinforcements at captured or hastily constructed landing strips until monsoon rains made them unusable. Small detachments were subsequently landed by parachute. The operation eventually wound down in July, with the exhausted Chindits making their way overland to link up with advancing American and Chinese forces. For Operation Dracula , an ad hoc parachute battalion group made up of personnel from the 153 and 154 (Gurkha) Parachute Battalions of the Indian Army secured Japanese coastal defences, which enabled the seaborne assault by the 26th Indian Division to attain its objectives with a minimum of casualties and time. Ecuadorian–Peruvian War Edit During the Ecuadorian–Peruvian War , the Peruvian army established its own paratrooper unit and used it to great effect by seizing the Ecuadorian port city of Puerto Bolívar , on July 27, 1941, marking the first time in the Americas that airborne troops were used in combat. [14] Post World War II Edit The 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team ("Rakkasans") made two combat jumps in Korea during the Korean War . The first combat jump was made on October 20, 1950 at Sunchon and Sukchon, North Korea . The missions of the 187th were to cut the road north going to China, preventing North Korean leaders from escaping from Pyongyang; and to rescue American prisoners of war . The second combat jump was made on Wednesday, March 21, 1951, at Munsan-ni, South Korea codenamed Operation Tomahawk . The mission was to get behind Chinese forces and block their movement north. The 60th Indian Parachute Field Ambulance provided the medical cover for the operations, dropping an ADS and a surgical team totalling 7 officers and 5 other ranks, treating over 400 battle casualties apart from the civilian casualties that formed the core of their objective as the unit was on a humanitarian mission. The unit was to become the longest-serving military unit in any UN operation till date, serving from October 1950 till May 1953, a total of three and a half years, returning home to a heroes' welcome. The 187th served in six campaigns in Korea. Shortly after the war the 187th ARCT was considered for use in an Airborne drop to relieve the surrounded French garrison at Dien Bien Phu in Vietnam but the United States, at that time, decided not to send its troops into the combat zone. The unit was assigned to the reactivated 101st Airborne Division and subsequently inactivated as a combat team in 1956 as part of the division's reorganization into the Pentomic structure, which featured battle groups in place of regiments and battalions. The 1st and 3rd Battalions, 187th Infantry, bearing the lineages of the former Co A and Co C, 187AIR, are now with the 101st Airborne Division as air assault units. First Indochina War The French used paratroops extensively during their 1946–54 war against the Viet Minh. Colonial, French Foreign Legion and local Vietnamese units took part in numerous operations which were to culminate in the disastrous siege of Dien Bien Phu. Suez crisis: Operations Machbesh & Musketeer Edit Launching the 1956 Suez War , on October 29, 1956, Israeli paratroopers led by Ariel Sharon dropped onto the important Mitla Pass to cut off and engage Egyptian forces. Operation Machbesh (Press) was the IDF 's only combat parachute drop. A few days later, Operation Musketeer needed the element of total surprise to succeed, and all 660 men had to be on the ground at El Gamil airfield and ready for action within four and a half minutes. At 04.15 hours on November 5, 1956, British 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment jumped in and although opposition was heavy, casualties were few. Meanwhile, French paratroopers of the 2nd Regiment of Colonial Paratroopers under the command of Colonel Chateau-Jobert jumped on the water treatment factory South of Port Said. The landings from the sea the next day saw the first large-scale heliborne assault, as 45 Commando, Royal Marines were landed by helicopters in Port Said from ships offshore. Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 Edit For the first time in a combat in South Asia, paratroopers were used in the subcontinent during the Second Kashmir War of 1965. A covert operation was launched by Pakistan Army with the intention of infiltrating Indian airbases and sabotaging them. The SSG ( Special Service Group ) commandos numbering close to 200 were parachuted into Indian territory. Indian sources however claim as many as 800–900 attempted the landing. Given that most of the Indian targets ( Halwara , Pathankot and Adampur ) were deep into enemy territory only a dozen or so commandos made it back alive and the stealth operation proved ineffective. Of the remaining, 136 were taken prisoners, 22 were killed in encounters with the army, local police or the civilians. The daring attempt proved to be a disaster with the Commander of the operations, Major Khalid Butt too being arrested. Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 Main article: Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 In 1971, the Parachute Regiment of the Indian Army fought numerous actions both in the Eastern and Western Theatres. On 11 December, India airdropped 2 Para Bn Gp in what is now famous as the Tangail airdrop . The paratroop unit was instrumental in denying the retreat and regrouping of the Pakistani army , and contributed substantially to the early collapse of Dacca. The Para Commandos also proved their skills in lightning raids into Chachro (Sindh, Pakistan) and Mandhol (Jammu and Kashmir). The Regiment earned battle honours—Poongli Bridge, Chachro and Defence of Poonch —during these operations. Indonesian Invasion of East Timor Main article: Indonesian Invasion of East Timor The Indonesian Army used airborne troops in their 1975 invasion of East Timor . Following a naval bombardment of Dili , on December 7, 1975, Indonesian seaborne troops landed in the city while simultaneously paratroopers descended. [15] 641 Indonesian paratroopers jumped into Dili, where they engaged in six-hours combat with East Timorese gunmen. According to author Joseph Nevins, Indonesian warships shelled their own advancing troops and Indonesian transport aircraft dropped some of their paratroopers on top of the retreating East Timorese forces and suffered accordingly. [16] Vietnam War Edit In 1963, in the Battle of Ap Bac , ARVN forces delivered airborne troops by helicopter and air drop. The use of helicopter-borne airmobile troops by the United States in the Vietnam War was widespread, and became an iconic image featuring in newsreels and movies about the conflict. In February 1967 Operation Junction City was launched, it would be the largest operation the Coalition Force would assemble. During this operation, 845 members of the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry (Airborne), the 319th Artillery (Airborne), and elements of H&H company of the 173rd Airborne Brigade made the only combat jump in Vietnam. Rhodesian Bush War Main article: Fireforce Fireforce is a variant of the tactic of vertical envelopment of a target by helicopter-borne and small groups of parachute infantry developed by the Rhodesian Security Force. [17] Fireforce counter-insurgency missions were designed to trap and eliminate terrorists (to use the contemporary term) before they could flee. The Rhodesian Security Force could react quickly to terrorist ambushes, farm attacks, Observation Post sightings, and could also be called in as reinforcements by trackers or patrols which made contact with the enemy. It was first deployed in January 1974 and saw its first action a month later on the 24 February 1974. By the end of Rhodesian operations with internal peace agreements, Fireforce was a well-developed counterinsurgency tactic. Fireforce was an operational assault or response usually composed of a first wave of 32 soldiers carried to the scene by three Alouette III helicopters and one Dakota transport aircraft, with another Alouette III helicopter as a command/gunship aircraft and a light attack aircraft in support. One of the advantages of the Fireforce was its flexibility as all that was needed was a reasonable airstrip. It was such a successful tactic that some Rhodesian Light Infantry (RLI) soldiers reputedly made as many as three parachute combat jumps in one day. Soviet and Russian VDV Edit A BMD-1 in Kabul, Afghanistan, 1986. The Soviet Union maintained the world's largest airborne force during the Cold War , consisting of seven airborne divisions and a training division. The VDV was subordinated directly to the Ministry of Armed Forces of USSR, and was a 'prestige service' in the armed forces of the USSR and Russia to reflect its strategic purpose. Recruits received much more rigorous training than ordinary Soviet units. Although a light infantry force, the paratroops were the recipients of several pieces of specifically designed equipment, such as the AKS-74 rifle, the ASU-85 self-propelled gun , and the BMD-1 . The VDV have participated in virtually all Soviet and Russian conflicts since the Second World War, including the Soviet war in Afghanistan . As an elite force, the VDV developed two distinctive items of clothing: the telnyashka , or striped shirt, and the famous blue beret. Airborne assault (десантно-штурмовые войска or DShV) units wore similar striped shirts (as did the naval infantry) but used helicopters, rather than the Military Transport Aviation's AN-12s , AN-22s , and IL-76s , which carried the Airborne Troops and their equipment. Soviet Glider Infantry The Soviets maintained three glider infantry regiments until 1965. Operation Meghdoot Edit Operation Meghdoot was the name given to the preemptive strike launched by the Indian Military to capture most of the Siachen Glacier , in the disputed Kashmir region. Launched on April 13, 1984, this military operation was unique as it was the first assault launched in the world's highest battlefield. The military action was quite successful as Indian troops managed to gain two-thirds of the glacier with the rest remaining under Pakistani control.[ citation needed ] Recent history Operation Rhino , 19 October 2001. With the advantages of helicopter use, airborne forces have dwindled in numbers in recent years. Their strategic capabilities have ensured that Airborne forces are still a part of armies today with the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division and Russian Airborne forces being the largest formations of paratroopers in the world.[ citation needed ] On July 20, several landings took place at north of Nicosia, during the Operation Atilla . During the 1983 Invasion of Grenada , the 75th Ranger Regiment made a combat jump on Point Salines International Airport . In 1989 during the U.S invasion of Panama the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division made its first combat jump in over 40 years. The 1st Brigade of the 82nd secured Omar Torrijos International Airport in Tocumen, Panama . The jump followed the 1st Ranger Battalion(+) of the 75th Ranger Regiment 's combat jump onto the airfield. M551 Sheridan tanks were also dropped by air, the only time this capability was used in combat. At the same time as the combat jump onto Omar Torrijos International Airport , the 2nd and 3rd(-) Ranger Battalions, along with the 75th Ranger Regiment regimental headquarters, conducted a combat jump onto Rio Hato Airport . On October 19, 2001 as part of Operation Enduring Freedom , the 3rd Ranger Battalion and a small Command and Control Element from the Regimental Headquarters of the 75th Ranger Regiment jumped into Kandahar to secure an airfield. [18] On March 23, 2003 A co 3/75 Ranger Regiment conducted a combat jump into Northern Iraq, to seize a desert airfield. [19] [20] [21] On March 26, 2003 the U.S. 173rd Airborne Brigade conducted a combat jump into Northern Iraq, during the 2003 invasion of Iraq , to seize an airfield and support special forces: Task Force Viking . The paratroopers departed from Aviano Air Base , Italy on fifteen C-17s. [22] [23] [24] In 2009, Pakistan Army 's paratroopers conducted a combat jump operations during Operation Black Thunderstorm and Operation Rah-e-Nijat against the Taliban Forces in North-West Pakistan, to seize control of strategic mountains areas to support Special forces and infantry troops. In January 2013, 250 French paratroopers from the 11th Parachute Brigade jumped into Northern Mali to support an offensive to capture the city of Timbuktu. [25] Other meanings of the word Airborne In the United States Air Force , the term refers to Airmen (other than pilots, navigators and weapon system officers) performing duties in aerial flight, such as the operations crew on the E-3 Sentry . In aviation an aircraft becomes airborne when it takes off. See also

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"What is the name shared by the currency units of ""Algeria and Tunisia?"

TND - Tunisian Dinar rates, news, and tools TND - Tunisian Dinar Tunisia, Dinar The Tunisian Dinar is the currency of Tunisia. Our currency rankings show that the most popular Tunisia Dinar exchange rate is the TND to EUR rate . The currency code for Dinars is TND. Below, you'll find Tunisian Dinar rates and a currency converter. You can also subscribe to our currency newsletters with daily rates and analysis, read the XE Currency Blog , or take TND rates on the go with our XE Currency Apps and website.

Dinar

Mount Toubkai is the highest peak of which range of mountains?

Algeria - definition of Algeria by The Free Dictionary Algeria - definition of Algeria by The Free Dictionary http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Algeria Al·ge·ri·a  (ăl-jîr′ē-ə) A country of northwest Africa bordering on the Mediterranean Sea. The region was settled c. 2000 bc by Berber-speaking people and later formed a part of the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman empires. Arab invaders in the seventh and eighth centuries introduced Islam and the Arabic language and culture. A French territory from 1848, Algeria gained its independence in 1962 after more than seven years of fighting. Algiers is the capital and the largest city. Al·ge′ri·an adj. & n. Algeria (ælˈdʒɪərɪə) n (Placename) a republic in NW Africa, on the Mediterranean: became independent in 1962, after more than a century of French rule; one-party constitution adopted in 1976; religious extremists led a campaign of violence from 1988 until 2000; consists chiefly of the N Sahara, with the Atlas Mountains in the north, and contains rich deposits of oil and natural gas. Official languages: Arabic and Berber; French also widely spoken. Religion: Muslim. Currency: dinar. Capital: Algiers. Pop: 38 087 812 (2013 est). Area: about 2 382 800 sq km (920 000 sq miles). French name: Algérie Al•ge•ri•a (ælˈdʒɪər i ə) n. a republic in NW Africa: gained independence from France 1962. 31,133,486; 919,352 sq. mi. (2,381,122 sq. km). Cap.: Algiers. Al•ger′i•an, adj., n. ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend: Algerie , Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria Armed Islamic Group , GIA - a terrorist organization of Islamic extremists whose violent activities began in 1992; aims to overthrow the secular Algerian regime and replace it with an Islamic state; "the GIA has embarked on a terrorist campaign of civilian massacres" GSPC , Salafast Group for Call and Combat , Salafist Group - an Algerian extremist Islamic offshoot of the Armed Islamic Group; now the largest and most active armed terrorist group in Algeria that seeks to overthrow the government; a major source of support and recruitment for al-Qaeda operations in Europe and northern Africa Arab League - an international organization of independent Arab states formed in 1945 to promote cultural and economic and military and political and social cooperation OPEC , Organization of Petroleum-Exporting Countries - an organization of countries formed in 1961 to agree on a common policy for the production and sale of petroleum Maghreb , Mahgrib - the region of northwest Africa comprising the Atlas Mountains and the coastlands of Morocco and Algeria and Tunisia Algerian capital , Algiers - an ancient port on the Mediterranean; the capital and largest city of Algeria Annaba - a port city of northeastern Algeria near the Tunisian border Batna - a town in north central Algeria Blida - a city in northern Algeria at the foot of the Atlas Mountains to the southwest of Algiers Oran - a port city in northwestern Algeria and the country's 2nd largest city Constantine - a walled city in northeastern Algeria to the east of Algiers; was destroyed in warfare in the 4th century and rebuilt by Constantine I Djanet - a desert town in southeastern Algeria Hippo , Hippo Regius - an ancient Numidian town in northwestern Africa adjoining present-day Annaba in northeastern Algeria Reggane - a town in central Algeria Timgad - an ancient town founded by the Romans; noted for extensive and well-preserved ruins Timimoun - a town in central Algeria in the Atlas Mountains Atlas Mountains - a mountain range in northern Africa between the Mediterranean and the Sahara Desert; extends from southwestern Morocco to northern Tunisia Algerian - a native or inhabitant of Algeria Translations

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Which South African politician won the Nobel peace Prize in 1960?

The Nobel Peace Prize 1960 - Presentation Speech Presentation Speech The Nobel Peace Prize 1960 Albert Lutuli Award Ceremony Speech Presentation Speech by Gunnar Jahn * , Chairman of the Nobel Committee This year the Nobel Committee of the Norwegian Parliament has awarded two Peace Prizes. The prize for 1960 goes to Albert John Lutuli, and the prize for 1961 is awarded posthumously to Dag Hammarskjöld. In many respects these two recipients differ widely. Albert John Lutuli's life and work have been molded by the pattern of the African tribal community and by the influence of Christianity, while Dag Hammarskjöld's were a product of Western culture. Lutuli's activities have been, and are, confined to his own country, while Dag Hammarskjöld worked in the international sphere. Yet despite these differences, they had one thing in common: both fought to implant the idea of justice in the individual, in the nation, and among the nations; or we might put it like this: they fought for the ideals expressed in the declaration of human rights embodied in the Charter of the United Nations. Albert John Lutuli was born in 1898. He comes from a long line of Zulu chiefs, but he was influenced by Christianity in his school days and in his later education, first in the American mission school he attended and afterwards during his training as a teacher. After passing his examination at Adams College in Natal, he became a faculty member of the college, where he taught, among other subjects, the history of the Zulu people. During his seventeen years as a teacher, he took no part in the political life of South Africa. In 1935 a great change took place in Lutuli's life when he was called to assume the functions of tribal chief. The choice of a chief must be approved by the state, which pays his salary. It was on the basis of this authority that the government was able to remove him in 1952. His seventeen years as a chief brought him daily contact with the individual members of the tribal community, as well as an active part in the work of the Christian church in South Africa, in India, and in the United States. Both as a teacher and later as a chief, Lutuli did outstanding work. He took his duties as chief very seriously and in doing so won the affection of his tribe. He endeavored to blend its ancient culture with the precepts of Christianity and to promote its economic welfare in various ways - for example, by introducing new methods of sugar production. Describing this period of his life, he tells us: "Previous to being a chief I was a school teacher for about seventeen years. In these past thirty years or so, I have striven with tremendous zeal and patience to work for the progress and welfare of my people and for their harmonious relations with other sections of our multiracial society in the Union of South Africa. In this effort I always pursued the path of moderation. Over this great length of time I have, year after year, gladly spent hours of my time with such organizations as the church and its various agencies, such as the Christian Council of South Africa, the Joint Council of Europeans and Africans, and the now defunct Native Representative Council." 1 But it was neither as a teacher, nor as a chief, nor as an active member of various Christian organizations that he took a focal position in what was to be his great effort in the post war years. The forces that induced Albert John Lutuli to abandon his tranquil educational activities and enter politics were unleashed by the increasing pressure which the ruling white race exerted on members of other races in South Africa. In 1944 he became a member of the African National Congress, an organization founded in 1912. In 1952 he was elected its president, an office he held until the Congress was banned in 1960. It is first and foremost for the work he carried on during these years - from the 1940s to the present - that we honor him today. To get some idea of Lutuli's achievements, we must know something of the society in which he worked. The white population of South Africa settled there in the latter half of the seventeenth century. The first settlers were French Huguenots, followed later by Dutch farmers. They cleared the land, and their descendants - the Boers - have lived there ever since. They look upon the country as their fatherland; they have no other. The English settlers, who arrived on the scene at the end of the eighteenth century, maintained close contact with their mother country. The first natives whom the Dutch pioneers met were Hottentots and Bushmen. The Hottentots have now virtually disappeared as a separate racial entity; but through intermarriage with European and other races they have contributed in large measure to the racial characteristics of those so-called "the colored people". When the Boers moved into the interior, they encountered other native tribes, among them the Zulus, whom they fought and conquered. These tribes constitute the largest part of the population of South Africa today. In the course of time other racial elements were added: the Dutch imported a number of Malays from the East Indies as slaves, while the British introduced Indian labor to the sugar plantations. In the nineteenth century two communities took shape: the Boer republics of Transvaal 2 and the Orange Free State, and the British colony of South Africa, both ruled by whites. At the turn of the century these two communities fought the Boer War of 1899-1902, from which Britain finally emerged victorious. The ultimate result was that the Union of South Africa was set up as an independent British Dominion in 1901. At that time the outside world heard little about relations between whites and nonwhites. During the fifty years that have since elapsed, South Africa, in common with so many other countries, has developed from an agricultural community into one in which mining, industry, trade, and other such operations now predominate. As in other such countries, the urban population has increased rapidly. The present-day population of South Africa is some 14.7 million, of whom only some 3.3 million are white. Of the remainder, 9.6 million are Africans, some 0.4 million Asian (mainly Indians) and 1.4 million of mixed race (the so-called colored people). Of the 9.6 million Africans, some 3.3 million live in the agricultural districts of the whites, a large proportion of them as agricultural workers on white farms; 3.7 million live in the African reservations; and 2.6 million live in the towns. Although some of these figures are only approximate, they still present a picture of a community whose economy and therefore future are dependent on cooperation between all races. The figures testify to the fact that people of all races have helped to build this community. The whites could never have done it alone. This is an incontestable fact. But what is the position of the nonwhite population? In this community, nonwhites are denied all right to participate in the government of the state. They are discriminated against legally, economically, and socially. And this discrimination between whites and nonwhites has grown steadily during the postwar years. The aim of those now ruling the country is to draw a line between the two communities - between whites and nonwhites - despite the fact that the march of events has clearly shown that the whole community has been developed by the efforts of all races. I cannot here go into the network of laws and regulations passed in order to maintain the barrier between whites and nonwhites. The purpose of these laws is to restrict and regulate every facet of the life of the nonwhite. He has no vote, he has no part in determining his own status; under the pass system, he is deprived not only of the right to live where he likes but also of the right to choose his employer; he has virtually no redress against police tyranny; he is not entitled to the same schooling or education as the white; and any sexual relation between white and nonwhite entails punishment for both parties. An African Christian is frequently not allowed to worship God under the same roof as a white Christian. In short, nonwhites are treated as a subject race. Is it surprising then that the nonwhites have protested against such treatment? What is surprising is that the protest has not been accompanied by acts of violence on their part. Their patience is remarkable, their moral strength in the struggle boundless. It was the discrimination between white and nonwhite that prompted nonwhite Africans in 1912 to establish the African National Congress. Its founders were nonwhite Africans who had obtained a higher education, either abroad or at home, in the days when they still had the opportunity to do so. At first the African National Congress tried to influence political development by means of petitions and deputations to the authorities, but when the attempt proved fruitless and new laws restricting the rights of nonwhites were passed, the African National Congress adopted a more active line, especially after 1949. It was in the mid-1940s that Lutuli began to participate in this work of the African National Congress, of which he became a member in 1944. He was elected to the Committee of the Natal Section in 1945 and in 1951 became president of the Natal Section. In December, 1952, he was elected president of the entire African National Congress, a position he retained until the organization was banned by the government in 1960. It was during these transitional years of adopting stronger action, based on boycotts, defiance campaigns, and strikes, that Lutuli came to influence so profoundly the African National Congress. He says himself that the Congress never passed any specific resolution to the effect that its struggle was to be pursued by nonviolent means. Actually, however, it has been waged with peaceful means, a policy at all times supported by the Congress administration. Lutuli himself has always been categorically opposed to the use of violence. Within the organization he has had to overcome opposition from two different quarters: from the older members, who supported the more passive approach, and from those members - mainly the younger ones - who wanted to make South Africa an entirely nonwhite state. As a result of Lutuli's participation in the more active struggle of the African National Congress, the government presented him with an ultimatum: he must either renounce his position as a chief or give up his seat in the Congress. He refused to comply with either of these alternatives and was immediately deposed as chief, whereupon he issued his significant declaration entitled "The Chief Speaks", which concludes with the words: "The Road to Freedom is via the Cross." In his declaration, he says: "What have been the fruits of my many years of moderation? Has there been any reciprocal tolerance or moderation from the Government, be it Nationalist or United Party? No! On the contrary, the past thirty years have seen the greatest number of Laws restricting our rights and progress until today we have reached a stage where we have almost no rights at all: no adequate land for our occupation, our only asset, cattle, dwindling, no security of homes, no decent and remunerative employment, more restrictions to freedom of movement through passes, curfew regulations, influx control measures; in short, we have witnessed in these years an intensification of our subjection to ensure and protect white supremacy. It is with this background and with a full sense of responsibility that, under the auspices of the African National Congress (Natal), I have joined my people in the new spirit that moves them today, the spirit that revolts openly and boldly against injustice and expresses itself in a determined and nonviolent manner... The African National Congress, its nonviolent Passive Resistance Campaign, may be of nuisance value to the Government, but it is not subversive since it does not seek to overthrow the form and machinery of the State but only urges for the inclusion of all sections of the community in a partnership in the Government of the country on the basis of equality. Laws and conditions that tend to debase human personality - a God-given force - be they brought about by the State or other individuals, must be relentlessly opposed in the spirit of defiance shown by St. Peter when he said to the rulers of his day: Shall we obey God or man? No one can deny that insofar as nonwhites are concerned in the Union of South Africa, laws and conditions that debase human personality abound. Any chief worthy of his position must fight fearlessly against such debasing conditions and laws... It is inevitable that in working for Freedom some individuals and some families must take the lead and suffer: the Road to Freedom Is via the Cross." In 1952, after he had been dismissed from his position as chief and had been elected president of the African National Congress, he was forbidden to leave his home district for two years. 3 In 1954 he went to Johannesburg to address a meeting which had been called to protest the forced evacuation of colored people from Sophiatown to Meadowsland. He was refused permission to speak and was banned for another period of two years from leaving his home district. In 1956, together with 155 other persons, he was arrested and charged with high treason. In 1957 the charge against him and sixty-four others was withdrawn; the rest were all acquitted in 1961. In 1959 Lutuli took part in several mass meetings, but was again subjected to a travel ban, this time for a period of five years. In 1960 there was a large mass demonstration against the pass regulations which led to the events in Sharpeville, where police fired on the crowd, killing and wounding many. A state of emergency was declared and wholesale arrests were made. Lutuli, who had been summoned as a witness in the treason trial, which had dragged on ever since 1956, was among those arrested but was allowed to give evidence in the trial. During the last year, he has lived at home, debarred from leaving his village and from taking part in any meetings. Moreover, he is now no longer president of the African National Congress, for this organization - as already mentioned - was dissolved by order of the government in April, 1960. He now lives in his village, deprived of freedom of movement and of the right to speak in open debate, but he still maintains his avowed policy, expressing his views in articles published in the newspaper Post. 4 Just before the travel ban was imposed on him in December, 1919 - the year before the Union of South Africa was to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of its foundation - he wrote a long article entitled "Fifty Years of Union - A Political Review," which he sent to the South Africa Institute of Race Relations. 5 This presents, as far as I know, the clearest and the most complete statement of his position concerning the policy pursued by the government of South Africa. In this article, his attack on the policies of the South African government is stronger and more detailed than before. This discussion and attack on the policy of apartheid and its plan that the nonwhite community should develop along its own lines is new. He asks: Who has drawn the lines? The answer is: Not those who are to follow them, the nonwhites, but the whites in power. The nonwhites have no rights. There is therefore no reason, he says, for them to rejoice or to participate in the Fiftieth Anniversary celebration. The only thing for the nonwhites to do is to work, each and everyone, with courage and patience, to achieve freedom and democracy for all. Since he wrote this, South Africa has become a republic and is no longer a member of the British Commonwealth. But this has not improved relations between whites and nonwhites, nor has it altered Lutuli's attitude in any way. He gives a most concise expression of the view he has always maintained in a letter to Prime Minister Striddom 6 , in which he says: "We believe in a community where the white and the nonwhite in South Africa can live in harmony and work for our common fatherland, sharing equally the good things of life which our country can give us in abundance. We believe in the brotherhood of peoples and in respect for the value of the individual. My congress has never given expression to hatred for any race in South Africa." Time and again he has reiterated this, right up to the very present. His activity has been characterized by a firm and unswerving approach. Never has he succumbed to the temptation to use violent means in the struggle for his people. Nothing has shaken him from this firm resolve, so firmly rooted is his conviction that violence and terror must not be employed. Nor has he ever felt or incited hatred of the white man. Albert John Lutuli's fight has been waged within the borders of his own country; but the issues raised go far beyond them. He brings a message to all who work and strive to establish respect for human rights both within nations and between nations. Well might we ask: will the nonwhites of South Africa, by their suffering, their humiliation, and their patience, show the other nations of the world that human rights can be won without violence, by following a road to which we Europeans are committed both intellectually and emotionally, but which we have all too often abandoned? If the nonwhite people of South Africa ever lift themselves from their humiliation without resorting to violence and terror, then it will be above all because of the work of Lutuli, their fearless and incorruptible leader who, thanks to his own high ethical standards, has rallied his people in support of this policy, and who throughout his adult life has staked everything and suffered everything without bitterness and without allowing hatred and aggression to replace his abiding love of his fellowmen. But if the day should come when the struggle of the nonwhites in South Africa to win their freedom degenerates into bloody slaughter, then Lutuli's voice will be heard no more. But let us remember him then and never forget that his way was unwavering and clear. He would not have had it so. Let us all rise in silent and respectful tribute to Albert John Lutuli. * Mr. Jahn delivered this speech on December 10, 1961, in the auditorium of the University of Oslo. At its conclusion he presented the Peace Prize for 1960 (reserved in that year) to Mr. Lutuli, who accepted in a brief speech . The English translation of Mr. Jahn's speech is, with certain editorial changes and emendations made after collation with the Norwegian text, that is carried in Les Prix Nobel en 1960, which also includes the original Norwegian text. 1. Lutuli, The Road to Freedom is via the Cross (statement made in November, 1952, after his dismissal as chief), in Let My People Go, p. 235. 2. Transvaal was set up as a veer state in 1837; recognized by the British in 1852; organized as the South African Republic in 1886; annexed by the British in 1877; and restored to independence in 1881 under British suzerainty. The Orange Free state, settled by the Boers 1835-1848, was created a free republic in 1854. After the Boer War, both became British crown colonies, with the promise of eventual self-government, which they attained 1905-1907; and both became part of the union of South Africa when it was organized in 1910. 3. Actually, he was banned from the larger centers of the Union and from all public gatherings, but was not restricted to one area. 4. Perhaps a reference to the Golden City Post of Johannesburg. 5. The rest of this paragraph and the four paragraphs that follow it are ommited in the English translation in Les Prix Nobel en 1961 6. Johannes Gerhardus Striddom (1893-1958), Nationalist Party leader; Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa (1954-1988); advocate of apartheid and of the Union's withdrawal from the British Commonwealth. From Nobel Lectures , Peace 1951-1970, Editor Frederick W. Haberman, Elsevier Publishing Company, Amsterdam, 1972  

Albert Lutuli

"In which township were 69 demonstrators killed by South ""African police in March 1960?"

Desmond Tutu - Archbishop, Educator, Civil Rights Activist - Biography.com » quotes “...when you discover that apartheid sought to mislead people into believing that what gave value to human beings was a biological irrelevance, really, skin color or ethnicity, and you saw how the scriptures say it is because we are created in the image of God, that each one of us is a God-carrier. No matter what our physical circumstances may be, no matter how awful, no matter how deprived you could be, it doesn't take away from you this intrinsic worth.” “All of those who have ever strutted the world stage as if they are invincible roosters—Hitler, Stalin, Amin and those apartheid guys...they bite the dust.” “The universe can take quite a while to deliver. God is patient with us to become the God's children he wants us to be but you really can see him weeping.” —Desmond Tutu Synopsis Born in 1931 in South Africa, Desmond Tutu established a career in education before turning to theology, ultimately becoming one of the world's most prominent spiritual leaders. In 1978 Tutu was appointed general secretary of the his country's Council of Churches and became a leading spokesperson for the rights of black South Africans. During the 1980s he played an almost unrivaled role in drawing national and international attention to the iniquities of apartheid, and in 1984 he won the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts. He later chaired the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and has continued to draw attention to a number of social justice issues over the years.   Background and Early Life Desmond Mpilo Tutu was born on October 7, 1931 in Klerksdorp, South Africa. His father was an elementary school principal and his mother worked cooking and cleaning at a school for the blind. The South Africa of Tutu's youth was rigidly segregated, with black Africans denied the right to vote and forced to live in specific areas. Although as a child Tutu understood that he was treated worse than white children based on nothing other than the color of his skin, he resolved to make the best of the situation and still managed a happy childhood. "We knew, yes, we were deprived," he later recalled in an Academy of Achievement interview. "It wasn't the same thing for white kids, but it was as full a life as you could make it. I mean, we made toys for ourselves with wires, making cars, and you really were exploding with joy!" Tutu recalls one day when he was out walking with his mother when a white man, a priest named Trevor Huddleston, tipped his hat to her—the first time he had ever seen a white man pay this respect to a black woman. The incident made a profound impression on Tutu, teaching him that he need not accept discrimination and that religion could be a powerful tool for advocating racial equality. Tutu was a bright and curious child with a passion for reading. He especially loved reading comic strips as well as Aesop's Fables and the plays of Shakespeare. His family eventually moved to the capital city of Johannesburg, and it was during Tutu's teen years that he contracted tuberculosis, spending a year and a half at a sanatorium to recuperate. The experience inspired his ambition to become a medical doctor and find a cure for the disease. Tutu attended Johannesburg Bantu High School, a grossly underfunded all-black school where he nevertheless excelled academically. "...many of the people who taught us were very dedicated and they inspired you to want to emulate them and really to become all that you could become," Tutu remembered when speaking to the Academy of Achievement. "They gave you the impression that, in fact, yeah, the sky is the limit. You can, even with all of the obstacles that are placed in your way; you can reach out to the stars." Tutu graduated from high school in 1950, and although he had been accepted into medical school, his family could not afford the expensive tuition. Instead he accepted a scholarship to study education at Pretoria Bantu Normal College and graduated with his teacher's certificate in 1953. He then continued on to receive a bachelor's degree from the University of South Africa in 1954. Upon graduation, Tutu returned to his high school alma mater to teach English and history. "...I tried to be what my teachers had been to me to these kids," he said, "seeking to instill in them a pride, a pride in themselves. A pride in what they were doing. A pride that said they may define you as so and so. You aren't that. Make sure you prove them wrong by becoming what the potential in you says you can become." Rise to Prominence Tutu became increasingly frustrated with the racism corrupting all aspects of South African life under apartheid. In 1948, the National Party won control of the government and codified the nation's long-present segregation and inequality into the official, rigid policy of apartheid. In 1953, the government passed the Bantu Education Act, a law that lowered the standards of education for black South Africans to ensure that they only learned what was necessary for a life of servitude. The government spent one-tenth as much money on the education of a black student as on the education of a white one, and Tutu's classes were highly overcrowded. No longer willing to participate in an educational system explicitly designed to promote inequality, he quit teaching in 1957. The next year, in 1958, Tutu enrolled at St. Peter's Theological College in Johannesburg. He was ordained as an Anglican deacon in 1960 and as a priest in 1961. In 1962, Tutu left South Africa to pursue further theological studies in London, receiving his master's of theology from King's College in 1966. He then returned from his four years abroad to teach at the Federal Theological Seminary at Alice in the Eastern Cape as well as to serve as the chaplain of the University of Fort Hare. In 1970, Tutu moved to the University of Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland in Roma to serve as a lecturer in the department of theology. Two years later, he decided to move back to England to accept his appointment as the associate director of the Theological Education Fund of the World Council of Churches in Kent. Tutu's rise to international prominence began when he became the first black person to be appointed the Anglican dean of Johannesburg in 1975. It was in this position that he emerged as one of the most prominent and eloquent voices in the South African anti-apartheid movement, especially important considering that many of the movement's prominent leaders were imprisoned or in exile. In 1976, shortly after he was appointed Bishop of Lesotho, further raising his international profile, Tutu wrote a letter to the South African prime minister warning him that a failure to quickly redress racial inequality could have dire consequences, but his letter was ignored. In 1978, Tutu was selected as the general secretary of the South African Council of Churches, again becoming the first black citizen appointed to the position, and he continued to use his elevated position in the South African religious hierarchy to advocate for an end to apartheid. "So, I never doubted that ultimately we were going to be free, because ultimately I knew there was no way in which a lie could prevail over the truth, darkness over light, death over life," he said. Awarded Nobel Peace Prize In 1984, Desmond Tutu received the Nobel Peace Prize "not only as a gesture of support to him and to the South African Council of Churches of which he is leader, but also to all individuals and groups in South Africa who, with their concern for human dignity, fraternity and democracy, incite the admiration of the world," as stated by the award's committee. Tutu was the first South African to receive the award since Albert Luthuli in 1960. His receipt of the Nobel Peace Prize transformed South Africa's anti-apartheid movement into a truly international force with deep sympathies all across the globe. The award also elevated Tutu to the status of a renowned world leader whose words immediately brought attention. In 1985, Tutu was appointed the Bishop of Johannesburg, and a year later he became the first black person to hold the highest position in the South African Anglican Church when he was chosen as the Archbishop of Cape Town. In 1987, he was also named the president of the All Africa Conference of Churches, a position he held until 1997. In no small part due to Tutu's eloquent advocacy and brave leadership, in 1993 South African apartheid finally came to an end, and in 1994 South Africans elected Nelson Mandela as their first black president. The honor of introducing the new president to the nation fell to the archbishop. President Mandela also appointed Tutu to head the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, tasked with investigating and reporting on the atrocities committed by both sides in the struggle over apartheid. Personal Life and Continued Activism Tutu wed Leah Nomalizo on July 2, 1955. They have four children and remain married today. Although he officially retired from public life in the late 1990s, Tutu continues to advocate for social justice and equality across the globe, specifically taking on issues like treatment for tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS prevention, climate change and the right for the terminally ill to die with dignity. In 2007, he joined The Elders, a group of seasoned world leaders including Mandela, Kofi Annan ,  Mary Robinson ,  Jimmy Carter  and others, who meet to discuss ways to promote human rights and world peace.  Tutu has also penned several books over the years, including No Future Without Forgiveness (1999), the children's title God's Dream (2008) and The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World (2016), with the latter co-authored by the Dalai Lama .  Desmond Tutu stands among the world's foremost human rights activists. Like Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. , his teachings reach beyond the specific causes for which he advocated to speak for all oppressed peoples' struggles for equality and freedom. Perhaps what makes Tutu so inspirational and universal a figure is his unshakable optimism in the face of overwhelming odds and his limitless faith in the ability of human beings to do good. "Despite all of the ghastliness in the world, human beings are made for goodness," he once said. "The ones that are held in high regard are not militarily powerful, nor even economically prosperous. They have a commitment to try and make the world a better place." Fact Check We strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us ! Citation Information

i don't know

What is the former name of the People's Republic of Benin?

Benin - Republic of Benin - Country Profile - West Africa Location map of Benin   A virtual guide to Benin. The Republic of Benin is a from north to south long stretched country in West Africa , situated east of Togo and west of Nigeria , it is bordered to the north by Burkina Faso and Niger , in south by the the Bight of Benin, in the Gulf of Guinea, that part of the tropical North Atlantic Ocean which is roughly south of West Africa. Benin's coastline is just 121 km (75 mi) long. With an area of 112,622 km² the country is slightly larger than Bulgaria , or slightly smaller than the U.S. state Pennsylvania . Benin's former name, until 1975, was Dahomey. Porto-Novo , a port on an inlet of the Gulf of Guinea is the nations capital city, largest city and economic capital is Cotonou . Spoken languages are French (official), Fon and Yoruba.   Ethnic groups: 42 ethnic groups, most important being Fon, Adja, Yoruba, and Bariba. Religions: Indigenous beliefs (animist) 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20%. Languages : French (official), Fon and Yoruba in the south; Nagot, Bariba and Dendi in the north. Literacy: Total population 39%; men 53%, women 25%. Natural resources: Small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber. Agriculture products: Cotton, corn, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts, livestock (2001) Industries: Textiles, food processing, construction materials, cement (2001) Exports - commodities: cotton, cashews, shea butter, textiles, palm products, seafood Exports partners: India 24.2%, Gabon 14.6%, China 7.2%, Niger 6%, Bangladesh 5%, Nigeria 4.9%, Vietnam 4.2% (2015) Imports - commodities: foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products Imports partners: China 42.1%, US 8.9%, India 5.7%, Malaysia 4.8%, Thailand 4.3%, France 4% (2015) Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF) Note: External links will open in a new browser window. Official Sites of Benin

Dahomey

Which country is the home of the Ashanti?

Benin | history - geography - republic, Africa | Britannica.com republic, Africa Alternative Titles: Dahomey, People’s Republic of Benin, Republic of Benin, Republic of Dahomey, République du Bénin Benin République du Bénin (Republic of Benin) Form of government multiparty republic with one legislative house (National Assembly [83]) Head of state and government President: Patrice Talon1 Literacy: percentage of population age 15 and over literate Male: (2010) 55.2% GNI per capita (U.S.$) (2014) 810 1Office of Prime Minister, vacant from May 1998, was filled in May 2011, was vacant from August 2013 until being filled in June 2015, and then vacant again from April 2016; the post of prime minister is not required per the constitution. 2Porto-Novo, the official capital established under the constitution, is the seat of the legislature, but the president and most government ministers reside in Cotonou. Country Data Overview (PDF) Benin, officially Republic of Benin, French République du Bénin, formerly (until 1975) Dahomey, or (1975–90) People’s Republic of Benin, country of western Africa . It consists of a narrow wedge of territory extending northward for about 420 miles (675 kilometres) from the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean , on which it has a 75-mile seacoast, to the Niger River , which forms part of Benin’s northern border with Niger . Benin is bordered to the northwest by Burkina Faso , to the east by Nigeria , and to the west by Togo . The official capital is Porto-Novo , but Cotonou is Benin’s largest city, its chief port, and its de facto administrative capital. Benin was a French colony from the late 19th century until 1960. Time-lapse and stop-motion video of Cotonou, Benin, by filmmaker Mayeul Akpovi. © Mayeul Akpovi (A Britannica Publishing Partner) Prior to colonial rule, part of the territory that is now Benin consisted of powerful, independent kingdoms, including various Bariba kingdoms in the north and in the south the kingdoms of Porto-Novo and Dahomey (Dan-ho-me, “on the belly of Dan;” Dan was a rival king on whose grave Dahomey’s royal compound was built). In the late 19th century French colonizers making inroads from the coastal region into the interior borrowed the name of the defeated Dahomey kingdom for the entire territory that is now Benin; the current name derives from the Bight of Benin . Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. The people Ethnic groups Despite attempts at greater national unity and integration since 1960, differences among Benin’s ethnic groups survive to a marked degree. The Fon , who make up about two-fifths of the population, live in various parts of the country and especially in Cotonou . The Yoruba , who are related to the Nigerian Yoruba, live mainly in southeastern Benin and constitute about one-eighth of Benin’s population. In the vicinity of Porto-Novo , the Goun (Gun) and the Yoruba (known in Pobé and Kétou as Nago, or Nagot) are so intermixed as to be hardly distinguishable. Among other southern groups are various Adja peoples, including the Aizo, the Holi, and the Mina. Women and children walking with goods balanced on their heads, Cotonou, Benin. C. Sappa/DeA Picture Library The Bariba , the fourth largest ethnic group, comprise several subgroups and make up about one-tenth of Benin’s population. They inhabit the northeast, especially towns such as Nikki and Kandi that were once Bariba kingdoms. The Somba (Ditamari) are found in Natitingou and in villages in the northwest. Other northern groups include the Dendi, the Pila (Pilapila), the Yoa-Lokpa, and the nomadic Fulani (Peul). Europeans, Lebanese, South Asians, and Africans from other countries are among the foreigners who reside in Benin, primarily in Cotonou and Porto-Novo. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Languages French is the official language and the language of instruction, but each ethnic group has its own language, which is also spoken. Most adults living in the various ethnic communities also speak the dominant language of each region. The most widely spoken languages are Fon and Gen (Mina), members of the Kwa branch of the Niger-Congo family of African languages; Bariba, a member of the Gur branch of the Niger-Congo family; Yoruba , one of a small group of languages that constitute the Yoruboid cluster of the Defoid subbranch of the Benue-Congo branch of the Niger-Congo family; and Dendi, one of the Songhai languages , which are generally assumed to constitute the primary branch of the Nilo-Saharan language family. Religion Christian missions have been active in the coastal region since the 16th century, and about two-fifths of the total population is Christian; of the Christians, about three-fifths are Roman Catholic , while the remainder includes small groups of Methodist , Baptist , and independent Christian denominations. Islam has adherents in the north and southeast; about one-fourth of the total population is Muslim, nearly all of whom are Sunni . Some one-fourth of the population adheres to traditional beliefs, including vodun (vodou or voodoo), which originated in the area of western Africa that includes what is now known as Benin and was brought to the Caribbean and the Americas by Africans enslaved during the Atlantic slave trade in the 17th–19th centuries. In addition, many adherents of Christianity and Islam also include some elements of traditional beliefs in their practices. In the south, animist religions, which include fetishes (objects regarded with awe as the embodiment of a powerful spirit) for which Benin is renowned, retain their traditional strength. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Demographic trends Benin’s rate of population growth, similar to that of some western African countries, is among the highest in the world. This growth results primarily from a birth rate that is about twice as high as the world average and a death rate that is similar to the world average. Moreover, some two-fifths of the population is younger than 15 years of age, ensuring the country’s continued high growth rate. Life expectancy for females is about 60 years; for males it is slightly less. Overall, life expectancy is slightly lower than the world average but higher than the regional average. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Most of the country’s population is concentrated in the lower southern portion of the country, which makes up roughly one-fourth of the country’s total area but is inhabited by more than two-thirds of the total population. About two-fifths of Benin’s population is urban and is concentrated mostly in Cotonou, the country’s largest city. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Benin received an influx of Togolese refugees following the violent aftermath of that country’s presidential election in April 2005. More than 25,000 refugees were estimated to have crossed the border; most had returned to Togo within two years. A group of Togolese refugees leaving a Roman Catholic mission in Benin after having fled Togo in … © Issouf Sanogo—AFP/Getty Images Dov Ronen The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica The economy Since independence, Benin’s regular and developmental budgets have been dependent on external support, primarily from France and international organizations. This support has rendered a little less painful the formidable economic stagnation and low standard of living of the overwhelming majority of the population. The regime that came to power in a 1972 coup attempted from 1975 to restructure the economy more or less along socialist principles and to disengage from dependence on France . Most sectors of the economy were nationalized or otherwise turned over to government control, and economic relations were established with the Soviet Union and other socialist countries, as well as with Benin’s neighbours. By the early 1980s it was clear that—though the economy was restructured and, at least on paper, more efficient and diversified and France’s contribution to Benin’s economy diminished—corruption persisted and that the overall economic situation had not improved. “Liberalization” of the economy in the mid-1980s also failed to produce positive results. Accompanying changes in the constitution and regime in the early 1990s, the remnants and slogans of Marxism were wiped out, and privatization of the economy began. Resources The few stretches of tropical forest that remain in Benin, mostly in the southwest and central areas, contain mahogany, iroko, teak, samba, and other tropical hardwoods. The rivers and lagoons are rich in fish. Mineral deposits include iron ore both in the Atakora Mountains and northeast of Kandi, limestone deposits at Onigbolo, chromium ore and a little gold in the northwest near Natitingou, marble at Dadjo, an important deposit of pottery clay at Sakété, and ilmenite (a mineral source of titanium) near the coast. Offshore oil was discovered in 1968 in the Sémé field near Cotonou and has been exploited since 1982. Agriculture and fishing About 70 percent of the working population depends on agriculture. Since the mid-1980s Benin has produced yams, cassava , corn (maize), millet, beans, and rice to achieve self-sufficiency in staple foods. Among cash crops, the formerly predominant palm product output declined considerably in the 1980s, but cotton output rose. The output of karité, peanuts (groundnuts), cacao beans, and coffee also has increased. Livestock include cattle, sheep and goats, pigs, horses, and poultry. Substantial quantities of fish are caught annually in the lagoons and rivers, while coastal fishing produces a smaller, but growing, amount. Most of the fish is exported to Nigeria or Togo. Shrimp and deep-sea fishing are developing, using modern vessels. Industry Manufacturing plants and secondary industries include several palm-oil-processing plants in Ahozon, Avrankou, Bohicon, Cotonou, Gbada, and Pobé; cement plants at Onigbolo and Pobé; several cotton-ginning facilities in the north; a textile mill at Parakou; a sugar refining complex at Savé; a soft-drink plant; a brewery; and two shrimp-processing plants. Electricity is generated thermally by plants located at Bohicon, Parakou, Cotonou, and Porto-Novo. About half of Benin’s demand for electricity is met by importing power from Ghana’s Volta River Project at Akosombo. In 1988 operations commenced at the hydroelectric installation of the Mono River Dam, a joint venture between Benin and Togo on their common southern boundary. Finance Liquidation of Benin’s three state-owned banks took place in the late 1980s and early 1990s as part of economic privatization , and four private banks opened, including the Bank of Africa-Benin. Citizens of Benin began to transfer their savings from foreign banks. With the advent of privatization, foreign aid and assistance grew, particularly funding for developmental projects from the United States and the European Economic Community (later succeeded by the European Union), the latter of which also agreed to help pay the wages of civil servants. France continues to provide financial assistance. The currency of Benin is the CFA (Communauté Financière Africaine), which is fully guaranteed by and pegged to the French franc. Trade Benin’s export earnings rely on agricultural products, such as cotton, palm oil, cocoa, and coffee, exported to such countries as China, India, and Nigeria. Informal trade (smuggling) across the border with Nigeria has also affected Benin’s negative trade balance. One of Benin’s main, albeit underexploited, trade assets is the deepwater port at Cotonou, which serves as a sea outlet for the Republic of Niger and as a secondary port for Nigeria and thus holds a potential to earn lucrative customs duties. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Benin has traditionally imported various manufactured products, machinery, chemicals, beverages, and tobacco, as well as cereals. Benin sources its imports from several countries, including the United States and France. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Transportation There are two paved, mostly two-lane, road networks. One runs parallel to the coast of the Gulf of Guinea from the Togolese border, through Cotonou and near Porto-Novo, to the Nigerian border. The other road runs north from Cotonou, near Abomey and Dassa, to Parakou in the north. Roads from Parakou to Niger’s border and from near Abomey to Burkina Faso’s border are unpaved and are barely passable in the rainy season. There is a railroad from Cotonou to Parakou. Another railroad, parallel to the coast, does not extend to either the Togolese or the Nigerian border. Interconnected coastal lagoons are navigable by small craft known as pirogues. The Ouémé, Couffo, and Mono rivers are navigable by small boats for several dozen miles. The country’s only port is at Cotonou. An international airport in Cotonou links Benin with other countries of Africa and with Europe. There is also limited domestic airline service. Stanislas Spero Adotevi Dov Ronen Administration and social conditions Benin has experienced much political instability and unrest. It suffered through 12 years of unstable government, including several coups d’état, beginning three years after independence. The regime of President Mathieu Kérékou , who came to power in a 1972 coup, enjoyed almost two decades of fragile but unprecedented stability. The Marxist rhetoric introduced in 1974 culminated in repressive military rule in the late 1970s, but this had largely ceased by the early 1980s. During this period, however, the Benin People’s Revolutionary Party (PRPB) was the only legal political party. A National Revolutionary Assembly, elected by citizens, chose the president, who was also head of state. Benin was the first African country to make a post-Cold War transition away from Marxism-Leninism. In December 1989 Kérékou himself abandoned the Marxist-Leninist ideology that he had promulgated in the mid-1970s. In December 1990 a new constitution was approved, guaranteeing human rights, freedom to organize political parties, the right to private property, and universal franchise. Under the 1990 constitution, Benin is a multiparty republic . The president , who is directly elected to no more than two consecutive five-year terms, serves as head of state and government. The president may be assisted by the prime minister, though the position is not required by the constitution and was vacant from May 1998–May 2011 and again from August 2013. Legislative power is vested in the National Assembly , consisting of members who are directly elected to serve four-year terms. The constitution provides for an independent judicial branch of government. Benin’s judiciary comprises the Constitutional Court, which is the highest court in constitutional-related affairs, the Supreme Court, which is the highest court for administrative and judicial matters, and the High Court of Justice , which hears cases against the president and other government officials in matters pertaining to crimes committed while in office and high treason. The Constitutional Court and Supreme Court are located in Cotonou, while the High Court of Justice is located in Porto-Novo. Education The public education system has followed the French pattern since colonial times. A six-year primary school cycle (for children ages 6–11) is followed by six years of secondary education (ages 12–17). In the mid-1970s major reforms were introduced both to conform to the then-prevalent Marxist-Leninist ideology and to shed French influence. The reforms failed as teachers, parents, and university-bound students objected to the lowering of standards, and the reforms were largely abandoned by the late 1980s. The University of Abomey-Calavi (previously known as the University of Dahomey [1970–75] and the National University of Benin [1975–2001]), located in Cotonou, was founded in 1970. The university’s student body has been, along with workers, the main political force in the country since the early 1980s. The University of Parakou was founded in 2001. Health and welfare Benin has a national health care system that maintains hospitals in Cotonou, Porto-Novo, Parakou, Abomey, Ouidah, and Natitingou, in addition to medical dispensaries, maternity centres, and other small, specialized health care facilities in these and smaller towns. Financial aid from international organizations provides resources to compensate for a shortage of medical personnel and medications. Malaria is a health concern, especially for young children. The HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in Benin is well below the average for sub-Saharan Africa but is similar to or lower than that of neighbouring countries. Page 1 of 2 Benin - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up) The ancient and powerful western African kingdom of Dahomey became a colony of France in the 1800s. In the 1900s it made the transition into a self-governing republic, then a Marxist-Leninist state, and then a free democracy-all within less than a century. Now called the Republic of Benin, it occupies a strategic political and commercial position on the Gulf of Guinea. Porto-Novo is the official capital and seat of the legislature. However, the president and most of the government ministries reside in the port city of Cotonou, which is also the country’s largest city and commercial center. Area 44,310 square miles (114,763 square kilometers). Population (2015 est.) 10,783,000. Article Contributors

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Where did Idi Amin rule from 1971 -1979?

How did Idi Amin Dada lead a successful coup in 1971? (Part 1, by William Miles) | PublisHistory Blog How did Idi Amin Dada lead a successful coup in 1971? (Part 1, by William Miles) 0 Obote’s actions on the 24th January 1971 set in motion the coup d’etat which was to bring Amin to power. On this evening, Obote, realising that he must contain Amin, called up the officer’s mess at Jinja barracks to order the General’s arrest. However, the switchboard was unmanned and, instead, the message was picked up by Sergeant-Major Mussa who subsequently seized the armoury to prevent the Acholi and Lang’o tribes access to the weapons they needed. Upon hearing this, Amin was forced to act and on the 25th January at 2am, open fire began to be heard in Kampala. Civilians were chased off the streets, government buildings were seized and the airport was closed. By breakfast, the coup had been successful and General Idi Amin Dada had assumed control. But how did Amin gain the popularity and support to achieve such a feat? In this essay I attempt to tackle this question by looking at certain threads of the same tapestry. To begin with I shall focus on the man himself, Amin, for without a powerful figurehead at its forefront, it is unlikely that there would have been any taste for or belief in a successful coup. Next I will look at the situation in Uganda during the run up to the coup as this highlights the development of an environment ripe for change. Finally, I will analyse Obote’s own actions in alienating the Buganda tribe and adding further resentment against himself and his government. So; what of Amin himself? From the outset, he portrayed himself as one of the people. Although the President, he was willing to listen and talk to the people, and all his actions were aimed at helping them. “I am not completely communism and I am not capitalism…I am only leader who is alone completely and following only Uganda…we want just to be free…but we are not going to adopt anything but we only choose what is best for Uganda…” This quote is from the French Documentary ‘General Idi Amin Dada – Autoportrait’. Although one must take this documentary with a pinch of salt (it had Amin’s backing and will have been edited and portrayed in the way that Amin desired) it gives an insight into the man’s character and, by using material to back up what is portrayed, one can see how that gained him the support necessary to lead the 1971 coup d’etat. The quote portrays Amin as a man of the people who is following a policy he believes to be the best for Uganda and all Ugandan people. In the same film Amin says “I lead my country on my best way how I want them to be lead according to my democracy, according to my knowledge and according to my thinking what is the best way of leading them and then I lead them according to that way…direct contact between me and the people, no middle man ”. These quotes clearly highlight a message being put across by Amin that he has the people’s interests at the forefront of all policies he undertakes. Although the documentary was filmed after Amin came to power, this message was prominent during his rise to power as well. In Listowel’s book; ‘Amin’, she first meets General Amin in 1969 when collecting information on the situation in Uganda for the BBC. Although at the time Amin was still just Commander of the Army and Airforce, he clearly commanded respect whilst also fraternizing with the troops; Listowel states “He was surrounded by soldiers – other ranks – drinking beer. His tie was loosened, his tunic unbuttoned and a good deal of back slapping was going on…the soldiers were Obote’s men…there was General Amin drinking and making merry with his men; making friends in the President’s camp” . Further, Listowel provides evidence that, during Obote’s time in office, Amin defended the rights of the people. She refers to a meeting in the summer of 1970 between Obote and Amin where Amin vented his fury at Obote’s and Adoko’s dictatorship, the people’ poverty and loss of freedom, and the corruption and high living of Obote’s men . These examples show a man who, in the eyes of the people, had their best interests at heart and this helped him gain popularity amongst Ugandans even before he gained power in 1971. Amin himself realised the importance of having the people’s support; as he says in Auto portrait “And if they found that what you are saying it is not truth then they will never listen for you again and that you will lose confidence to the people but the people likes me very much and the reason why I am very popular because I always speak to them truth and if I don’t have anything to tell them I keep quiet” . For a man to achieve success in an event such as a coup, he must not only be popular but also command respect and Amin not only portrayed himself as a General who had the people’s interests at heart but, importantly, he also highlighted his strength and power by spreading tales of his physical achievements. We see this in the film when he explains how he ran the 100 metres in 9.8 seconds and when he is shown winning a swimming race . Regardless of the fact that at the time of the film the world 100m record was 9.95 seconds and during the swimming race Amin is shown swimming across the paths of the other competitors, the message is clear; Amin was a man of physical superiority. Indeed, Amin was physically a big man; Listowel writes “He grew into a strong lad, six-foot four-inches tall, who was to outshine his contemporaries by his physical prowess and leadership qualities” but it was tales of his achievements that most helped him build this reputation of a physically superior general. Listowel recounts a story told to her about Amin concerning the regimental sports day in 1957. An Asian entertainer lay a huge concrete block on his chest and shouted “Who would like to come and break it with a hammer on my chest? I can promise no harm will befall me.” At this, the figure of Amin loomed up carrying a sledgehammer. Immediately the crowd went silent in apprehension as they knew Amin could do it. Amin brought the sledgehammer down on the concrete block, breaking it into several pieces. The Asian bruised, battered and badly-shaken, but alive staggered up, helped by Amin, who carried him off the field” . Throughout his career, Amin recognised the importance of the image of power. Once President, it became a rule in Uganda that only he could hold the title of ‘President’, as one senior doctor in the film Auto-portrait discovered to his cost when he mistakenly referred to ‘the President of the Uganda Medical Association ‘ whilst addressing Amin. The final element of Amin I will focus on is that of his military background. His position in the military was essential to his ability to seize power in 1971. Amin himself acknowledged when he was in power that he was a soldier at heart – “I am not a politician but a professional soldier. I am therefore a man of few words and I have been very brief throughout my professional career” . Amin was not an educated man; as he says in the film “I come from very poor family…my father has no money and I am to work, digging”. This is true. Amin did receive at least two years of primary education but, as Mutibwa says in his book ‘Uganda since Independence’, “Amin, at the very best, was semi-literate and…he lacked, as Grace Ibingira has commented, “the sound foundation upon which to build [on his education]” . However, he was successful as a military man. Mutibwa writes “he possessed, in abundant measure, the qualities that appealed to the British when recruiting…the officers were looking for a strong physique, stamina, speed of reaction and an upright bearing. Amin fitted the bill exactly” . As British rule came to an end in Uganda, Amin found himself being promoted to positions a man of his background should never reach. The British were in a hurry to find officers to replace their own and they opted for traditional martial qualities rather than those of the educated. Thus, Amin found himself one of the first Ugandans to be given the Queen’s Commission as lieutenant . As he rose through the ranks, Amin began to command more and more power, even before being appointed as Obote’s Commander of the Army and Airforce. Not only did he gain power through this rise but also popularity. Mutibwa again writes “Amin is the embodiment of a man who has made it big from humble, peasant beginnings without having to submit himself to the frustration of a formal education’s elite aculturation progress” . To adequately analyse the importance of Amin’s military background one must not overlook how his position protected him against sanctions which he might otherwise have suffered in regard to his behaviour. In 1964 Amin was sent by Obote to set up training camps for the rebels in the Congo whilst also being entrusted to bring out gold, ivory and coffee to pay for the arms and equipment provided to the rebels. However, in March 1965, Daudi Ocheng, Deputy Leader of the Opposition, produced evidence showing deposits in Amin’s bank accounts amounting to £17,000 in the month of February 1965 and in September of that year Ocheng proposed Amin should be temporarily suspended from his duties as Deputy Commander of the Army and his financial position officially investigated. However, requiring the support of Amin, Obote opposed the motion and so it was not passed. Obote again defended Amin when he was accused by Ocheng of having been associated with secret military training groups of youths in eastern Uganda . Martin backs this view up in his book ‘General Amin’. He highlights the role played by Obote in exonerating Amin from the corruption charges – “a question mark was left against Amin’s name but in the space of nineteen days Amin had gone from facing the possibility of suspension to being promoted to Army Chief of Staff” . This act was a signal from Obote that the matter had been settled and Amin was innocent. Had Amin not had such a high position in the army, it is likely that he would have fallen from his position under such corruption charges. As it was, he was able to reach an even higher level. End of Part 1

Uganda

In which country are the ruins of ancient Carthage?

Home Page Home Page INTRODUCTION TO IDI AMIN: HERO OR VILLAIN?   Did you know that Idi Amin has two grown twin sons by a Former Female Israeli Secret Service Agent?  Did you know that there are people who think Idi Amin was framed for the murders he allegedly committed in Uganda?  Did you know that some people think Idi Amin was “set up” and “slandered” because he couldn’t be controlled by "super powers?" Did you know that Idi Amin’s father was a Police Officer and not a peasant as told by many people and he served as a soldier in the First World War? Did you know that Idi Amin was guarded by a snake as an infant while being subjected to an unusual paternity test practiced by ancient Kakwa? Did you know that Idi Amin wrestled a crocodile in Somalia during a tour of duty when he was in the Kings African Rifles? Did you know that Idi Amin disobeyed orders from his British Superiors to shoot Kenya’s Jomo Kenyatta on sight during colonialism and saved his life instead?  Did you know that Idi Amin’s superiors held him in high regard during his time in the Kings African Rifles? Did you know that Idi Amin was forced to become the President of Uganda at gun point? Did you know that Idi Amin had a “rock solid” relationship with Israel before he crossed over to the Palestinian side?   Did you know that Idi Amin gave a 10,000 dollar tip to a Black American cleaning lady while on an official trip to New York City, to ease her suffering from racism? Did you know that the novel and film "The Last King of Scotland" is fictional? Did you know that during the war that led to his ouster, Idi Amin travelled to the war frontline and waved to the opposing soldiers and they excitedly waved back instead of shooting him?    Did you know that Idi Amin’s Presidential Guards “wrestled him to the ground” to get him out of harm’s way because he wanted to die in Uganda like a true soldier during the war to overthrow him?

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In which country does the White Nile leave Lake Victoria?

Lake Victoria Map and Map of Lake Victoria Depth Size History Information Page Lake Victoria Map and Map of Lake Victoria Depth Size History Information Page Lake Victoria With a surface area of 68,800 sq km (26,600 sq mi), Lake Victoria is Africa's largest lake. In addition, it's the largest tropical lake in the world, and the planet's second largest freshwater lake. Only North America's Lake Superior is larger. The lake receives most of its water from direct precipitation. Its largest influent is the Kagera River, the mouth of which lies on the lake's western shore. The only river to leave the lake (flowing north) the White Nile (known as the "Victoria Nile"), leaves at Jinja, Uganda, on the lake's north shore Lake Victoria is relatively shallow. It has a maximum depth of 84 metres (276 ft) and an average depth of 20 meters (66 ft). Lake Victoria as it sits on the edge of Tanzania...

Uganda

Which African explorer translated the Arabian Nights?

The White Nile - The River Nile The River Nile Bibliography The White Nile The White Nile is one of the two rivers that form the main Nile. It is called the White Nile because of it’s whitish-gray colour which is made due to the light gray sediment the river transports in it’s bed load. It is longer than the Blue Nile, it is 3,700 km long but carries less water in it. The White Nile’s source is at Lake Victoria. Lake Victoria Lake Victoria was named after Queen Victoria of the United kingdom, by John Hanning Speke, the first european to set eyes on this lake. Lake Victoria is Africa's biggest lake with a surface area of 68,800 square kilometres. Lake Victoria is also the world's largest tropical lake, the world's second largest freshwater lake and the world's ninth largest continental lake in terms of volume, containing 2,750 cubic kilometers of water. This lake is part of 3 countries: Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania It's primary tributary is the Kagera River, which is one of the lake's main sources. Lake Victoria is situated in the Great Rift Valley: This is a map of the Great Rift Valley. This is a map of the Great Rift Valley. The area you see is red is the valley, which is surrounding the lake. This is the White Nile where it meets with the blue Nile at Khartoum. The White Nile is on the right. Can you see the clear difference in colour of both Nile's? The White is on the right and is much clearer the Blue, which is on the left. Create a free website

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After which American President is the capital of Liberia named?

World Capital Named After a U.S. President   The Question: There are two world capitals named for American presidents. One is Washington D.C., but what is the other? The Answer: The other capital city named after a U.S. president is Monrovia , the capital city of the African country Liberia . Monrovia was founded in 1822 during the term of President James Monroe . A port city located at the mouth of the St. Paul River, Monrovia was established by the American Colonization Society as a haven for freed black slaves from America. The ACS thought that the deportation of blacks would be the answer to America's slavery problem. The country was originally called Monrovia, but switched to the Free and Independent Republic of Liberia in 1847. Incidentally there are four U.S. capitals named after presidents: Jackson, Miss., Lincoln, Neb., Jefferson City, Mo. and Madison, Wis. —The Editors

James Monroe

In which country were the Mau-0Mau a secret guerrilla movement?

James Monroe James Monroe Born: April 28, 1758, in Westmoreland County, Virginia Died: July 4, 1831, in New York, New York James Monroe was the fifth president of the United States (1817-1825). He is perhaps best known for establishing the foreign policy principle that came to bear his name, the Monroe Doctrine. He is also the person for whom Monrovia, the capital city of Liberia, was named. Liberia is an African country founded by freed American slaves. Monroe, a slave owner, supported their repatriation (return to their place of origin) to Africa. Before becoming president, Monroe spent many years in public service, both domestically and overseas, and was the first president to have been a U.S. senator. Although he studied law under Thomas Jefferson, he was not as brilliant as some other leading members of the Revolutionary generation. But his contemporaries liked and admired him for his sensible judgment, his honesty, and his personal kindness. Like his fellow Founding Fathers and fellow Presidents John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, he died on July 4, the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the nation's official birthday.

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Who was the Danish author of Out of Africa?

National Museums of Kenya - Karen Blixen Karen Blixen Location and Historical Background Karen Blixen Museum Karen Blixen Museum was once the centre piece of a farm at the foot of the Ngong Hills owned by Danish Author Karen and her Swedish Husband, Baron Bror von Blixen Fincke. Located 10km from the city centre, the Museum belongs to a different time period in the history of Kenya. The farm house gained international fame with the release of the movie ‘Out of Africa’ an Oscar winning film based on Karen’s an autobiography by the same title. The Museum is open to the Public every day (9.30 am to 6pm) including weekends and public holidays. Visitors are encouraged to be at the Museum by 5.30.  Guided tours are offered continuously.  A museum shop offers handicrafts, posters and postcards, the Movie ‘Out of Africa’, books and other Kenyan souvenirs.  The grounds may be rented for wedding receptions, corporate functions and other events.   Baroness Karen Blixen The Museum was built in 1912 by Swedish Engineer Ake Sjogren. Karen and her husband bought the Museum house in 1917 and it become the farm house for their 4500 acre farm, of which 600 acres was used for coffee farming. Their marriage failed after eight years and in 1921 the Baron moved on and left the running of the farm to Karen. Karen lived at the house until her return to Denmark in 1931. The house farm was bought by Remy Marin, who broke the land into 20 acre parcels for development. Subsequent development created the present suburb of Karen. Records indicate that a Lt. Col.G. Lloyd, an officer of the British Army bought the house in 1935 and lived there until his death in 1954, when it passed to his daughters, Mrs. G. Robersts and Lavender Llyod.  A transfer of title to Mrs. J.P Robson and Mrs L.B. Hyde is in City Hall records in 1956.  The house was sporadically occupied until purchased in 1964 by the Danish government and given to the Kenyan government as an independence gift. The government set up a college of nutrition and the Museum was initially used as the principal’s house. In 1985 the shooting of a movie based on Karen’s autobiography began and the National Museums of Kenya expressed acquired the house for the purpose of establishing a Museum. The Museum was opened in 1986. Distant View of Karen Blixen Karen also known by her pen name Isak Dinesen was born at Rungstedlund in Denmark on 17th of April 1885 as the second child of Wilhelm and Ingeborg Dinesen’s five children. She came to Africa in 1914 to marry her half cousin and carry out dairy farming in the then British Colony of Kenya. Her husband had however changed his mind and wanted to farm coffee. Her uncle Aage Westenholz financed the farm and members of both families were share holders. The coffee farm did not do well, suffering various tragedies including factory fire and continuous bad harvest. After her divorce, Karen was left to run the financially troubled farm on her own, a daunting task for a woman of that generation. She fell in love with an English man, Denis Finch Hatton, and his death in Tsavo in 1930 coupled with the failed farming left Karen little choice but to return to Denmark. She turned to writing as a career following her departure from Africa and published to increasing acclaim such works as Seven Gothic Tales(1934) Out of Africa(1937) and Babette Feat (1950).  She died on her family estate, Rungsted, in 1962 at the age of 77. Karen Blixen Museum The Karen Blixen house meets three of the customary criteria for  historical significance.  First, it is associated with the broad historical pattern of European settlement andcultivation of East Africa. Second, it is associated with the life of aperson significant to our past as the home of  Baroness Karen Blixen from 1917 -1931.  As such, it served as the setting and basis of herwell known book Out of Africa, written under the pseudonym Isak Dinesenand as a gathering place for other well known personalities of the period.  Third, the building embodies the distinctive characteristicsof its type, period and method of construction.  The house's architecture is typical of late 19th century bungalow architecture,including the spacious rooms, horizontal layout verandas, tile roof and stone construction typical of scores of residences built throughout European suburbs of Nairobi in early decades. The chronology of the house begins with its construction in 1912 by the wealthy Swedish civil engineer, later honorary Swedish consul to Kenya, Ake Sjogren.  It served as the main residence on his Swedo-African coffee company , an estate of over 6,000 acres.  The house was soon visited while on safari by the Danish count Mojen Frijs, who upon his return to Denmark persuaded his cousin to seek their fortune in Kenya.Baron Blixen acquired part of the estate in 1913 and the remainder in 1916.    Karen Blixen called the house "Bogani" or "Mbogani" meaning a house in the woods, and occupied it until 1931. By1985, with renewed interest in Karen Blixen occasioned by the film production of Out of Africa, an agreement was reach with the collage for the house to become part of the National Museums of Kenya. Many pieces of furniture that Karen Blixen sold to Lady McMillan on her departure were acquired back and constitute part of the exhibition in the Museum. The Museum house remains a serene environment that seems to belong to the past, surrounded by a tranquil garden and indigenous forest, with a splendid view of Karen’s beloved Ngong Hills. She honours the hills with the phrase ‘I had a farm in Africa at the foot of the Ngong Hills’. For further information contact.

Karen Blixen

Which new city in Nigeria has been shaped like a crescent, and has replaced Lagos as capital?

Isak Dinesen | Danish author | Britannica.com Danish author Alternative Titles: Karen Christence Dinesen, Baroness Blixen-Finecke, Pierre Andrézel Isak Dinesen Karen Christence Dinesen, Baroness Blixen-Finecke born Sir Salman Rushdie Isak Dinesen, pseudonym of Karen Christence Dinesen, Baroness Blixen-Finecke (born April 17, 1885, Rungsted, Denmark —died September 7, 1962, Rungsted), Danish writer whose finely crafted stories, set in the past and pervaded with an aura of supernaturalism, incorporate the themes of eros and dreams. Isak Dinesen, 1959 AP Educated privately and at the Academy of Fine Arts, Copenhagen , Dinesen married her cousin, Baron Bror Blixen-Finecke, in 1914 and went with him to Africa. There they owned and directed a coffee plantation in Kenya and became big-game hunters. After her divorce in 1921 she continued to operate the plantation for 10 years until mismanagement, drought, and the falling price of coffee forced her return to Denmark. Her years in Kenya are recorded in a nonfiction book, Out of Africa (1937; Den afrikanske farm). These highly regarded memoirs of her years in Kenya reveal an almost mystical love of Africa and its people. The book is a poetic reminiscence of her triumphs and her sorrows on the loss of her farm, the death of her companion, the English hunter Denys Finch Hatton, and the disappearance of the simple African way of life she admired. In 1944 she produced her only novel Gengældelsens veje ( The Angelic Avengers) under the pseudonym Pierre Andrézel. It is a melodramatic tale of innocents who defeat their apparently benevolent but actually evil captor, but Danish readers saw in it a clever satire of Nazi-occupied Denmark. She initially wrote first in English and then rewrote her books in Danish, but her later books usually appeared simultaneously in both languages. Dinesen’s characteristic writings were in the form of tales—highly polished narratives in the Romantic tradition. Collections include Seven Gothic Tales (1934; Syv fantastiske fortællinger), Winter’s Tales (1942; Vinter-eventyr), and Last Tales (1957; Sidste fortællinger). Carnival: Entertainments and Posthumous Tales (1977) includes uncollected or hitherto unpublished stories. Her other posthumously published works include Daguerreotypes, and Other Essays (1979) and Letters from Africa, 1914–31 (1981). Learn More in these related articles:

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Is the Great Wall of China 650, 1,450 or 2,050 miles long?

Please help here. Is the Great Wall of China 650, 1,450 or 2,050 miles long? View the step-by-step solution to: Please help here. Is the Great Wall of China 650, 1,450 or 2,050 miles long? This question was answered on May 20, 2016. View the Answer Please help here. Is the Great Wall of China 650, 1,450 or 2,050 miles long? georgetutor posted a question · May 20, 2016 at 2:24am Top Answer josewriter23 answered the question · May 20, 2016 at 2:25am Other Answers May 20, 2016 at 2:26am {[ getNetScore(29627399) ]} May 20, 2016 at 2:27am {[ getNetScore(29627412) ]} Here is the answer... View the full answer {[ getNetScore(29627414) ]} After working on your question, I... View the full answer {[ getNetScore(29627421) ]} The way to answer this question is ... View the full answer {[ getNetScore(29627422) ]} The answer to this question... View the full answer {[ getNetScore(29627456) ]} Here's the explanation you needed for... View the full answer {[ getNetScore(29627484) ]} The best way to approach your question... View the full answer {[ getNetScore(29628303) ]} Here is the solution... View the full answer {[ getNetScore(29635093) ]} View Full Answer or ask a new question Related Questions Need an US History tutor? profjanee 2 US History experts found online! Average reply time is 1 min Get Homework Help Why Join Course Hero? Course Hero has all the homework and study help you need to succeed! We’ve got course-specific notes, study guides, and practice tests along with expert tutors and customizable flashcards—available anywhere, anytime. - - Study Documents Find the best study resources around, tagged to your specific courses. Share your own to gain free Course Hero access or to earn money with our Marketplace. - Question & Answers Get one-on-one homework help from our expert tutors—available online 24/7. Ask your own questions or browse existing Q&A threads. Satisfaction guaranteed! - Flashcards Browse existing sets or create your own using our digital flashcard system. A simple yet effective studying tool to help you earn the grade that you want!

1 450

Where did the Gang of Four try to size power in 1976?

Notes 11-1 �      Brahman �      world spirit or supreme principle �      creates and destroys, reveals itself in millions  of earthly shapes from mountains to rain drops. Brahman is one, yet expresses itself as many �      divine essence �      monism �      all people and all things are merely different manifestations of one spirit that pervades the universe �      Believe that the spirit is present in every living creature and part of Brahman �      Goal:  Return to Brahman and be absorbed back into the universal spirit. �      to achieve goal, must progress and become purer �      reincarnation �      believe the soul is reborn over and over again �      linked to karma and dharma �      all living creatures have a soul that passes on life after life �      soul never dies �      good and bad acts of all one�s previous lives �      if good, reborn into a better life o     e.g. Brahmin o     priests (very pure previous life) o     if bad, reborn into a worse life o     e.g. worm or insect �      Dharma �      certain rights and duties (proper conduct) �      had to follow complex rituals �      temple worship, hymns, prayers, money, offering of food, flowers, incense �      each class has a certain place in society �      so dharma depends on place in society �      need to accept dharma and lot in life �      bad dharma if contact with lower castes (risk contamination) �      Hindu widows o     faced a bleak future o     could not remarry or return to own family o     ancient cultures died with husband (suttee) �      Caste (class or clan) system:  social groupings �      Four main Castes (thousands of castes w/in castes) �      higher castes purer than lower castes 1.    Brahmins or priests 2.    Warriors and rulers (warriors duty "dharma" was to fight) 3.    Merchants and farmers �      believed water can cure people of diseases �      cleanse people from sins �      part of the cycle of rebirth �      ashes from cremated bodies are put in it �      people will try to take a pilgrimage to this river at least once in their lifetime �      polluted with human/industrial waste,  agricultural runoff 1985: major clean up project                �      The soul never dies, but is continually reborn. �      Persons achieve happiness and enlightenment after they free themselves from their earthly desires �      Freedom from earthly desires comes from a lifetime of worship, knowledge, and virtuous acts   Buddhism  (500 B.C.) 560-480 BC �      branches off Hinduism �      Many Hindus were unhappy with the caste system �      time of social and religious  change   �      great thinkers at this time: Zoaster (Persia), Pythagoras (Greece), Confucius (China), Gautama (India) �      Born 563 B.C. �      Known as Buddha (The Enlightened One) �      gave up inheritance, wife and two kids �      29 years old left wife and family went on a religious quest. Joined homeless band of wisdom seekers. Six years tried to find wisdom through harsh discipline and suffering (pulled out hairs of his beard). For days at a time, he ate only single grain of rice. Stomach became so empty that he could touch his backbone with his finger �      six years wanders to find the truth �      self-denial and self-torture �      finally sat down by a sacred fig tree and vowed to never leave until found truth �      49th day finds truth   �      Basic beliefs o     Persons achieve complete peace and happiness, known as nirvana, by eliminating their attachment to worldly things. o     Nirvana is reached by following the middle way (4th noble truth) and the Noble Eightfold Path �      Four Noble Truths 1.    Sorrow or suffering is part of life o     all human existence (humans, animals, gods, etc.) are caught up in the cycle of rebirth. Suffer because actions (karma) keep them wandering 2.    People suffer because they are constantly wanting and trying to get things that they cannot have (origin of suffering) 3.    To escape suffering is to reach a stage of not wanting (how to find peace) 4.    Avoided extremes of too much pleasure and too much self-denial (path to permanent peace) �      Nirvana o     state of complete happiness and peace o     human soul one with the universe �      Eightfold Paths #20 3.    say nothing to hurt others 4.    respect 5.    job does not injure others 6.    free mind of evil 7.    control feelings and thoughts 8.    practice forms of concentration �      Buddha taught his followers to treat all living things with (humans, animals, insect) loving kindness �      placed importance on how one lives instead of one�s caste �      got rid of Brahmins complex rituals �      still believes in reincarnation �      gain enlightenment in one's life time and escape the Hindu cycle of rebirth   �      Hinayana�s "way of the elders" o     conservative o     saw Buddha only as a teacher o     Hindus' that absorbed its teachings and attitudes o     India, Burma (Myanmar), and SE Asia   �      Mahayana�s o     Believed Buddha as a god ruling over lesser gods. Spread into China, Japan, and Korea o     more diverse and liberal   4.    Older and younger brothers 5.    Friends or members of a community �      superior person was expected to set good examples of moral behavior �      Confucian virtues �      integrity (good morals, or strong character), loyalty, generosity, good manners, politeness �      350 years after his death, millions of Chinese started to follow his teachings   Taoism (300's B.C.) "the way" (the way of the natural universe) �      against Confucianism �      felt a person should avoid social obligations and lead a simple spontaneous and meditative life close to nature �      some became hermits �      live like the animals do (the natural way) Buddhism �      reached China about first century �      strongest in the 800's �      400 BC teachers try to explain religion                   �      Indus Valley Civilization 2500 B.C. (larger than Mesopotamia and Egypt) o     very advanced o     indoor bathrooms with the earliest known sewer system for drainage o     system of weights and measures (used to measure grain and gold) o     Conquered by the Aryans' (1500 B.C.) o     taller, lighter skin o     Claim northwest India 518 B.C. o     Cyrus the Great o     remains under Persian rule for 200 years   �      Macedonia takes control of India o     Alexander the Great defeats the Persians' in 327 B.C. o     When he dies, N.W. India is left without an effective ruler Hindus o     Chandragupta Maurya  323 B.C. o     United all Northern India o     9000 elephants o     700,000 soldiers o     ruled by force and fear. Would plant gov. spies to prevent plots against him. He trusted no one. Avoided being poisoned by having his servants taste his food first. Avoided murder by sleeping in a different room each night. Suspects plotting revolt were tortured to death o     took over Alex�s empire o     strong central government o     after 24 years gives it to his grandson Asoka o     Asoka 260 B.C. o     last of the great Hindu empires in India o     Chandra Gupta (no relationship to Chandragupta Maurya) o     known as a golden age for 150 years o     advances: doctors first to give injections, help stop epidemics (1000 years before Europeans) helped stop the spread of small pox. Surgery: sterilized cutting tools, set broken bones, repaired noses and ears, plastic surgery. Numbering system: first to use a numbering system based on ten. Muslims adopted system and gave to Europe, used zero and a symbol for infinity   o     1175 over took India o     conflict between Hindu and Muslim some say one of the "bloodiest in history" o     starts with Mahmud 997 o     17 years sacked Indian cities, destroyed Hindu temples and enslaved and massacred thousands   o     Genghis Khan o     destroy Baghdad o     late 1300 Tamerlane loots and destroys many cities in central and west Asia including Delhi   o     Mogul Empire (another name for Mongol) o     Babur (means tiger) �      never hit a man whom he did not knock down �      conquered India with cannon and fire power (gunpowder muskets) �      1526 took Delhi o     Akbar 1556-1605 (most great) �      Babur�s grandson �      father falls down a flight of stairs in his palace and dies �      13 years old when takes over �      excellent leader �      one of the most effective rulers in history �      many talents and interests �      empire was one of the best governed and most prosperous in the world �      ruled for 49 years �      known as a golden age �      compromise important in uniting many different people and religions �      toleration of religion was greatest contribution to India �      allowed Hindus to have high government positions �      fair tax system �      removed special tax of Hindus �      did not believe that Islam was the only true faith o     Aurangzeb 1669 �      gained throne after killing three brothers, one son, and a nephew �      imprisoned his sick father (soon died) �      killed  two older brothers �      removed Hindus from government offices �      destroyed Hindu temples and schools �      forced Hindu population to follow laws and practices of Islam �      1707 Mogul empire in decline �        British rule in India (1647-1947) o     Imperialism:  the take over and control of other lands to gain economic and political advantages (Age of Imperialism 1870-1914) o     Why? o     Power, money (lost in wars), need for more products (age of Industrialization), adventure, Christianity o     English East India Company o     Elizabeth I chartered (backed by 80 merchants) o     Mogul emperor granted company many trading posts o     1647:  27 English trading posts   o     Britain and France clash in India o     France held a major trading post in Pondicherry o     British owned trading posts in Madras, Calcutta (named after calico), and Surat o     many local wars between rival Indian rulers o     would grant trading privileges to whichever company would help them o     1740's France and Britain are in war o     carries into India o     150 British imprisoned small room without adequate food, water, and air. All but 23 prisoners died from suffocation, heat stroke or wounds. o     British win (1757) and est. themselves in India o     1773 Parliament passed the first of several laws to limit East India Company�s power (parliament takes over company) o     e.g. 1770 company raises the price of grain during a famine to make more profit while Indians starved                 o     makes British control in India more secure o     1784 India Act o     British government now in control of military and government actions in India o     British felt they were superior to the Indians o     many Indians treated as animals o     high level civil service jobs not open to the Indians o     Sepoys o     Indian soldiers: were required to serve in other parts of Asia (lose status by leaving country) o     British abolish many Indian traditions o     British remained separate from Indian society o     e.g. signs reading "for Europeans only" o     Education emphasized British way o     ignored Indian traditions �      widow commit suicide at her husband's funeral �      1856 allowed Hindu widows to remarry o     1857 Sepoy rebellion o     new rifle (greased cartridges) o     Muslims don't eat pork had to bite off the tops of the greased cartridges. Quaran forbids Muslims to eat pork. Cows sacred to Hindus who don't eat meat. Refused to load guns o     dismissed  or put in prison o     400 British civilians mostly women and children promised safe passage but massacred (resentment on both sides) o     1876 Queen Victoria is named Empress of India o     India is now part of the British empire o     Indian people under British rule o     promised that they would not interfere with their religious beliefs o     British improved Indian transportation and communication o     telegraph system (1850-1870) o     roads and railroads are built o     helps unify the Indian people o     est. mills and factories o     enlarged Indian irrigation system o              1878-1881 Indian troops under British officers defeated Afghanistan o              1885 defeats Burma o              1914-1918:  help Great Britain in W.W.I o              India contributed raw materials, money, and troops to the war effort. In return, Britain would increase India�s self rule   o     becomes leader of the National Congress o     delegates from every province in India o     wanted Indians to have better and more responsible government positions o     lower taxes o     Indian Muslims did not join because most of the delegates were Hindu o     he rejected any form of violence o     had millions of followers o     dominated India�s independence movement for 30 years o     spent time in jail o     used civil disobedience o     non-violent  resistance to laws and acts that were thought unjust o     e.g. would halt all work and dedicate the day for prayer and fasting o     wanted to unify India o     wanted to unite Hindus and Muslims o     disagrees w/ how Hindus treat outcastes o     calls the untouchables "children of God" o     did not want an industrialized nation o     ssassinated in 1948        -Civilization one of the oldest in the world (4000+ years old)        -Culture model for all of Asia        -Saw the outside world as inferior                 -barbarians        -Family foundation of Chinese society                 -more important than self or state                 -extended family                          -parents, children, and grandparents all living under one roof                 -few sins higher than showing disrespect towards parents                 -elderly had privileges and power                          -young had practically none                 -most important virtue was respect towards parents                          -few sins higher than treating parents with disrespect                 -women inferior                          -sons would rule over mother                 -Fitial Piety                          -respect for one's parents, family, and ancestors        - Shang dynasty (1766 to 1122 B.C.) (Shong)                 -China's first dynasty                          -many felt existed only in legend                          -1920's found evidence that it did                 -invented horse-drawn war chariots and writing system                 - Yellow River location of first civilizations          - Zhou (Chou) dynasty (1122 to 256 B.C.) pronounced Joh                 -tired of paying tribute                          -approval of the gods to rule (could lose mandate of heaven by ruling gov. well)                          -overthrew the Shang's because they did not rule efficiently                 -reigned for 900 years                          -longer than any other dynasty in Chinese history                 -Feudalism                          -iron,  irrigation systems,  plow,  coin money          Ch'in (Qin) dynasty (221 B.C. to 206 B.C.)                          - first empire in China                          -China is named after his dynasty                          - est. strong central government (lasted for 2000 years)                                   - own currency and writing system                          -extended the Great Wall of China (linked them together)                                   - 1800 miles                                   - 20 to 50 feet high                                   - one million laborers were forced to work on the wall                                            -thousands  of humans lie in the walls from hard work and cold winters                                            -worked because it was law and to break the law meant death                          - built  roads and canals                                   -focus of punishments not rewards                                            -i.e.  road without a permit, then ear or hand was cut off                          -all  books were burned that were considered not helpful to prevent criticism          Han dynasty (202 B.C. to 220 A.D.) pronounced Hon                 - avoided extremes of rigid rule; thus, endure for 400 years                 - traded with the Roman Empire                          - Chinese silk                                   -the great silk road was 4000 miles long that linked China to the West                 -proclaimed Confucianism as the official belief for his gov.                 - developed their own calendar, star maps, magnetic compass, water clocks, sundials, instrument to record earthquakes, discoveries in chemistry and medicine, learned to make paper, invented glazes that gave plates and bowls a smooth clean surface          Sui dynasty (220-618) pronounced sway                 -greatest empire in the world                 -surpassed Europe in culture and technology                 -became a model for all eastern Asia          T'ang dynasty  (618-907) pronounced Tong                 -Golden Age richest most powerful country in the world                 -capital over 2 million people                 -long finger nails sign of high class (no manual labor)                 - 655 control of Korea                          - only woman ever to hold that title in China                          -stayed in power for 45 years                                   -690 ruled by self                 - encouraged trade with other nations                 - greatest empire in the world at that time                          - elegant houses, temples, palaces, broad streets and landscaped parks                 - Japan, Korea, and Tibet copy their culture          Sung Dynasty (960 to 1126) pronounced Soong                 -peak of Chinese history                 -highest  standard of living in the world                 -would  buy peace                          -1004 paid chieftain 6250 lbs of silver, 200,000 bolts of silk                                   -gave gifts of 4375 lbs of silver, 150,000 bolts of silk, and 30,000 lbs of tea                 -trade was important                 - population shifted to the cities                 - prosperous time                          -compass (magnetized needle floating in bowl of water)                          - gun powder                          -first to use paper money (1st in world)                                   -counterfeiters were beheaded                          -developed a system of printing                                   -not invented in Europe until 1450                                   -invented porcelain                 -returned to a purely Chinese state                 -become a sea power in the 1400's                 -greatest naval sea power in the world. �      Seven voyages across the Indian Ocean, �      100 ships, Treasure ships were the largest in the world at that time. �      440 feet long �      180 feet wide 1500 tons �      15 times the size of Portuguese ships                   -1405 Zhang He (Jung Huh)                 -expeditions  to India, Arabia, and Africa                 -300 ships , 28,000 merchants and crewmen        Forbidden city                 -just for emperor and court. 250 acres, halls, private palaces, libraries, theaters, gardens, athletic fields.  6,000 cooks (lavish meals). 10,000 to 15,000 lived there               Manchu Dynasty (people of Manchuria)                 - 1644 to 1912                          -seen as barbarians to the Chinese people                          -marriage with Chinese forbidden                          -all Chinese men had to braid their hair into a long pigtail (sign of low status)                 -China considered all foreign countries inferior and expected them to pay tribute                          -view trade as a privilege given to  foreigners, not as a right                 -1800: 300 million more than all of Europe. 1850:  430 million (millions starving) 1998: 1 billion 210 million (US 265 million)                   - War with Great Britain  (1842)                   -Opium �      -Great Britain would buy opium in India and sell it in China �      -millions of Chinese became addicts �      -drained Chinese treasury �      -Chinese government tries to stop the selling of opium                            -Great Britain defeats China after 3 years �      -Chinese used cannon and boats that were used in the 1300's vs. British gun boats (iron-hulled steam ships) �      -laid out the conditions of trade �      -gain 5 Chinese ports �      -get Hong Kong for opium lost                          �      Japan gets Korea and Taiwan �      lost territory to Russia, France, Germany �      foreigners controlled China's trade and economic policy                 o     struggle between Nationalist  and Communist forces in China (1920) o     Chiang Kaishek o     overthrew last emperor 1911 o     flee's to Taiwan o     Why did we support a corrupt government? o     cold war Demo vs Comm. o     Taiwan �      US called Rep. of China until 1972. �      Would not recognize communist government o     Mao Tse-Tung (from a peasant family) o     Communist government o     1949 communists had gained control of China o     People's Republic of China o     becomes ruler of China o     dies in 1976 o     positive: under his leadership famine was wiped out, illiteracy was almost wiped out, women were treated as the equals of men, united country o     negative: millions of Chinese are put to death o     many others are put in prison o     1989 Tienanmen Square o     college  students called for demo. reforms o     gov. declares martial law o     strict controls maintained over a nation by military forces o     troops are sent in and 100's of unarmed students are killed o     leaders are arrested and killed o     martial law lifted in 1990   o     Shinto (3000's B.C.) "The Way of the gods" o     oldest surviving religion of Japan o     worship many gods (Sun god highest) o     stress patriotism and the worship of the emperor o     central ideal was to worship nature o     90 percent of people are Shintoists o     75 percent Buddhist o     no writing system before 300, thus we know very little of early history o     adopted Chinese system of writing, cooking, gardening, drinking tea, hairdressing o     800's stopped copying China          o     Jimmu o     first emperor of Japan (5th century A.D.) o     founder of the imperial family (Yamato) o     never been overthrown o     most ancient ruling house in the world o     had very little power o     Shogun o     ruled over military matters in the name of the emperor o     basically ran the country o     Samurai "One who serves" o     class of warriors o     brave and loyal to its lord o     honor was very important o     if lost would commit suicide o     Seppuku o     Zen Buddhism (Zen means meditation) o     different form of Buddhism o     brought in by Japanese monks (1200's) o     emphasized enlightenment through meditation o     very disciplined o     if student looked somewhere Zen Master would beat student with a stick o     Mongols o     1274 and 1281 try to invade Japan o     140,000 men o     typhoon destroyed his fleet o     Kamikaze: divine wind, which saved Japan o     Portuguese o     first Europeans to reach Japan 1543 o     intro.  Musket, which changed warfare o     intro. Christianity o     thought they were trying to take over o     1638 tortured and executed 36,000. 105 left alive. o     Feudalism o     ends by the late 1800's o     forced to trade with other foreign countries o     Shogun's rule ended in 1868 o     Mutsuhito (1868-1912) o     ruled 15 years old o     ruled for 45 years o     decided to adapt western ways into the Japanese culture so they could eventually became superior to the west o     Japan goes from a feudal society into a modern state during his reign o     Goals #42 1.    knowledge shall be sought all over the world to strengthen Japan 2.    land was to be owned by the government 3.    Samurai class was to be abolished 4.    Japanese draft o     army after the French o     navy after the British o     1853 steam engine iron gun boat o     national loyalties were more important than loyalties to one's family o     imperialism o     defeated China in 1895 for control of Korea and Taiwan �      Sino-Japanese war o     defeated the Russians in 1905 �      Russo-Japanese war �      38 out of 40 ships sank o     Japan becomes the leading power in Asia (early 1900's) �      1938 in control of parts of China o     Japan threatens Philippine Is. (US is in control of) o     US cuts off fuel and iron supply to Japan to help China o     Wanted to control all of Eastern Asia, attacks US to get it o     1941: attacked Pearl Harbor o     Joins the Axis Pact o     Germany, Italy, and Japan o     1945: surrendered to the Allies o     Emperor Hirohito announced his surrender �      died 1989 o     first civilization to develop was Egypt o     Kushites conquered the Egyptians in 730 B.C. o     Kushite king now pharaoh of Egypt o     Kush (730 B.C. - 350 A.D.) o     first major kingdom o     kings ruled from beautiful palaces o     Islam mostly influenced in Eastern Africa o     built great temples and beautiful pottery o     used Egyptian hieroglyphics o     modern scholars have not yet deciphered the Kushite writing o     conquered by the Axum Axum o     Christianity major religion (395 A.D.) o     enemies Arabs o     Churches made out of solid rock (hollowed) o     language  and culture is a blend of African and Arabian influences o     important trade center o     traded salt and gold (wealth is based on) o     1350 2/3's of worlds gold supply came from west Africa o     Ghana o     king of the gold o     ruled and controlled the buying and selling of gold o     outsiders had to pay tribute to him o     thought of as a god o     had absolute power o     1000 A.D. Ghana kingdom was at the height of its power (size of Texas) o     1054 Muslims invaded o     never regained its former glory o     Mandingo people of Mali o     Mali name of empire means "where the king lives" o     Sundiata (1230) o     king that expanded its territory o     12 sons all killed but Sundiata, because he was crippled, did not think he would survive. Got older regained his strength o     100,000 man army and 10,000 man cavalry o     Mansa Musa (1312-1332) o     one of Mali's most famous kings o     Muslim o     took pilgrimage to Mecca o     traveled with 12,000 slaves dressed in silk o     took with him 50,000 ounces of gold to give to the poor o     first 500 slaves each carried a six pound staff of gold. 2nd 100 camels each carried 300 lbs of gold dust. He gave away so much gold that it decreased the price for 12 years o     Europe found out about wealth. Was the start of its domination of Africa. o     Songhai people (1468-1590) o     king Sunni Ali (ruthless) o     conquered area about the size of western Europe o     last of the great empires in Sudan o     empire lacked gunpowder and cannons o     Moroccans 4000 men 3000 die crossing the Sahara o     1000 survivors killed 27,000 with their cannons o     Songhai people only have spears and swords South Africa o     Bantu people (500 B.C.) o     eventually occupied 1/3 of Africa o     Arabs intermix with the Bantu's o     Swahili was their language o     Islam is their religion o     Bantu grammar and Arabic words o     today�s first and second language in eastern or central Africa   1.    Interested in Africa's gold o     others:  ivory, tortoise shells, rhinoceros horns,, elephant tusks 2.    Slavery o     Slave trade 16th to 19th century o     war captives, debtors, and criminals were enslaved before the arrival of Arab and European slave traders o     300 years slave trade robbed Africa of its most valuable resource:  its people o     millions of Africans taken o     local wars develop o     traded slaves for weapons o     lost generations of potential leaders o     left much of Africa weak, politically and economically o     Outlawed internationally in the early 1800's 3.    Land o     land available for plantation agriculture o     cotton, coffee, tea, palm oil, and cloves o     plantations  increased demand for slaves 4.    Missionaries and colonies 19th century   o     Great Britain starts a colony with black settlers (1787) �      later joined with freed blacks from Canada and America o     mid 1800's: 90 percent of Africa ruled by Europeans o     usually would shoot first and ask questions later o     had superior weapons (easily defeated African tribes) o     1914 only two African nations o     Ethiopia �      America sent black settlers back to Africa to set up a colony in 1816 �      1847 became the first republic in Africa �      government modeled after America o     Great Britain: control of South Africa and Northeast Africa o     France: controls West Africa o     Portuguese, Germans, Spanish, Italians, Belgians also own parts of Africa o     Germans treatment of Africans o     paid 35 cents a month o     they protested o     drank mixed grain and water (felt it would protect them from European bullets) o     100,000 died o     Belgium in Congo (80 times larger than Belgium) o     demands  on work expected was very high o     if did not reach demand, then were beaten, mutilated, or killed o     Established in most cases direct rule over their colonies o     European governmental officials replaced African leaders o     European laws were established o     taxes were collected o     felt that Africans were incapable of managing their own lands and lives o     1945 four independent nations in Africa: Egypt, Ethiopia, Liberia, and South Africa o     Late 1950's -1960's most African colonies become independent o     Colonies under British rule o     British established indirect rule o     Africans would eventually be given self -rule o     1957: Ghana (Gold Coast): first nation to become independent after World War II o     1960: Nigeria & Cameroon o     1961: Sierra Leone & Tanganyika (Tanzania 1964) o     1962: Uganda o     1963:  Zambia and Kenya o     1964:  Malawi o     1965:  Gambia o     French colonies o     African people given a choice: become members of a community or choose complete independence and lose French economic aid o     1958:  Guinea choose independence o     1960:  all territories in French West Africa receive independence without losing aid o     Other Countries o     1960:  Congo gains independence over Belgium o     1975:  Portugal last European country with large African holdings, gave up its remaining colonies o     Mozambique and Angola Problems with many African nations 1.    Start industrial projects and borrowed heavily o     1980's: African nation owed over 200 billion dollars o     huge interest payments made it impossible for governments to improve education, create jobs, etc. 2.    Neglected agriculture o     1950: 200 million Africans o     1990: 670 million Africans 4.    Severe droughts 5.    Struggle for power in government 6.    Lack of unity o     many different groups of people o     e.g. Uganda broadcast in 24 different languages 7.    Lack of education o     e.g. Zaire 16 college graduates out of 16 million people o       Results: many died of starvation (Ethiopia, Somalia, and Mozambique)   o     Rivals between the Hutu and Tutsi tribes for centuries o     85% of Rwandans are Hutu, 15% Tutsi o     Hutu dominated Gov. o     Hutu Gov. troops start to kill Tutsis for revenge o     Forty-four orphans seriously wounded by machetes o     Ages from a few weeks old to 11, arms and legs are cut off o     1180 Tutsis are killed in a church, 650 are children o     Civilians are buried alive o     Acts of torture o     People roamed streets shooting, knifing, hacking civilians to death o     results:  200,000 to 500,000 Tutsis killed (genocide) o     Hutus flee homes fearful of retaliation of Tutsis o     Tutsis gain control of the Gov. (win the war) o     results:  millions of refugees flee to Tanzania and Zaire o     thousands  of refugees are dying at refugee camps due to cholera, hunger, and bacterial diseases o     dead bodies everywhere o     one pt. 1,800 people dying a day o     UN sends relief aid o     Zairian officials demand thousands of dollars in landing fees for each plane that lands.  Zairian soldiers steal food and medicine being loaded from planes o     8 million people in Rwanda before war o     1/2 of pop. dead or left their homes o     more  than 1/3 left country o     100,000 to 120,000 children without parents o     New Tutsi Gov. preaches unity however still reports of abuse o     most Hutus fearful of returning to country o     Hutu militia leaders and Gov. officials face firing squads due to the genocide of the Tutsis   o     U.S. supplies Ethiopia with military aid (established an US military base) o     Somalia responds by turning to the Soviet Union for aid o     Ethiopia's emperor is overthrown o     new leader asks Soviet Union for aid o     Somalia then switched to the United States for aid o     Results: lots of weapons for different groups of people o     1960: independent nation o     1969-1991: military leaders take over o     1991: capital taken by United Somali Congress o     president and cabinet o     Jan. 1992: president kicked out o     now many war lords run different sects of the country o     1947 democratic constitution

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Which Asian city hosted the 1988 Olympic Games?

Which was the first Asian city to host the Olympic Games? Which was the first Asian city to host the Olympic Games? 1 Answer 0 The first Olympic Games were held in 1896, in Athens, in which a total of 245 athletes participated, all men. Since then, London and Los Angeles along with Athens have hosted these games two times each. The first opening ceremonies were held during the 1908 Olympic Games in London. In 2008, Beijing will host the Summer Olympic Games. 2- In 2012, London will be the only city to host Olympic Games three times (1908, 1948 and 2012). 3- The first Asian city to host the Olympic Games was Tokyo in 1964. After that, Seoul hosted these games in 1988. In 2008, Beijing will be the third Asian city to host these games. 4- To date, 16 European cities, six cities from the Americas, two Australian cities, and three Asian cities have hosted the Olympic Games. 5- The first Olympic Games were held in 776 BC, and the last of that era in 393 AD, when the Christian Byzantine Emperor Theodosius I abolished them. The Ancient Greek Olympics were held every 4 years at Olympia, a district of Elis, in ... more answers.yahoo.com

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Who was emperor of Japan during world War II?

Sport and Politics on the Korean Peninsula - North Korea and the 1988 Seoul Olympics | Wilson Center Sport and Politics on the Korean Peninsula - North Korea and the 1988 Seoul Olympics Sport and Politics on the Korean Peninsula - North Korea and the 1988 Seoul Olympics Dec 12, 2011 [Click to Skip to Document List Below] On September 30, 1981, members of the International Olympic Committee, meeting in Baden-Baden, Germany, to select the host city of the 1988 Summer Olympics, unexpectedly voted (52 to 27) to award the Games to Seoul, upsetting the only other candidate, Nagoya. Plagued for some years by various problems, ranging from insolvency (Montreal, 1976) to boycott (Montreal, 1976 and Moscow, 1980), the Games were at the low ebb of their international popularity, which was one reason why the Baden-Baden decision drew only cursory attention of the international media. While socialist countries protested, few others, with the exception of South Korea, where the vote set off jubilant celebrations took notice—except perhaps for those who read as far as the H-section (World News) of The Washington Post, which cautiously commented on October 4: “South Korea's successful bid to host the 1988 summer Olympics in Seoul appears to have moved the country's leadership a step closer to goals of enhancing its image internationally and consolidating political power at home.” [2] In retrospect, the Washington Post piece was mildly put. But who could have made a better prediction? In 1981 South Korea suffered from economic woes and political instability. Less than two years earlier, General Chun Doo-hwan had seized power in a coup d’état, and soon presided over a massacre of student demonstrators in Gwangju and the imprisonment of the opposition activist Kim Dae-jung. South Korea, by then far more prosperous than its Communist nemesis in the north, was not a member of the United Nations, and had no diplomatic relations with the socialist bloc. It existed in a state of a permanent war-scare: armed yet insecure, menaced by the militant North and by restive domestic opponents of the undemocratic regime. Under these circumstances, it was anyone’s guess how the Games would turn out; after all, in 1981, the Olympics were still seven years away, and seven years was an eternity in a place as unsettled as the Korean Peninsula.  The issue came to the fore only after the Los Angeles Olympics of 1984, which were boycotted by the USSR and a number of socialist countries in revenge for the earlier Western boycott of the Soviet Olympics in 1980. With the Seoul Games up next, the North Korean leadership had to come up with a viable policy to make the best out of what could potentially turn out to be a public relations coup for South Korea. Soviet support was essential in this endeavor, because Moscow’s boycott (and, as a bonus, a boycott by most other socialist countries) would go a long way towards delegitimizing the Games. If the boycott was also supported by a number of Third World countries—not impossible, given that North Korea pulled weight in the Third World—and if the radical sections of the South Korean populace could be mobilized to stage disruptive protests, Pyongyang could yet turn the tables on the South and win from the ruin of the Games. We do not know if this was how North Korean leader Kim Il Sung assessed the situation. If it was, it helps to explain why in 1983-84 Kim began to a rapprochement with the Soviets after keeping his distance from the USSR for more than a decade. However, instead of calling for the outright boycott of the Seoul Games, the North Koreans developed a more sophisticated policy. By 1985 they were proposing to share the Games between North and South Korea, with 50 percent held in Seoul, and 50 percent in Pyongyang. This plan was met with enthusiastic support in Cuba. Indeed, Cuba was more consistent than any other country in backing Pyongyang’s proposals. Documents in this collection help to understand why. Fidel Castro felt cheated out of the right to host the Pan-American Games in 1987 in place of Ecuador (Indianapolis was ultimately selected as the venue). Fidel’s support for Kim Il Sung in the dispute over the Seoul Olympics thus complemented his own set of grievances about the state of the international Olympic movement ( Documents 1 , Document 2 , Document 35 ). One way or another, Cuba’s position was a problem for other socialist countries, not least the USSR, which was partly shamed by Castro into lukewarm support for North Korea ( Document 8 ). At the outset, Pyongyang’s idea seemed reasonable, even inspirational. Korea was a divided nation. Shared Games could symbolically help overcome this division, improve security, and assure maximum participation. The Games could perhaps jump-start inter-Korean dialogue and serve the cause of détente on the peninsula. In calling for shared Games, North Korea placed the South in a difficult situation, for, by refusing to agree to Pyongyang’s proposal, the South Koreans would expose themselves to criticism for intransigence, and to the possibility of a boycott. This begs the question: were the North Koreans from the outset determined to ruin the Games, and only sought a convenient pretext to do so, or were they genuinely interested in sharing the Games, and in doing so basking in Seoul’s Olympic glory? Documents in this collection are unclear on this issue but they do suggest considerable flexibility in North Korea’s tactics from 1985 through 1988. It may well have been that Kim Il Sung was open to both possibilities: ruining the Games or sharing the Games. In the end, he was outmaneuvered on both counts. Document 5 , a report by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Vice President Ashwini Kumar to North Korea in July 1985, offers a snapshot of the opening moves in what would develop into a complex multi-player, multi-level game, which led in due course to Pyongyang’s spectacular defeat. The positions were clear and apparently irreconcilable. The IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch had set the parameters for talks with North Korea: “the Games cannot be split between the two countries.” However, the North Koreans were told, “in the interest of peace and harmony, the IOC would agree to the two teams marching consecutively in the Opening Ceremony and perhaps also exhibit during the Games symbols of unity between the two Koreans in cultural activities such as singing, dance, drama and exhibitions.” This position, Kumar reported, “did not impress Mr. Kim [head of the North Korean National Olympic Committee] and he pressed his own point in a very determined manner.” This point was elaborated by the First Vice President of the DPRK Pak Seongcheol (Park Song Ch’ol)who told Kumar that North Korea could only attend the Games “with dignity” if three demands were satisfied: the Olympics were organized jointly; the events were equally shared by the two sides, and the appellation of Games were changed to “Korea Pyongyang Seoul Olympic Games.” In his conversation with Kumar, Pak resorted to implied and explicit threats should the North Korean demands be ignored: these included the prospect of an “accidental error that would have disastrous effects on the peaceful celebrations of the Games,” and allusions to “wide-spread violence and unrest in South Korea.” Pak “ominously declared that the course of events would definitely take a violent turn in case the situation was not diffused.” These of course were not empty threats and Kumar, as well as Samaranch, would have understood that North Korea had the capability to turn the Games into a bloodbath. Kumar concluded that the IOC should depart from the principled line laid down by Samaranch and at least entertain some concessions to North Korea if the South was agreeable, “as it is bound to be.” This would, Kumar wrote to Samaranch, “completely isolate North Korea if it later walks out on the Games.” As all of the three parties (North Korea, South Korea and the IOC) had reasons not to appear intransigent, trilateral talks began in Lausanne in October 1985. Before the talks began, in late August 1985, Samaranch and the President of the Seoul Olympic Organizing Committee (SLOOC), and the South Korean president-to-be, Roh Tae-woo, discussed how they should handle the North Koreans in Lausanne ( Document 9 ). Their meetings were part of a closely coordinated effort to build up a common front against Pyongyang. In theory, the IOC posed as an impartial mediator in the dispute between the South and the North; in practice, the IOC and the SLOOC worked together to Pyongyang’s detriment. It is interesting, for example, that Samaranch actually discouraged Roh Tae-woo from offering too many concessions to North Korea, telling him that “in the case that the IOC pretends  to ask the Republic of Korea to allow more than two sports to be held in north Korea, the Republic of Korea may make the gesture of refusing the IOC proposal.” Samaranch’s idea was spelled out in the same document with remarkable clarity: “It may be almost impossible for north Korea to agree to hold preliminary elimination contests for the proposed sports, as that would seem to make the city of Pyongyang one of the cities of the Republic of Korea.” But the IOC would make the proposal nonetheless, as this “may prove helpful in encouraging the socialist countries to participate… If the meeting bears no fruit, north Korea will be completely isolated.” In this context, Samaranch’s comments, at the IOC meeting in Lausanne on October 8, 1985 ( Document 13 ), to the effect that the “IOC was trying to find the best conditions that could be offered by the NOC [National Olympic Committee] of the Republic of Korea under which the [DPRK] could fully participate in the Games” can be construed as disingenuous, and even deliberately misleading. The first round of talks ( Document 13 ) showed just how far the SLOOC/IOC and the North Korean positions were from each other. The DPRK delegation, “in the spirit of fervent compatriotic love,” insisted on being given the right to stage eleven events in full and on renaming the Games in line with Pak’s earlier explanations to Kumar. The ROK delegation stuck to the conservative proposals Samaranch had earlier elaborated to Roh Tae-woo, announcing its readiness “to consider” the allocation of several handball and volleyball preliminaries to the North. No agreement was reached on this occasion. Documents 16 - Document 23 , which partially cover the second round of talks in Lausanne (January 8-9, 1986), and the subsequent exchanges between the IOC and the North Korean Olympic Committee, should be read in conjunction with Richard Pound’s Five Rings Over Korea, which was itself based, practically verbatim, on these documents. [3] But one issue neither these documents nor, indeed, Pound’s account, adequately explains is how the IOC went from its humble offer of giving Pyongyang preliminaries in four sports plus one complete sport (a concession apparently wrestled away from South Korea at these very talks) [4] to an apparent readiness to allow North Koreans to stage three complete events: football, table tennis and archery ( Document 21 ). Some “informal” discussions to this effect were held on January 9 between North Korea and the IOC Vice President Alexandru Siperco, and Samaranch confirmed the offer in another informal meeting on January 15, with the reservations that the international sports federations concerned would have to agree to this first. All that was required from the North at that stage was to say “yes” to participation in the Games. The North Koreans should have jumped at the chance to seal at least a rudimentary agreement with the IOC then and there, especially that Samaranch even went as far as to offer that, for those events held in Pyongyang, the Games could be called “24th Olympic Games in Pyongyang” ( Document 21 ). Weeks earlier, the IOC would not even entertain this idea. This was North Korea’s missed opportunity—one of several missed opportunities in the run-up to 1988—to make the best out of a very unfavorable situation. Instead, the North Koreans, displaying the self-defeating stubborn attitude so characteristic of DPRK diplomacy in general, continued to press for better terms, even though  time was certainly not on their side. That said, they did retreat at the January 1986 talks from their initial maximalist demands, now asking for only eight sports—or a third of the Games. By March 1986 ( Document 23 ), the North Koreans were asking for only six sports, and there is indirect evidence ( Document 25 ) that they were willing to go as low as five by April. Yet, they were at a distinct disadvantage vis-à-vis the South and the IOC, the longer the talks were drawn out. By April 1986 the South Koreans could say with greater confidence that a socialist boycott of the Games would be averted; by all indications—although by then no firm commitments had been made—the Soviet Union and China both intended to send athletes to the Seoul Games. Samaranch had long suspected that, at least in relation to the USSR. Document 8 shows that during Samaranch’s visit to Moscow in the summer of 1985—that is, before the talks with North Korea even began—the Soviets made it clear that “they are ready to take part in the Games” and “they are not worried regarding the position of North Korea.” The IOC had shared these revelations with the South Koreans who, we must assume, were reassured by this information, which, incidentally, would have dissuaded the ROK from undue generosity in early talks with the North about sharing the Games. A further indication that the USSR would not boycott the Games was that small groups of Soviet athletes actually visited Seoul on several occasions in 1985. [5]   In March, twelve Soviet figure skaters toured South Korea—reportedly on the first ever visit by Soviet athletes to this country. [6]   Another team came down for the World Judo Championships in September 1985: one Soviet judoka, featherweight Iurii Sokolov, took gold. [7]   An archery team took part in the World Championships the following month—Irina Soldatova returned home with a champion’s title. [8]   Soviet boxers were in Seoul for the World Cup in November 1985. [9]   Ranking international sports officials traveling on Soviet passports—Iurii Chesnokov of the International Volleyball Federation and Iurii Titov of the International Gymnastics Federation—stopped over in Seoul for various reasons and made positive comments about the Seoul Games, and the prospects of Soviet participation. [10]   Finally, in April 1986 Marat Gramov, the head of the Soviet Olympic Committee turned up in Seoul for a big meeting of National Olympic Committees, a sure sign that the USSR was leaning towards participation in the Games. [11]   In fact, we now know something that Samaranch could only suspect in early 1986: by January of that year, the Soviet leadership had concluded that, as Foreign Minister Eduard Shevardnadze put it, “a boycott of the Olympic Games is unrealistic. It can bury the entire Olympic movement.” [12]   Quite apart from that, as Shevardnadze would have known, such a boycott would bury Soviet hopes of hosting the 1996 Winter Olympics in Leningrad. [13] It was also increasingly obvious that Kim Il Sung could not count on China’s support. By June 1986 the Chinese announced their decision to participate in the Asian Games in Seoul (these took place later that year). [14]   The successful staging of the Asian Games became a promising indication that all would be well two years later. Even before that, in November 1985, Deng Xiaoping privately dispelled Kim’s illusions that China would boycott the Olympic movement, because it was hoping to host the Games in 2000. [15]   The Chinese were privately exasperated with the North Korean intransigence and their failure to consult. As the top Chinese sports official Li Menghua put it in a serious understatement, “we have solidarity and friendship with [North] Korea. But our opinions often do not coincide.” [16]   For his part, the Great Leader probably vented his anger at the Chinese in talks with the Soviets: an internal Soviet report (dated December 10, 1985) noted that “the [North] Korean leadership is rightly furious with Beijing, whose statements in support of the DPRK contradict its behind-the-scenes ties with Seoul.” [17] The writing was on the wall—it certainly was for President Chun Doo-hwan. One of the most remarkable documents in the IOC collection is Samaranch’s memorandum of his meeting with Chun on April 19, 1986 ( Document 25 ). In the meeting, Samaranch sought Chun’s agreement to the prospect of offering “two or three” sports to North Korea (this suggests that his earlier offer of three sports, including football, to the North, had not been coordinated with Seoul). Chun warned Samaranch not to be taken in by the North Korean threats. It is true that [North] Korea has more arms than we have but they do not have the means to fight against us and the US forces based in my country. President Kim Il-Sung knows that he cannot attack us and I know it and he knows that I know it. Neither the USSR nor China will allow North Korea to attack South Korea. North Korea is not in a position to attack us. […] The problem of the danger of war depends on whether the USSR is inclined to fight against the United States in my region. I can assure you that that country does not want war either. Without the support of these two countries, North Korea can do absolutely nothing and if it were to do something, that would be an act of self-destruction. If they want a fight, they would have it, but it would be suicide on their part. This confidence on Chun’s part, based on realpolitik assumptions about what his rival in the North and its allies (China and the USSR) could and could not do in the broader context of the regional Cold War, hampered accommodation with Pyongyang. If Kim Il Sung, in reality, was a paper tiger, it was not necessary to bend over backwards to make concessions. In another meeting with Samaranch, on April 25, 1986 ( Document 26 ), Chun Doo Hwan elaborated his views of North Korea in a brutally frank matter, which betrayed no real propensity towards compromise solutions. “You must be very careful,” he said. “It is impossible to expect goodwill or cooperation on their part… if one gives one finger to North Korea, they will take the whole hand.” It is clear from the record that Chun was unhappy over what he increasingly perceived as Samaranch’s weak-kneed acquiescence to North Korean demands. However, both Chun and Samaranch appeared to be on the same page in terms of their overall aims. Indeed, following Chun’s agreement to share two sports with North Korea, the IOC President said that he found that it was “a very good solution, because it leaves North Korea with the responsibility of saying no.” He went on to elaborate the ploy: “It is difficult for me to think that North Korea can open its borders to more than ten thousand journalists and to all the members of the Olympic family.” Chun concurred in the assessment, telling Samaranch that he only acceded to his request “so that I [Samaranch] can demonstrate to the socialist countries that I have been able to obtain a positive result from South Korea.” The North Koreans were playing an equally sophisticated game. Before the third round of talks in Lausanne that June, they sought Soviet support. Kim Il Sung dispatched a leading functionary of the Korean Worker’s Party, Hwang Jang-yeop (who would later defect to Seoul), to persuade the Soviets to back Pyongyang’s demands. Document 27 , a memorandum of Hwang’s conversation with Mikhail Gorbachev’s close confidant and CC CPSU Secretary Aleksandr Yakovlev, offers a rare glimpse into the dynamics of North Korea’s relationship with one of its main allies. Hwang hoped that the Soviet Union would issue a public statement: “the Soviet comrades could, for instance, declare that if the proposal of the DPRK about joint organization of the Games were not accepted, the Olympic Movement would face a dangerous crisis, that the South Korean side must shoulder full responsibility for the separatist holding of the Olympic Games in Seoul.” Hwang’s comments suggest two possibilities, both of which have already been alluded to above. First, the North Koreans really did want to participate in the Games, and counted on the Soviet help in bringing pressure to bear on the IOC and South Korea. Or, the North Korean appeal could have been a tactical trick to lure the Soviets into making an unconditional commitment to Pyongyang so that the latter could make unreasonable demands on the IOC and ruin the talks in the expectation of a Soviet boycott. Such line of reasoning is suggested by Hwang’s allusions to the imperative of “ruining the enemy’s ploy to organize Olympics in Seoul.” On the other hand, there is also evidence for the opposite point of view—that the North Koreans wanted to participate. Indeed, Hwang told Yakovlev that “we do not strive to ruin the 24th Olympic Games and our demands are quite timid.” He added: “We would like to hold competitions in Pyongyang in 3-4 sports.” Hwang’s last comment is particularly interesting, because as late as April, the North Koreans apparently insisted on a minimum of five sports ( Document 25 ). Samaranch had earlier offered them three sports, so, at the face of it, the two sides were very close to an agreement, that is, if Hwang Jang-yeop actually meant what he said. It seems more likely (in view of subsequent developments) that he simply meant to impress Yakovlev with Pyongyang’s supposedly reasonable stand in order to extract that much needed commitment from the USSR. On this point, Yakovlev was not forthcoming. He told Hwang outright that there was no question of the Soviet Union boycotting the Games. The only thing that the North Koreans managed to obtain from the Soviet comrades was a general expression of support in the form of a letter from the head of the Soviet National Olympic Committee, Marat Gramov, to Samaranch on June 5, 1986: “I am not fully familiar with the details of the talks between the National Olympic Committees of the DPRK and South Korea under the auspices of the IOC… but I firmly believe that the conduct of the Games in the North and in the South is possible.” [18]   This was far short of what the North Koreans had expected, and if this was what Samaranch called, on June 11, “great pressure from the NOCs of socialist countries” ( Document 28 ), then one should say he seriously exaggerated. If the pressure was that great, Samaranch would have not done what he did during the third round of talks in Lausanne, on June 10-11, 1986 ( Document 28 ), when he apparently went back on the earlier informal offer to the North Koreans. Specifically, rather than allowing the North to host the entire football tournament, Samaranch said he would be willing to let them have only “a part” of it (this came in addition to two full sports – table tennis and archery). The North Koreans noticed the discrepancy: “Mr. Chin [of the DPRK] insisted that his NOC wished to hold the entire football tournament commenting that it had been his Committee’s understanding that the IOC would grant it the right to do so.” In response, Samaranch said that “he had never stated that the NOC of the DPR of Korea would be able to hold the entire football tournament.” ( Document 14 suggests that Samaranch was not entirely truthful on this score; however, by this stage, the South Koreans had dug in their heels, and Samaranch would have been hard-pressed to get them to agree even to share even a fraction of the football tournament.) The North Koreans who had come to Lausanne with the proposal to host six sports—a non-starter at this stage, and a far cry from Hwang’s earlier reference to three to four sports —appeared to have realized half way through the talks that they had to make concessions. In what appeared to be a trial balloon, the head of the North Korean NOC, Kim Yu-sun, suddenly said that if the IOC could agree that Pyongyang have its own organizing committee for the sports it hosted, and if the events in Pyongyang were called “the 24th Olympic Games in Pyongyang” (something the IOC had already informally approved), “the issue of the events could be settled.” Was this North Korea actually agreeing, in formal talks, to the IOC proposal? This was how Samaranch interpreted Kim’s remarks: The President believed the NOC had confirmed the IOC’s offer regarding the sports to be staged in the DPR of Korea provided the IOC agreed to the denomination “Games of the XXIVth Olympiad in Pyongyang,” to the setting of a separate Organizing Committee in Pyongyang […]. Kim evaded the question. Samaranch pressed the point. The President had understood from what Mr. Kim had previously stated that if the IOC agreed to support the suggestion by the NOC of DPR of Korea to call those sports and events held in the DPR of Korea “Games of the XXIVth Olympiad in Pyongyang” and to set up a separate [Organizing Committee], the NOC would be ready to accept the IOC’s offer. This was the moment of truth. With tensions running high, “Mr. Kim requested time for his delegation to meet alone.” After ten minutes, the meeting resumed but, alas: Mr. Kim stressed that at previous meeting the IOC had stated that it would give the NOC three full sports to organize. However, at the current meeting, the IOC was proposing two full sports only. Mr. Kim underlined that his NOC required further time to study the proposal regarding sports and events both seriously and carefully. This was the turning point in the talks. This was the opportunity for the North Koreans to get an agreement with the IOC: they would get two full sports, they would share some competitions with the South (possibly football, and certainly cycling), they would get their own organizing committee, and they could actually claim to be holding Olympic Games in Pyongyang. Certainly, Kim Yu-sun realized that the offer just made was much better than nothing at all. But he evidently lacked the authority, or simply the guts, to make a firm commitment. He did not want to make that call, and the opportunity was missed. This was also a missed opportunity for the IOC, for it may well have been that if Samaranch had offered three full sports, he could have reached an agreement with Kim Yu-sun. He could then sell that agreement to the South Koreans who would have been hard-pressed to refuse. Samaranch, however, needed talks more than he needed an agreement with North Korea. We can only guess at what the North Koreans wanted to accomplish. Having failed to come to an agreement at the third round of talks, the North Koreans continued to lobby their allies to put pressure on the IOC. Kim Il Sung personally appealed to Gorbachev when he came to Moscow in October 1986 to support North Korea’s bid to host a third of the Games. He was disappointed with the Soviet leader’s response: “I will tell you frankly that the issue is in the principle, and not in the arithmetic.” [19]   Gorbachev explained his position to his East European allies on November 11: “I told comrade Kim Il Sung that it is not a matter of arithmetic here but of the political aspect. If they [the Games] are [held] both there [in the North] and there [in the South], then it means they are held in Korea. But he, in truth, was saying that because one third of the population is in North Korea, then one third of the Games should be. I think this is already arithmetic” ( Document 31 ) Gorbachev went on to elaborate why he could not support Kim Il Sung’s demands. “This [the Olympics] is a huge channel for cooperation, for influencing in the needed direction… And if we took this road [the road of boycott], we would do injury to ourselves, to our policy. Therefore, this is the interconnectedness of these elements” ( Document 31 ). This last point shows very clearly the line of Gorbachev’s reasoning. It was not just that an Olympic boycott would undermine Moscow’s interests in the athletic sphere, and severely handicap Soviet efforts to host Olympics in the future. This was only a part of the problem. Gorbachev, however, realized that sports and politics were mutually intertwined, and that by associating the USSR with Pyongyang’s intransigent attitude he could sabotage his own broader foreign policy goals, or the so called Soviet “peace offensive,” globally, and in the Asia Pacific region. Gorbachev would have none of that. He claimed that Kim Il Sung “met this with understanding… But he hopes for our firm position and I promised that we will have a meeting, I promised him that we will talk about it” ( Document 31 ) They never did meet again. In the meantime, the East Europeans were getting the idea. Seeing where the wind was blowing, East Germany’s Erich Honecker, Kim Il Sung’s “brother and best friend,” told Samaranch after meeting with Gorbachev that his country’s athletes “were preparing for the 1988 Olympic Games at Seoul.” [20]   The Czechs and the Hungarians signaled their readiness to participate in the Olympics and provided their flags and anthem recordings to the IOC. The North Koreans were increasingly anxious. In April 1987 socialist ambassadors (other than China’s and Cuba’s) were summoned to the Foreign Ministry in Pyongyang, and delivered a lecture about how their countries’ undue eagerness in the Olympic matters hindered the progress of talks at Lausanne, because, seeing the attitude of the Eastern Europeans, “the other side [the South Koreans] has shifted to a tougher position.” [21] In May, Kim Il Sung went to China in a desperate effort to get his other ally to boycott the Seoul games, while also urging China to stem the tide of business ties with South Korea. He was told, though, that business ties would continue— “there is no way to stop or control this” —and that China had also firmly decided to participate in the Olympic Games, although “we will not hurry to announce this.” The reason for Beijing’s attitude, Kim Il Sung learned to his dismay, was that South Korea was doing exceptionally well economically. “We have to try to become closer to them. The people will follow where life is better.” We do not know whether those were exactly the terms used in the talks with Kim Il Sung, but this was how the Chinese ambassador in Pyongyang described the encounter in his conversations with fellow diplomats. No doubt, being told off like this was a huge blow to the “Great Leader.” [22] There is a relative paucity of evidence, in this collection and elsewhere, concerning North Korea’s policy making in the second half of 1986 and the first half of 1987. However, one may speculate that there was internal policy deliberation, in which the more uncompromising line won the day. This conclusion is suggested, in part, by Document 32 , a record of the fourth and final round of talks in Lausanne on July 14-15, 1987, when the North Koreans adopted a completely unrealistic attitude, asking for eight full sports (this was a serious step back from their earlier offers). The DPRK delegation persisted in its demands even as Samaranch, in a gesture of belated generosity, offered the North four full sports (though not football). The North Koreans’ failure to agree to this offer is one clear indication that they no longer had any realistic expectation to actually host the Games; by now, they were simply posturing, likely for the benefit of all potential supporters of a boycott, of which by then there were very few indeed. Document 38 , Samaranch’s record of his meeting with the Soviet Foreign Minister Eduard Shevardnadze in Madrid on January 20, 1988, shows that the Soviets were not fully aware that Pyongyang’s attitude had already hardened. Having learned of the details of the IOC offer to the North (probably, four full sports, as discussed in the fourth round of talks), Shevardnadze optimistically declared that this offer was “in fact extremely close to what the president of the DPR Korea, Mr. Kim Il Sung, had told Mr. Gorbachev when he visited Moscow” and promised to get back with Samaranch “soon,” presumably after discussing the issue with the North Koreans. We do not know what Samaranch made of Shevardnadze’s sudden approach, which opened up the possibility that an agreement may be reached at the last moment. As it happened, nothing came out of the Soviet mediation effort. Indeed, after the fourth round of talks, Pyongyang appears to have pinned its hopes on public disturbances in South Korea (there were, to be sure, massive protests in the run-up to the December 1987 Presidential elections), and on outright acts of terrorism, such as the bombing of the Korean Air flight 858 by DPRK agents on November 29, 1987. Evidently, the North Korean hardliners (which, by some accounts, numbered Kim Jong-il in their ranks) opted for blatant sabotage of the Seoul Games, instead of a negotiated compromise a la Lausanne. At the IOC, Samaranch continued to receive threatening letters (e.g. Document 41 , and Document 60 ) suggesting that things may yet take a turn for the worse in the months before the Games. “If IOC ignored the warning and opens the Olympic,” read a letter from “Mudungsan Death-Defying Corps,” “it should take the entire responsibility for the consequences incurred… We are death-defying corps ready for death.” Information that trickled down to the IOC from various sources in the intelligence community (e.g. Document 50 ) confirmed that threats such as these could not be taken lightly. Samaranch was very worried by the prospect of some horrific scenario unfolding in South Korea in the run-up or, worse, during the Games. He kept the lines open to Pyongyang, exchanging fairly meaningless letters with the North Korean NOC ( Documents 42 - Document 47 , Document 51 and Document 52 ), and even, at the eleventh hour (after the North had already refused to take part in the Games), proposing that the two delegations march together at the opening and closing ceremonies in Seoul in order to “show in the most striking way that [the youth of Korea] belongs to one and the same nation, and to demonstrate its strong desire for dialogue and reconciliation” ( Document 57 ). He also worked hard to keep the South Koreans from doing something excessively provocative. For example, on January 21, 1988 Samaranch sent a letter to Roh Tae-woo, who was days from his inauguration as the South Korean President, asking him to cancel the joint US-South Korean military exercise, “Team Spirit 88,” as a “gesture of goodwill and demonstration of your sincere desire for Peace” ( Document 37 ). This appeal fell on deaf ears. On June 30, Samaranch forwarded Roh Tae-woo a proposal by the IOC advisor Samuel Pisar ( Document 48 ), which called for an “imaginative act of statesmanship a la Sadat” by Roh, which would cut through the Gordian knot of disagreements. “I believe,” wrote Pisar, “that if Sadat and Begin could develop a momentary dialogue leading to a truce, and eventually peace over the Sinai, Roh and Kim Il Sung could do something similar at least as regards the games, if not the reunification.” This appeal, too, had no particular affect. In his very belated reply on July 20 ( Document 53 ), Roh criticized Pisar’s report as “a departure from the fundamental position of the International Olympic Committee.” Roh was no Sadat. Pisar put his finger on the problem when he wrote in the report: “The current South Korean mentality appears to be cast in marble: ‘let’s humiliate the North with a highly successful Olympics in the South, then we will be able to negotiate from strength.’” This, however, was Seoul’s “mentality” from day one after the Baden-Baden decision. The South Korean policy makers held a fairly cavalier attitude towards the North from the beginning, and were likely lured into the talks at Lausanne only by the possibility of a socialist boycott of the Games. By 1988 this possibility was not seriously entertained. There remained only one other possibility: that Kim Il Sung would strike across the border. But Roh likely shared Chun Doo-hwan’s sentiment on this score: he won’t. I know it. And he knows that I know it. If Sadat took this sort of attitude to Camp David, he never would have reached any agreement with Israel. But North Korea was no Israel. When at last the Games opened in Seoul, there were no nasty surprises. There were more disturbances from debauching American athletes than from “death defying corps.” [23]   Kim Il Sung preferred to sit tight and weather it out. So, perhaps, Chun and Roh were not far off the mark? Seoul was locked in a competition with Pyongyang for prestige and international recognition, and this competition was itself a chapter in the Cold War. The grand finale of this chapter was the Seoul Olympiad, so we should not be surprised, perhaps, that Roh was in no mood to settle for anything but a complete triumph. The South Koreans were playing for huge stakes. Roh and Chun would not be intimidated by threats from the “death defying corps,” or even acts of terrorism. In retrospect, it is tempting to conclude that the Blue House indulged in impermissible recklessness. One wonders, for instance, whether, if the South Koreans were more accommodating in 1986, a suitable agreement could have been reached at Lausanne, thus dissuading the North Korean hardliners from engaging in terrorism, which, in the case of KAL 858, for instance, cost more than 100, mostly South Korean, lives. It is hard to know what shall pass and, who knows, even if Chun and Roh had a crystal ball, perhaps they would have still preferred to have a complete triumph in Seoul to an accommodation with the North. At least, in the short term. In the longer term, the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul represented a major missed opportunity. We know what happed: the Games were a huge success. They marked a high point in South Korea’s quest for acclaim and prestige. They precipitated diplomatic recognition of South Korea by the socialist bloc. In short, just as Pisar predicted, they resulted in Pyongyang’s humiliation and isolation. Left to lick their wounds, practically abandoned by their allies, and unable to negotiate with South Korea on anything approaching equal terms, the North Koreans sought assurance of survival in strengthening the role of the military, and in pursuing the nuclear deterrent. The expectation, so prevalent in 1989 and immediately thereafter, that the North Korean regime would fold any time, proved overly optimistic in retrospect. North Korea is still there, unstable, threatening, and nuclear-armed more than twenty years after the long-forgotten triumph of the Seoul Olympics. Few dared to imagine this in 1988, but the Games were a fork in the road for the Korean peninsula. It is said that participation is more important than winning. Not so for South Korea in 1988. Triumph proved to be much, much more important than accommodation with the North. Quite apart from the South Korean policy, the United States also preferred blatant pressure to accommodation. No one was in a better position than the Reagan Administration to encourage a more compromising attitude on Seoul’s part. But if Roh was no Sadat, neither Reagan—nor, especially, Bush—had Carter’s foresight. Instead of using the Games as an opportunity for reaching an agreement between the North and the South, Washington gave a blank check to Seoul to press as hard as it deemed fit, and if the North Koreans did something stupid—well, they would have it—as Chun confided to Samaranch. It is interesting that in the late 1980s, low-level talks were conducted between the US and North Korean diplomats in Beijing to feel the ground for improved relations. These talks, very much appreciated in Pyongyang, were never taken seriously in Washington, where anticipation of the regime collapse blunted imaginative policy-making. Seoul 1988 was a triumph for the United States, as it was a triumph for South Korea – but only in the short term. History, it is said, is a map to the present. If the 24th Olympic Games in Seoul offer a lesson to the present-day, it is that one should try to avoid humiliating one’s opponent. It may be overly optimistic to suppose that, if North Korea were allowed to host a part of the Games in 1988, and if it opened it borders to the Olympic family for just the few days while the Games were on, a political breakthrough would necessarily follow. But it may well have been possible to avoid the kind of militant isolation that North Korea found itself in after its sound defeat at the hands of the South. Engagement is a stage-by-stage process, and engagement with North Korea in 1988 could have paved way for even deeper engagement in the years that followed. Instead, what followed for North Korea was a nuclear crisis, international isolation, and a devastating famine. The letter of the 1981 Baden-Baden decision was observed, but not, it would seem, the spirit. Now that the 2018 Olympic Games had been awarded to South Korean Pyeongchang, the lessons of the 1988 will be hard to ignore.  * * * Sergey Radchenko is Lecturer at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China. His publications include Two Suns in the Heavens: the Sino-Soviet Struggle for Supremacy (Woodrow Wilson Center Press & Stanford University Press, 2009). He co-authored (with Campbell Craig) The Atomic Bomb and the Origins of the Cold War (Yale UP, 2008). He is also the co-editor (with Artemy Kalinovsky) of The End of the Cold War in the Third World: New Perspectives on Regional Conflict (London: Taylor and Francis, 2011). He has just completed a monograph on the Soviet Union’s last decade in Asia titled Half a Leap Across An Abyss.   Footnotes [1] Documents included in this NKIDP e-Dossier were obtained from the Archive of the International Olympic Committee, in Lausanne, Switzerland; the State Archive of the Russian Federation (GARF), in Moscow, Russia; and the Archive of the Gorbachev Foundation (AGF) also in Moscow, Russia. Special thanks are due to Professor Shin Jongdae and the University of North Korean Studies for their part in making this NKIDP e-Dossier possible. The editor would also like to recognize the assistance of Christian Ostermann, James Person, Laura Deal, Charles Kraus, Na Sil Heo, Esther Im, and Robert Lauler of the Woodrow Wilson Center and Sebastian Naranjo Rodriguez of the University of Nottingham Ningbo China. [2] Tracy Dahlby, “Award of 1988 Olympics Boosts S. Korea's Effort For Political Security,” The Washington Post, October 4, 1981, H2. [3] Richard Pound, Five Rings Over Korea: : The Secret Negotiations Behind the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul (Boston: Little, Brown & Co., 1994), 120-158. [4] Pound, Five Rings Over Korea, 148. [5] For an in-depth account of the Soviet policy towards the Seoul Olympics and of Soviet-South Korean relations, see Sergey Radchenko, Half a Leap Across An Abyss, forthcoming book manuscript. [6] “Seoul Puts Foot Down for 1988 Olympics,” Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph (Sydney), April 19, 1985. [7] “Roundup: Judo”, The Globe and Mail (Canada), September 30, 1985. [8] “Roundup: Archery”, The Globe and Mail (Canada), October 7, 1985. [9] “Roundup: Toronto Boxer Reaches Finals”, The Globe and Mail (Canada), November 6, 1985. [10] “Roundup: Olympics”, The Globe and Mail (Canada), May 7, 1985 and Washington Post, October 8, 1985. [11] Larry Siddons, “The Goodwill Games…,” The Associated Press, April 24, 1986. [12] Conversation between M. Dugersuren and Eduard Shevardnadze, January 24, 1986, in Mongolian Foreign Ministry Archive, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (hereafter MFMA): fond 2, dans 1, kh/n 504, khuu 142. [13] The Soviets had expressed interest in the idea in the summer of 1985 but never submitted their bid officially. The 17th Winter Games were ultimately held in Lillehammer, Norway (and in 1994, not 1996, in accordance with the IOC decision to separate the Winter Games from the Summer Games).f [14] “China says it will take part in Seoul Asian Games,” Japanese Economic Newswire, June 30, 1986. [15] Zhonggong zhongyang wenxian yanjiushi, ed., Deng Xiaoping Nianpu, 1975-1997 (Chronicle of Deng Xiaoping, 1975-1997), vol. 2 (Beijing: Zhongyang wenxian chubanshe, 2004), 1097. Although the broader context of his conversation with Kim Il Sung is missing, it is not difficult to surmise that Deng’s comments were a response to Kim’s request to boycott the Seoul Olympics. An East German intelligence report dated July 15, 1985 already stated that China had promised (ostensibly through private channels) that it would take part in the Seoul Olympics. See Aussenpolitische Informationsubersicht, July 15, 1985. BStU: MfS – Hauptverwaltung Aufklaerung 56, s. 13. China’s Olympic bid failed on that occasion and the Games went to Sydney in 2000. [16] Conversation between Juan Antonio Samaranch and Li Menghua, April 30, 1986, in International Olympic Committee Archive, Lausanne, Switzerland (hereafter IOC Archive), JAS/Voyages 1986, Paris, Portugal, Pekin etc., JAS Voyage Pekin 27/04-01/05/86. [17] Cited in Natalia Bazhanova, “North Korea and Seoul-Moscow Relations,” in Korea and Russia: Towards the 21st Century, ed. Il Yung Chung (Seoul: Sejong Institute, 1992), 327. [18] Letter from Marat Gramov to Juan Antonio Samaranch, June 6, 1986, in IOC Archive, URSS, sommet Reagan-Gorbatchev 1986-1986-1987. [19] Vadim Medvedev, Raspad: Kak on Nazreval v Mirovoi Sisteme Sotsializma (Moscow: Mezhdunarodnye Otnosheniia, 1994), 326 [20] “Erich Honecker, East Germany's Communist Party chief and head of state…,” The Associated Press, November 14, 1986. [21] Cable from the Mongolian Embassy in Pyongyang to the Mongolian Foreign Ministry (April 29, 1987), in MFMA: fond 3, dans 1, kh/n 178 (irsen shifr medeenii no. 61). [22] Cable from the Mongolian Embassy in Pyongyang to the Mongolian Foreign Ministry (June 6, 1987), in MFMA: fond 3, dans 1, kh/n 178 (irsen shifr medeenii no. 80). [23] E.g. see “Charges Dropped Against Two US Swimmers Accused of Theft,” The Oregonian, October 1, 1988.  

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What is the capital of Saudi Arabia?

Riyadh, capital city of Saudi Arabia All... Riyadh, capital city of Saudi Arabia Once nothing more than a dusty, desert outpost, Riyadh has blossomed into one of the most influential and intriguing cities in the Middle East. The Saudi Arabian capital is home to soaring modern towers, high-rise hotels, fabulous fine dining and considerable culture. Although luxury cars speed down the boulevards and sparkling office buildings are added to the cityscape seemingly every day, Riyadh still maintains a conservative, slightly somber atmosphere. This juxtaposition only makes the capital even more interesting. The National Museum is hands-down one of the Middle East's best museums. The state-of-the-art space contains eight floors of galleries dedicated to Arabia's art, history and culture. Highlights include original rock carvings, a full-scale replica of a Nabataean tomb and the 180-degree screens that show films complementing the exhibits. Visitors leave the museum with a better understanding of Saudi Arabia and a context for appreciating Riyadh even more. Remnants of Riyadh's simple past still survive, although oil money has launched massive building projects in the last three decades. The most significant historic sight in the city is the imposing Masmak Fortress, once the heart of the old town. Built in the late 19th-century and stormed by King Abdul Aziz just years later, the fort was renovated in 2008 and today contains a museum filled with fascinating photos of old Riyadh. The museum's second half is dedicated to extolling all the virtues of Saudi education, architecture, art and agriculture. Permits were once required to explore the Murabba Palace, but visitors are now free to roam the mud-brick palace constructed by King Abdul Aziz following his conquest of the Masmak Fortress. The intimidating exterior gives way to two stories of marvelous objects, including the first royal Rolls-Royce. After getting a taste of the city's past, fast-forward to the present day by visiting the Al-Faisaliah Tower, built in 2000 by architect Norman Foster and the Bin Laden construction company. Marked by an enormous shining glass globe made of more than 650 panels, the stunning structure was one of the first to tower above the city's skyline. The 34 floors are filled with some of Saudi Arabia's most luxurious restaurants, apartments, shops and a five-star deluxe hotel. From the viewing platform, visitors can see nearly the entire city. The capital's newest landmark is the Kingdom Tower, rising 302 meters above the ground. The incredible example of modern architecture is especially breathtaking at night, when constantly-changing colored lights illuminate its steel and glass design. High-speed elevators fly visitors to the 99th-floor Sky Bridge at 180 kilometers per hour, offering unbelievable views of the city. Riyadh is a shopper's paradise, and the main roads are lined with one mall after another. Women can shop on the third floor Ladies Kingdom at Al Mamlaka without being disturbed by men, designer stores are abundant and most malls contain at least one Western-style department store. For a more traditional shopping experience, head to the Souq al-Thumairi. The maze of shops selling Arabic coffees, spices, carpets, jewelry and more is positively enthralling. Riyadh Geographical Location Riyadh is located to the east of the center of Saudi Arabia on a plateau. It is its largest city and has a population of approximately 6,800,000 within the metropolitan area. Riyadh Language Arabic is the official language of Saudi Arabia. Riyadh Predominant Religion 100% Muslim Islam is the official religion of Saudi Arabia. Muslims who convert to another religion are subject to the death penalty. Riyadh Currency The Saudi Riyal is the official currency of Saudi Arabia. Riyadh Climate There is very little precipitation in Riyadh and the summer temperatures are extremely hot. The winters cool down to warm temperatures and usually experience marginally more rainfall. Riyadh Main Attractions

Riyadh

Of which country is Vientiane the capital?

What is the Capital of Saudi Arabia? - Capital-of.com Dates of religious and Civil holidays around the world. www.when-is.com Capital of Saudi Arabia The Capital City of Saudi Arabia (officially named Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) is the city of Riyadh. The population of Riyadh in the year 2007 was 27,601,038. Saudi Arabia is an Arabic speaking country on the coasts of the (Arabian Peninsala and the Persian Gulf (Indian Ocean. Additional Information

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Who was the Mongol ruler who conquered Persia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia in the 14th Century?

Who was the Mongol ruler who conquered Persia, Azerbaijan, Armenia,and Georgia in the 14th Century? View the step-by-step solution to: Who was the Mongol ruler who conquered Persia, Azerbaijan, Armenia,and Georgia in the 14th Century? This question was answered on May 20, 2016. View the Answer Who was the Mongol ruler who conquered Persia, Azerbaijan, Armenia,and Georgia in the 14th Century? danieldambuki posted a question · May 20, 2016 at 2:31am Top Answer josewriter23 answered the question · May 20, 2016 at 2:32am Other Answers Here is the solution... View the full answer {[ getNetScore(29627493) ]} Here is the explanation for... View the full answer {[ getNetScore(29627498) ]} {[ getNetScore(29627505) ]} hamniwezi answered the question · May 20, 2016 at 2:33am Mongol conquests of Kingdom of Georgia, which at that time consisted of Georgia proper, Armenia, and much of the Caucasus,... View the full answer {[ getNetScore(29627511) ]} egerton536 answered the question · May 20, 2016 at 2:34am Mongol conquests of Kingdom of Georgia, which at that time consisted of Georgia proper, Armenia, and much of the Caucasus,... View the full answer {[ getNetScore(29627516) ]} Timur historically known as Tamerlane was the... View the full answer {[ getNetScore(29627547) ]} View Full Answer or ask a new question Related Questions Need an US History tutor? Miss-white 2 US History experts found online! Average reply time is less than an hour Get Homework Help Why Join Course Hero? Course Hero has all the homework and study help you need to succeed! We’ve got course-specific notes, study guides, and practice tests along with expert tutors and customizable flashcards—available anywhere, anytime. - - Study Documents Find the best study resources around, tagged to your specific courses. Share your own to gain free Course Hero access or to earn money with our Marketplace. 890,990,898 Question & Answers Get one-on-one homework help from our expert tutors—available online 24/7. Ask your own questions or browse existing Q&A threads. Satisfaction guaranteed! 890,990,898 Flashcards Browse existing sets or create your own using our digital flashcard system. A simple yet effective studying tool to help you earn the grade that you want!

Timur

Which two Middle-Eastern countries fought a war from 1980 to 1988?

History - Embassy of Azerbaijan History Print Today’s Azerbaijani citizens are the heirs to a rich history and culture. Located in the Caucasus, on the western coast of the Caspian Sea, the modern Republic of Azerbaijan occupies the world’s most important strategic crossroads between East and West. A country at the center of the historic Silk Road, Azerbaijan treasures its natural and cultural diversity. The largest country of the South Caucasus, it is home, along with ethnic Azeris, to more than 70 different ethnic groups, including Kurds, Jews, Russians, Armenians, Lezghis and many others. Ancient Period Azerbaijan with its favorable nature and a mild climate was among the birthplaces of mankind. It was here that the Azykh cave, the earliest human habitat on Earth dating back 1-1,2 million years, was found. As early as in the third millenium BC, tribal entities like Aratta, Lullubum and Kutium emerged on the territory of historic Azerbaijan. Later, in the first millenium BC, the Zoroastrian states of Manna and Midiya were established on Azerbaijani lands. Midya, in alliance with Babylon, successfully fought the Assyrians but in the 7th century BC was defeated by the Persian Empire. Located at the heart of ancient civilizations, Azerbaijan has been invaded and fought over by many empires and rulers, including Alexander the Great, the Roman general Pompey, the Mongol conqueror Genghis Khan, and Russia’s Peter the Great. The conquest of Persia by Alexander the Great led to the emergence of the states of Atropatena (Adarbaygan) and the Caucasian Albania. Atropatena was established in the year 323 BC on the Azerbaijani –populated territories, which are now in Iran, and the Caucasian Albania in 4-5th century BC on the territory of the present-day Republic of Azerbaijan. During that of time, the Zoroastrian religion dominated in Azerbaijan, and Qazaka, the capital of Atropatena was the spiritual center of Zoroastrian priests. In the 3rd century, Christianity became a principal religion in the Caucasian Albania and in the 4th century, an autonomous Albanian Apostolic Church was established. The Russian Empire’s authorities revoked the long-held autonomy of the Albanian Christian Church in the 19th century. Middle Ages In the 7th century, Muslim Arabs invaded Azerbaijan introducing Islam to the Caucasus. Until the 9th century Azerbaijan was a province of the Arab Caliphate. The Caliphate gradually weakened and lost its influence, partially due to the longest revolt in its history, the Azerbaijani – based uprising of Khurramittes in the 9th century. The 9th century saw the formation of autonomous feudal states on the Azerbaijani lands. The most stable among them was the state of Shirvanshahs, which survived until 1538. Azerbaijan became a part of the Seljuk Empire in the 11th century. Under the Seljuk rule, the immigration of Turkic tribes further strengthened the ancient and already dominant Turkic presence in Azerbaijan. The 12th century marked the emergence of the powerful state of Atabeys (Eldegizes) and the ’’age of the Muslim renaissance’’ in Azerbaijan. This “renaissance” owed its glory, among others, to the literary genius of Nizami Ganjavi, poets like Mahsati Ganjavi, Abu-l Ula Ganjavi, Falaki Shirvani, Khaqani Shirvani, and the architect Ajami Nakhchivani. Azerbaijani literary and architectural masterpieces became an outstanding contribution to the world’s cultural heritage. The Mongols invaded Azerbaijan in the 13th century and at the end of the 14th century Azerbaijan was conquered by the Central Asian ruler Tamerlan. Early Modern Period Between 1501 and 1736 the Azerbaijani Sefevi dynasty, founded by Shah Ismayil Khatai, ruled Iran and neighboring countries, including Azerbaijan. Among the 19 semi-independent entities, such as khanates and sultanates, which emerged following the fall of the Sefevi dynasty, were the Azerbaijani khanates of Karabakh with the capital in Shusha and the khanate of Iravan with the capital in Iravan (Erevan, the capital of modern Armenia). Modern Era Russia’s imperial expansion in the Caucasus began in 1723 with Peter the Great’s Caspian crusade. In 1796 the Russian army returned to the Caucasus. After the annexation of Georgia in 1801, the Russian Empire began the process of occupation of the Azerbaijani khanates, and by 1828, after two Russian-Persian wars, Azerbaijan was split into two parts. The northern portion is what would become modern Azerbaijan. Since the mid – 19th century the oil industry has been flourishing in Azerbaijan. The first industrial oil well was drilled in 1848. In the late 19th - early 20th centuries, Baku was producing 95% of the Russian Empire’s and about 50% of the world’s oil production. Westerners such as the Nobels and Rotchshilds were among the oil magnates of Baku. It was also at that time that the Azerbaijani composer Uzeyir Hajibayov wrote his “Leyli and Majnun,” the first opera in the Muslim world. When the Czar’s rule ended in Russia at the end of World War I, Azerbaijan seized the opportunity to declare its independence. On May 28, 1918 - a date still celebrated today as the Republic Day - the Azerbaijani people established their own independent state, the first Republic in the Muslim East. The international community, including the United States, recognized the sovereignty of the new country. Azerbaijan became one of the first nations in the region to adopt a secular, democratic form of government. At the conclusion of the Paris Peace Conference in 1919, U.S. President Woodrow Wilson was said to have remarked that the Azerbaijanis he met “talked the same language that I did with respect to ideals, and the concepts of liberty and justice.” Within two years of declaring independence, however, Russia again asserted its rule over Azerbaijan. In April 1920, the Bolshevik Red Army supported by Armenian armed units invaded the country massacring scores of civilians and overthrowing the democratic government. Azerbaijan was forcibly incorporated into the Soviet Union and for the next 70 years, was governed under Communist rule. Contemporary During the late 1980s, many Azerbaijanis were hopeful that independence would return as a result of the Soviet Union’s decline. On September 23, 1989, Azerbaijan was among the first Soviet republics to adopt its own Constitutional Law on Sovereignty. Yet, Azerbaijan’s independence did not come easily. In 1990, Soviet troops invaded Baku, resulting in the deaths of more than a hundred civilians. In the end, however, Azerbaijan’s pro-Moscow regime grew weaker and by 1991, popular pressure led the country to break away from Soviet rule and declare its independence. On August 30, 1991, Azerbaijan’s Parliament adopted the Declaration on the Restoration of the State Independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and on October 18, 1991, the Constitutional Act on the State Independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan was approved. November 1991 marked the beginning of international recognition of Azerbaijan’s independence. In 1992, the country became a member of the United Nations and Conference for Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE), now known as the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). This was also a period when the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan became a major international dispute. The collapse of the Soviet Union had created chaos and uncertainty in the region, and Armenian extremists took advantage of these circumstances. In 1992, Armenia launched a campaign of open aggression against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces conducted brutal ethnic cleansing and acts of genocide against Azerbaijani civilians. During only one night, more than 750 Azerbaijani civilians were massacred in the town of Khojali and Armenia gained a major stronghold in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. Today, the per capita ratio of the displaced population within the Republic of Azerbaijan is one of the highest in the world. The displaced communities in Azerbaijan include refugees brutally expelled from Armenia in 1988-89, Internally Displaced Persons from the regions occupied by the Armenian forces, and the Meskheti Turkish refugees. Following these difficulties, the leader of the Popular Front political movement, Abulfaz Elchibey, was elected Azerbaijan’s first new, post-Soviet president. However, within a year, the new government’s inability to address the worsening military situation in Nagorno-Karabakh and the declining domestic economy led to Elchibey’s departure from office. In October 1993, Heydar Aliyev, the Speaker of the Parliament, was elected President. Newly elected President Aliyev faced many challenges, including numerous, uncontrolled armed mobs, which had emerged in Azerbaijan at the time the Soviet Union was dissolved. Renegade groups attempted to overthrow President Aliyev’s government, but each time they failed, and the armed opposition groups lost support among the population and became weaker. The results of presidential elections in October of 1998 and both parliamentary elections held in November of 1995 and November of 2000, respectively, affirmed public approval of President Aliyev’s policies. His New Azerbaijan Party received the majority of seats in both parliamentary elections, a sign of considerable popular support for the President’s efforts to establish democratic institutions. President Aliyev is credited with creating a stable political environment, instituting positive economic reforms, and preventing further bloodshed in the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict. He has overcome major obstacles, both internal and external, to bring peace, stability, economic and democratic reforms to Azerbaijan. In January 2001, the Republic of Azerbaijan became a member of the Council of Europe. On 15 October 2003 Ilham Aliyev was elected the President of Azerbaijan. Former President Heydar Aliyev passed away on December 12, 2003. President Ilham Aliyev spared no effort to continue the policy of his predecessor to modernize and enrich the country, to transform it into a modern, economically, and politically strong state. Democratic and economic reforms energetically carried out under his leadership made Azerbaijan the island of stability and prosperity in the region. On July 13, 2006 the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan main oil export pipeline was inaugurated. Construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline was completed soon afterwards. These pipelines deliver Azerbaijan’s own oil and gas to the world markets as well as allow carrying hydrocarbon resources of the neighboring countries through Azerbaijan, earning Azerbaijan transit revenues. Implementation of these projects emphasizes the role of Azerbaijan as a reliable energy source and transportation route. To collect and manage revenues from energy-related activities, a transparent National Oil Fund has been established. Diversification of economy and ensuring the development of non-oil sectors is the priority for the government. This policy includes implementation of projects and programs that create favorable conditions for development of private entrepreneurship, attracting investment in non-oil sector, creating new jobs, evaluation of potential industries and markets and development of infrastructure in the regions. AMBASSADOR'S DIARY

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Which sea lies between china and Korea?

which body of water lies between China and Japan? A) yellow sea B) sea of Japan C) east china sea D) korea strait You have new items in your feed. Click to view. Question and answer which body of water lies between China and Japan? A) yellow sea B) sea of Japan C) east china sea D) korea strait The answer is Sea of Japan. Letter B Expert answered| ahbynaz |Points 110| which body of water lies between China and Japan? A) yellow sea B) sea of Japan C) east china sea D) korea strait New answers There are no new answers. Comments Weegy: Muslims may have made their great es advanced in medicine. the combined Greek and India knowledge with discoveries of their own. Muslims doctors stared the first pharmacy school to teacher people how to make medicine's. (More) Question what is the name of the common feature of Muslim architecture? Weegy: what is the name of the common feature of Muslim architecture? It is called minaret. A minaret is a slim tower rising from a mosque. They vary in height, style, and number. [ Minarets may be square, round, or octagonal and are usually covered with a pointed roof. Originally used as a high point from which to make the call to prayer (adhan), minarets remain a traditionally decorative feature of most mosques. ] (More) Question describe what would most likely be found on most Muslim works of art Weegy: Islamic art encompasses the visual arts produced from the 7th century onwards by people who lived within the territory that was inhabited by or ruled by culturally Islamic populations.[1] It is thus a very difficult art to define because it covers [ many lands and various peoples over some 1400 years; it is not art specifically of a religion, or of a time, or of a place, or of a single medium like painting.[2] The huge field of Islamic architecture is the subject of a separate article, leaving fields as varied as calligraphy, painting, glass, ceramics, and textiles, among others. Islamic art is not at all restricted to religious art, but includes all the art of the rich and varied cultures of Islamic societies as well. It frequently includes secular elements and elements that are frowned upon, if not forbidden, by some Islamic theologians.[3] Apart from the ever-present calligraphic inscriptions, specifically religious art is actually less prominent in Islamic art than in Western medieval art, with the exception of Islamic architecture where mosques and their complexes of surrounding buildings are the most common remains. Figurative painting may cover religious scenes, but normally in essentially secular contexts such as the walls of palaces or illuminated books of poetry. The calligraphy and decoration of manuscript Qu'rans is an important aspect, but other religious art such as glass mosque lamps and other mosque fittings such as tiles (e.g. Girih tiles), woodwork and carpets usually have the same style and motifs as contemporary secular art, although with religious inscriptions even more prominent. Read more; ] (More) Question what would most likely be found on most Muslim works of art? Weegy: As indicated in Background Notes 4, the decorative arts in Islam are marked by a remarkable degree of stylistic consistency which has been applied to a broad range of materials, each of which had a craft-base of its own, [ the history of which often traces back to pre-Islamic times. The stylistic coherence within the Islamic world and the many variations of its basic themes across time, influenced as they were by local artistic traditions, are all part of the fascination of this art. In Muslim architecture virtually any surface may be regarded as worthy of receiving elaborate decoration and this is particularly apparent in religious architecture, but this principle extends out to woodwork, ceramics, textiles, metalwork, books and many other art forms. ] (More) Question

Yellow Sea

In which modern country are the ports of Sidon and Tyer?

Korea, North Korea, North Official name: Democratic People's Republic of Korea Area: 120,540 square kilometers (46,540 square miles) Highest point on mainland: Paektu-san (Mount Paektu) (2,744 meters/9,003 feet) Lowest point on land: Sea level Hemispheres: Northern and Eastern P.M. = noon GMT Longest distances: 719 kilometers (447 miles) from north-northeast to south-southwest; 371 kilometers (231 miles) from east-southeast to west-northwest Land boundaries: 1,673 kilometers (1,040 miles) total boundary length; China 1,416 kilometers (880 miles); South Korea 238 kilometers (148 miles); Russia 19 kilometers (12 miles) Coastline: 2,495 kilometers (1,550 miles) Territorial sea limits: 22 kilometers (12 nautical miles) 1 LOCATION AND SIZE North Korea is located in eastern Asia on the northern half of the Korean h2ninsula, between the countries of China and South Korea. The country also shares a very short border with Russia. The Sea of Japan lies to the east and the Korea Bay to the west. With an area of about 120,540 square kilometers (46,540 square miles), the country is slightly smaller than the state of Mississippi. North Korea is divided into nine provinces. 2 TERRITORIES AND DEPENDENCIES North Korea has no outside dependencies or territories. 3 CLIMATE The temperature in North Korea varies from north to south during the winter, with the average January temperature at -17°C (1°F) along the northern border and -8°C (18°F) at P'yongyang, the capital. Summer temperatures have less variation from north to south, averaging 21°C (70°F) in the north, and 24°C (75°F) at P'yongyang. Approximately 60 percent of the annual rainfall, from 75 to 100 centimeters (30 to 40 inches), occurs from June through September. The northernmost regions receive less rainfall, averaging 50 centimeters (20 inches). 4 TOPOGRAPHIC REGIONS The terrain of North Korea is mountainous; Paektu-san, an extinct volcano, is the highest point. A series of plains extends along the coasts on either side of the country. North Korea is situated on the Eurasian Tectonic Plate. 5 OCEANS AND SEAS Seacoast and Undersea Features The Sea of Japan, an enclosed arm of the western Pacific Ocean, lies to the east of North Korea. Its coastal waters are very deep, averaging about 1,676 meters (5,500 feet). Korea Bay, off the western coast, is an inlet of the Yellow Sea, which is also an arm of the Pacific Ocean. The Bay is shallow, and it has an unusually great tidal range of 6 to 12 meters (20 to 40 feet). Sea Inlets and Straits The main port on the west coast is Namp'o, which is located at the mouth of the Taedong River south of Sojoson Bay and is a center for both international and domestic trade. Further south are two more bays: Taedong Bay, which cuts into the coast south of Changsan Cape, and Haeju Bay, which is tucked in away from the larger Kyonggi Bay. The east coast has two major inlets: the large Tongjoson Bay, and the smaller Yonghung Bay. Islands and Archipelagos Although there are hundreds of small islands off the western coast of North Korea, none of the islands under North Korea's control are notable. The countries of North and South Korea currently are disputing ownership of many of the islands. Coastal Features The western coast along the Korea Bay is highly indented and irregular, and it is studded with a multitude of small offshore islands. Many of the tidelands have potential value as agricultural land, reed fields, and salt evaporation facilities. In the east, where steep mountains lie close to the Sea of Japan, the coastline is relatively smooth, with few offshore islands. The coast is washed by both warm and cold currents, contributing to a wide variety of marine life, and causing the coastal region to be frequently shrouded in dense fog. 6 INLAND LAKES The largest natural inland body of water in North Korea is Kwangpo, which is actually a salt lagoon that covers an area of about 13 square kilometers (5 square miles). The Changjin Reservoir, an artificial lake, is one of the nation's biggest lakes and a primary water source. It is located on the Changjin River. 7 RIVERS AND WATERFALLS The major rivers of North Korea flow in a westerly direction into Korea Bay, the northern extent of the Yellow Sea. The longest river is the Yalu, which flows from Paektu-san to Korea Bay, a distance of almost 800 kilometers (500 miles). Because its course cuts through rocky gorges for much of its length, its alluvial plains are less extensive than its size would suggest. Oceangoing vessels can dock at Sinuiju and small watercraft can travel upstream as far as Hyesan. Although it is important for transportation and irrigation, the Yalu's main value lies in its hydroelectric power potential. The Ch'ongch'on River flows in the valley between the Kangnam and the Myohyang mountain ranges. 8 DESERTS There are no desert regions in North Korea. 9 FLAT AND ROLLING TERRAIN The plains regions are important to the nation's economy, although they constitute only one-fifth of the total area. Most of the plains are alluvial, built up from silt deposited on the banks of flooding rivers. Other plains, such as the P'yongyang peneplain, were formed by thousands of years of erosion from surrounding hills. A number of plains areas exist on the western coast, including the P'yongyang peneplain and the Unjon, Anju, Chaeryong, and Yonbaek Plains. Of these, the Chaeryong and the P'yongyang are the most extensive, each covering an area of about 618 square kilometers (200 square miles). The Yonbaek Plain comprises about 315 square kilometers (120 square miles). The rest of the plains regions each cover about 207 square kilometers (80 square miles). The plains support most of the country's farmlands, and their small sizes illustrate the severe physical limitations placed on agriculture. 10 MOUNTAINS AND VOLCANOES Mountains and uplands cover 80 percent of the territory. The major mountain ranges form a crisscross pattern extending from northwest to southeast and northeast to southwest. The Mach'ol Range extends from the vicinity of Paektu-san on the Chinese border in a southeasterly direction toward the eastern coast. This range has peaks of over 1,981 meters (6,500 feet) in altitude. At the summit of Paektu-san, the country's highest peak at 2,744 meters (9,003 feet), is a crater lake: Cho'onji (Heavenly Lake). DID YOU KNOW? The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) is the stretch of land that marks the border between North and South Korea. The demarcation line, or border, was created at the 38th parallel (38° latitude) by a 1953 Armistice Agreement that ended the Korean War. Since then, the DMZ, which covers an area of about 1,000 square kilometers (386 square miles), has been almost entirely free from human intrusion. As a result, the ecosystem there has flourished and has become home for many rare and endangered species, including Asiatic black bears, Amur leopards, the red-crowned crane, and several others. Environmentalists and activists from around the world are working to make the area a protected nature reserve. Running northeasterly from the center of the Mach'ol Range toward the Tumen River valley is the Hamgyong Range, which also has a number of peaks over 1,981 meters (6,500 feet), including Kwanmo-bon (Mount Kwanmo) at 2,540 meters (8,334 feet). The southwest extension of the Hamgyong Range is known as the Pujollyong Range. Running from north to south and marking the drainage divide for the eastern and western halves of the country is the Nangnim Range, averaging 1,499 meters (4,920 feet). To the west of the Nangnim Range are two less prominent ranges, the Myohyang and (in the center of the country) the Puktae, both of which reach heights of 500 to 1,000 meters (1,640 to 3,280 feet). Running in a southwestern direction from the Nangnim Range along the Yalu River (which forms the border with China) is the Kangnam Range, the name of which means "south of the river." Korea's other major mountain chain, the T'aebaek Range, rises south of Wonsan and extends down the eastern side of the peninsula; it is often called the "backbone of Korea." Only a short portion of its length is in North Korea, but this section includes the scenic Kumgangsan ("Diamond Mountains") comprising the heart of North Korea's largest national park. Near the shore of the Sea of Japan, granite mountains feature nearly vertical sheer walls, deep canyons, and spectacular waterfalls. The terrain east of the Hamgyong and Pujollyong consists of short, parallel ridges that extend from these mountains to the Sea of Japan, creating a series of isolated valleys accessible only by rail lines branching off from the main coastal track. West of the T'aebaek Range, the terrain of central North Korea is characterized by a series of lesser ranges and hills that gradually level off into plains along the western coast. North Korea has an extensive coniferous forest located in its mountainous interior, especially in the north. Tree species include pine, spruce, fir, and cedar. 11 CANYONS AND CAVES In some areas where mountain rock formations are made of limestone, there are many caves. One of the best-known caves is located near Yongbyon on the southern side of the Ch'ongch'on River. Known as T'ongnyonggul, it is about 5 kilometers (3 miles) long, with many chambers, some of which reach widths of 150 meters (500 feet) and heights up to 50 meters (150 feet). 12 PLATEAUS AND MONOLITHS To the west of the Hamgyong and Pujollyong ranges lies Kaema Plateau, sometimes referred to as the "roof of Korea." The Kaema Plateau is a heavily forested basaltic tableland with relatively low elevation, averaging 1,000 to 1,500 meters (3,280 to 4,950 feet). 13 MAN-MADE FEATURES Wind-power generating plants are located in the P'yongyang region. Dams have been built on the Yalu and four of its tributaries, the Changjin, Hoch'on, Pujon, and Tongno Rivers. These dams provide both water and hydroelectric power. 14 FURTHER READING Books Breen, Michael. The Koreans: Who They Are, What They Want , Where Their Future Lies . New York: St. Martin's Press, 1999. Hoore, James. Korea: An Introduction . New York: Kegan Paul International, 1988. Landau, Elaine. Korea . New York: Children's Press, 1999. Nash, Amy K. North Korea . New York: Chelsea House, 1999. Oh, Kongdan, and Ralph C. Hassig. North Korea Through the Looking Glass . Washington, DC: Brookings Institution Press, 2000. Web Sites Neufeld, Ann Nichole. "Korean Demilitarized Zone as a Bioreserve." ICE Case Studies. American University: Inventory of Conflict and Environment Program. http://www.american.edu/TED/ice/dmz.htm (accessed April 24, 2003). User Contributions:

i don't know

The West Bank of which river has been occupied by Israel since 1967?

West Bank | Define West Bank at Dictionary.com West Bank noun 1. an area in the Middle East, between the W bank of the Jordan River and the E frontier of Israel: occupied in 1967 and subsequently claimed by Israel; formerly held by Jordan. Dictionary.com Unabridged Examples from the Web for West Bank Expand Contemporary Examples But Serry said events had reached a critical point in the West Bank and cautioned that a collapse would leave Israel accountable. Serbia and Croatia’s Competing Genocide Claims Adam LeBor March 10, 2014 Some courses of action are clear: Israel should halt all construction in the West Bank. British Dictionary definitions for West Bank Expand noun 1. the West Bank, a semi-autonomous Palestinian region in the Middle East on the W bank of the River Jordan, comprising the hills of Judaea and Samaria and part of Jerusalem: formerly part of Palestine (the entity created by the League of Nations in 1922 and operating until 1948): became part of Jordan after the ceasefire of 1949: occupied by Israel since the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. In 1993 a peace treaty between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization provided for the West Bank to become a self-governing Palestinian area; a new Palestinian National Authority assumed control of parts of the territory in 1994–95, but subsequent talks broke down and Israel reoccupied much of this in 2001–02 and continues to maintain most existing Israeli settlements. Pop: 2 676 740 (2013 est). Area: 5879 sq km (2270 sq miles) Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Word Origin and History for West Bank Expand in reference to the former Jordanian territory west of the River Jordan, 1967. Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper Expand West Bank definition Land on the west bank of the Jordan River , formerly in the hands of Jordan , but captured by Israel in the Six-Day War of 1967. Israel has agreed to hand over part of the West Bank to the Palestinian Authority , but the Israeli government has been widely criticized for continuing to move civilian settlers as well as soldiers into the area. In 2001, in response to terrorist suicide bombings (see terrorism ), Israel staged heavy military strikes against Palestinian cities in the West Bank. The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Jordan

Which 15th-century navigator discovered the sea route from Europe to India by the Cape of Good Hope?

West Bank - definition of West Bank by The Free Dictionary West Bank - definition of West Bank by The Free Dictionary http://www.thefreedictionary.com/West+Bank Also found in: Thesaurus , Acronyms , Encyclopedia , Wikipedia . West Bank A disputed territory in historic Palestine west of the Jordan River, occupied by Israel in the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. A 1994 accord gave the Palestinians limited self-rule and required measured withdrawal of Israeli troops, but implementation of the accord was hampered by continuing violence and the presence of Israeli settlements. West Bank n (Placename) the West Bank a semi-autonomous Palestinian region in the Middle East on the W bank of the River Jordan, comprising the hills of Judaea and Samaria and part of Jerusalem: formerly part of Palestine (the entity created by the League of Nations in 1922 and operating until 1948): became part of Jordan after the ceasefire of 1949: occupied by Israel since the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. In 1993 a peace treaty between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization provided for the West Bank to become a self-governing Palestinian area; a new Palestinian National Authority assumed control of parts of the territory in 1994–95, but subsequent talks broke down and Israel reoccupied much of this in 2001–02 and continues to maintain most existing Israeli settlements. Pop: 2 676 740 (2013 est). Area: 5879 sq km (2270 sq miles) West′ Bank′ n. a region in the Middle East, between the W bank of the Jordan River and the E (1949) armistice line of Israel: formerly held by Jordan; occupied in 1967 by Israel; now under partial Palestinian self-rule. ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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What did Burma change its name to in 1989?

BBC News - Should it be Burma or Myanmar? BBC News Should it be Burma or Myanmar? WHO, WHAT, WHY? The Magazine answers... 'Burma' to the pro-democracy camp Protest marches in Burma have entered a ninth day. But why is the country not known in the UK by its official name, Myanmar? The eyes of the world's media are focused on Rangoon, where tensions are rising in the streets, yet news organisations and nations differ in what they call the country. The ruling military junta changed its name from Burma to Myanmar in 1989, a year after thousands were killed in the suppression of a popular uprising. Rangoon also became Yangon. THE ANSWER It's known as Myanmar in many countries and at the UN But the UK doesn't recognise the legitimacy of the regime that changed the name The Adaptation of Expression Law also introduced English language names for other towns, some of which were not ethnically Burmese. The change was recognised by the United Nations, and by countries such as France and Japan, but not by the United States and the UK. A statement by the Foreign Office says: "Burma's democracy movement prefers the form 'Burma' because they do not accept the legitimacy of the unelected military regime to change the official name of the country. Internationally, both names are recognised." It's general practice at the BBC to refer to the country as Burma, and the BBC News website says this is because most of its audience is familiar with that name rather than Myanmar. The same goes for Rangoon, people in general are more familiar with this name than Yangon. But look in a Lonely Planet guidebook to Asia and the country can be found listed after Mongolia, not Brunei. The Rough Guide does not cover Burma at all, because the pro-democracy movement has called for a tourism boycott. HOW IS MYANMAR PRONOUNCED? How to say 'Myanmar' So does the choice of Burma or Myanmar indicate a particular political position? Mark Farmener, of Burma Campaign UK, says: "Often you can tell where someone's sympathies lie if they use Burma or Myanmar. Myanmar is a kind of indicator of countries that are soft on the regime. "But really it's not important. Who cares what people call the country? It's the human rights abuses that matter. "There's not a really strong call from the democracy movement saying you should not call it Myanmar, they just challenge the legitimacy of the regime. It's probable it will carry on being called Myanmar after the regime is gone." Colloquial name The two words mean the same thing and one is derived from the other. Burmah, as it was spelt in the 19th Century, is a local corruption of the word Myanmar. They have both been used within Burma for a long time, says anthropologist Gustaaf Houtman, who has written extensively about Burmese politics. WHO, WHAT, WHY? A regular part of the BBC News Magazine, Who, What, Why? aims to answer some of the questions behind the headlines "There's a formal term which is Myanmar and the informal, everyday term which is Burma. Myanmar is the literary form, which is ceremonial and official and reeks of government. [The name change] is a form of censorship." If Burmese people are writing for publication, they use 'Myanmar', but speaking they use 'Burma', he says. This reflects the regime's attempt to impose the notion that literary language is master, Mr Houtman says, but there is definitely a political background to it. Richard Coates, a linguist at the University of Western England, says adopting the traditional, formal name is an attempt by the junta to break from the colonial past. The UN uses Myanmar, presumably deferring to the idea that its members can call themselves what they wish Richard Coates, Linguist "Local opposition groups do not accept that, and presumably prefer to use the 'old' colloquial name, at least until they have a government with popular legitimacy. Governments that agree with this stance still call the country Burma. "The UN uses Myanmar, presumably deferring to the idea that its members can call themselves what they wish, provided the decision is recorded in UN proceedings. There are hosts of papers detailing such changes. I think the EU uses Burma/Myanmar." Other countries to rename themselves like this include Iran (formerly Persia), Burkina Faso (Upper Volta) and Cambodia (Kampuchea). "They've substituted a local name for an internationally acknowledged one for essentially nationalistic and historical reasons." Bookmark with:

Myanmar

A 25 km causeway, the longest in the world, links Saudi Arabia with which other country?

Burma facts, information, pictures | Encyclopedia.com articles about Burma COUNTRY OVERVIEW LOCATION AND SIZE. Situated between Indian and Thailand , Burma is a southeast Asian nation. From the borders of India and China in the north, the country extends into the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal in the south. The country also shares borders with Laos and Bangladesh . Slightly smaller than the state of Texas , Burma has an area of 678,500 square kilometers (261,969 square miles). Its land borders are 5,876 kilometers (3,651 miles) long and its coastline, home to many excellent natural harbors, is 1,930 kilometers (1,199 miles) long. Burma's capital, Rangoon (also known as Yangon ), is in the south. Mandalay , Moulmein, Pegu, Bassein, Taunggyi, Sittwe, and Myanwa are the other most important cities in the country. POPULATION. The population of Burma, according to July 2000 estimates, was 41,734,853. A high mortality rate caused by AIDS is factored into this estimate; it is estimated that at least 1 million people are infected with HIV , the virus that causes AIDS. This high mortality rate from AIDS has slowed population growth to a projected rate of growth of 0.64 percent. The country registered a birth rate of 20.61 per 1000 population and a death rate of 12.35 per 1000; consequently, the population of Burma in 2015 is expected to be 45,925,967. In the past, the government of Burma sought to restrict emigration (people leaving the country) and immigration (people settling there from outside the country). Burmese authorities negotiated with India to reduce the number of people of Indian origin in the country. As a result, Burma repatriated about 100,000 people to India between 1963 and 1965. Thousands of Burmese also fled to neighboring countries to escape military repression and armed conflicts in the ethnic minority areas. Ethnic diversity is an interesting feature of the Burmese population. Burmans, an ethnic group related to the Tibetans, constitute the majority at 68 percent of the population. Shan (9 percent), Karen (7 percent), Rakhine (4 percent), Chinese (3 percent), Mon (2 percent), Indian (2 percent), and other ethnic groups account for the rest of the population mix. Buddhism is the major religion, with 89 percent of the population; there are minorities of Christians and Muslims. A majority of the people, 65 percent, are between the ages of 15 and 64. Only 5 percent of the population is older than 65, while 30 percent of the population is under 14 years of age. This is in sharp contrast to Japan , west European countries, and the United States where the number of older people in the population is much higher. The density of population is about 65.2 per square kilometer (169 per square mile). With agriculture as the most important occupation, a majority of the people live in the rural areas and only an estimated 27.3 percent (1999) reside in cities. OVERVIEW OF ECONOMY Despite many attempts to industrialize and modernize, Burma remains an essentially agricultural economy. Attempts in the 1990s to encourage foreign investments, revitalize the economy, and promote the tourism industry as a source of income and employment have been only moderately successful. Agriculture remains the most dominant sector of the economy, generating 59 percent of the gross domestic product ( GDP ) in 1997 and employing more than 65 percent of the workforce in 1999. Only 10,680 square kilometers (4,123 square miles) of the country's arable land was irrigated in 1993. Agriculture, for the most part, depends on the monsoon rains. Periodic droughts are a major problem. Similarly, natural disasters such as cyclones, earthquakes, floods, and landslides, especially during the long monsoon season, can have an adverse impact on agricultural production. Until it became independent in 1948, Burma was a British colony. The colonial authorities promoted agriculture by encouraging the settlement of people in the delta regions. Roads, bridges, and ports were built to facilitate the movement of agricultural products. This development led to an internal migration from the dry northern regions to south of the country. The delta produced large quantities of rice. The British were not interested in encouraging industries in Burma. Foreign domination of the economy was complete. During the 1950s, the capital of Rangoon was one of the commercial centers of Southeast Asia . At the time, the World Bank estimated that Burma would become one of the most prosperous countries of the region. But independence, democracy, and a free market economy failed to produce political stability or economic prosperity. In 1962, a military takeover of the government led to socialism and central economic planning. Foreign businesspeople—especially those from India, China, and Pakistan—were expelled and foreign investment in Burma stopped. The new rulers adopted a "Burmese road to socialism"—a policy of state socialism and isolationism (a policy of keeping foreign influence and involvement to a minimum so that a country can develop on its own). Economic conditions did not improve under the harsh rule of the generals; rather, they worsened. In 1987, the United Nations declared the country a "Least Developed Nation." Many people in Burma remained antagonistic toward the military rule and the state-controlled economy. This opposition finally led to mass protests and violence in March 1988, which the government sought to suppress. The army chief of staff took control of the government, abandoned the 3-decade-old period of state socialism, and freed the market from most of the state controls. Burma now has a mixed economy with a private, state, and a joint private-state sector. Agriculture, light industries, and other businesses are in the private sector . Heavy industries that require huge capital investment are in the state sector. The economic reforms of the last decade sought to promote joint ventures between private Burmese and foreign firms. Therefore, foreign investments were once again encouraged with modest success. The state sector continues to be inefficient, and attempts to privatize at least a portion of it remain on the books. External debt amounts to 10 percent of the GDP, and imports exceed exports by 2 to 1, causing a serious trade imbalance. Burma is a top producer of illicit drugs and contributes 80 percent of all Southeast Asian production of opium. Most of the heroin available in the United States originates from Burma. The trafficking in drugs is illegal; thus, an accurate assessment of its contribution to the economy is impossible to gauge. A parallel black market , perhaps bigger than the state's economy, continues to pose problems for the authorities. During the 1998-99 fiscal year , Burma received an estimated US$99 million in economic aid. In 1995, the figure was about US$157 million. Economic sanctions imposed by the United States, the European Community, and other nations have contributed to this decline. These sanctions are in response to continued political repression and human rights violations by the military regime. In 1990, the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) had won a clear victory in the elections, but the generals refused to transfer power to the duly-elected representatives of the people. Moreover, the leaders of the NLD were harassed, detained, tortured, and even murdered by the regime. Politically and economically, Burma remains a pariah (outcast) nation. Except for its membership in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the country is not befriended by most nations. In May 2000, U.S. president Bill Clinton imposed new sanctions on the military junta (a group of military personnel who overthrow a government) making it difficult for the Burmese authorities to get foreign loans, economic assistance, and foreign investments. Many American companies such as Apple Computer, Oshkosh B'Gosh, Eddie Bauer, Reebok, Levi Strauss, Pepsi Cola, and Liz Claiborne have withdrawn from the country. Therefore, the attempts of the military junta to revitalize the economy have been only partly successful. Despite the introduction of banking and trade regulations in the late 1990s, Burma failed to achieve fiscal or monetary stability. Inflation continues to be high. Although poor and undeveloped, Burma is rich in natural resources. Nevertheless, the decline of the agricultural sector, regional economic crises, international sanctions, and shortages of electricity have all contributed to a slowdown in the economy since 1997. POLITICS, GOVERNMENT, AND TAXATION Burma fought for independence from Great Britain in the late 1940s under the Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League led by Aung San, U Nu, and Ne Win. The independence movement was a pro-Burman, anti-British, and anti-foreign movement that emphasized Burmese values, symbols, and experiences. This movement had very strong socialist leanings in response to Chinese and Indian domination of the Burmese economy during the British rule. In 1948, the country became independent under the leadership of U Nu because his political opponents had already killed Aung San, the father of Burmese nationalism. In 1962 the army, under the leadership of Ne Win, overthrew the democratic government and set up the Burmese Socialist Party, nationalized schools, banks, and factories, and followed a policy of socialist central planning and international isolationism. Later on, the party of the generals changed its name to the Burma Socialist Program Party. In 1974, all political parties were abolished. In September of 1988, amid massive demonstrations against the government, a new regime seized power in a military coup. Calling themselves the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), the new regime also changed the name of the country from Burma to Myanmar , something that opposition groups still object to. Following the anti-government protests, riots, and bloodshed in 1988, the opposition parties coalesced into the National League for Democracy (NLD) under the leadership Aung San Suu Kyi, the daughter of the martyred national hero, Aung San. Responding to nationwide protests, the SLORC allowed national elections in May of 1990. The NLD dominated the elections, winning 80 percent of the seats in the National Assembly, but the ruling SLORC refused to concede power and imprisoned NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Since that time the SLORC has exercised complete control over all branches of government. The National Assembly elected in 1990 has in fact never convened, the judicial system is bankrupt, and all executive positions are held by military representatives of the SLORC. In 1997 the ruling SLORC was reorganized as the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) amid a shakeup that saw several high officials dismissed for corruption. Five top generals, including Secretary Khin Nyunt, consolidated their power but showed no signs of ceding control of the government to the opposition, most of which was banned from any official forms of organization. Like the SLORC, the SPDC is primarily concerned with cracking down on opposition and not on improving the economic fortunes of the country. The government's mounting deficit financing, resulting mostly from declining tax revenue and escalating military expenditures, has had a negative impact on the economy. The regime's policies led to the growth in the money supply and accelerated inflation. Mounting foreign debt and depleting foreign exchange reserves also affected the health of the economy. Military expenditures increased while the funding for health and education declined. The government's oppressive attitude towards the opposition has caused international censure, prompting foreign firms to pull out or cut back on their activities. Because of foreign economic sanctions, Burma is unable to get assistance from other countries or loans from international funding sources. The country's tax base shrank in the last years of the 20th century, due to the government's inability to collect taxes because of a corrupt bureaucracy and a black market perhaps as large as the legitimate market. The sources of government revenue include general sales and value-added taxes , income from state enterprises, taxes on international trade, fees, and grants from donor nations and international agencies. The government also collects customs at its border posts, but most of the border trade is unrecorded. The judicial system that Burma inherited from its British colonial masters was abolished in 1974. The new constitution calls for a council of People's Justices. In addition, there are lower courts at the state, town, village and ward level. The courts settle both civil and criminal cases. The armed forces—controlling most aspects of the country's politics and government—also exert influence over Burma's judicial system. INFRASTRUCTURE, POWER, AND COMMUNICATIONS In most developing countries of the world including Burma, inadequate infrastructure —roads, bridges, canals, railways, ports and communication facilities— impedes economic growth. Burma's long coastline is home to many excellent natural harbors such as Bassein, Bhamo, Mandalay, Rangoon, and Tavoy. The government has taken steps to develop new ports and maintain the existing ones, although all the ports are not used to their maximum capacity. A salient geographic feature of Burma is its many rivers, especially the Irrawaddy. The country's waterways remain the most important traditional mode of transportation to many remote areas of the country. Of more than 12,800 kilometers (7,954 miles) of waterways, 3200 kilometers (1,988 miles) are navigable by large commercial vessels. Since the economic liberalization in 1989, the government started many public works programs. Early in the 1990s the government used forced rural labor to work on these projects. However, due to international criticism, the government began to engage the armed forces on these construction projects starting in mid-1990s. These projects did not bring about major improvement in the infrastructure needs of the country. The result has been that economic expansion was made difficult because in the absence of adequate transportation facilities, distribution of goods and services has been extremely difficult and costly. In 1996, Burma had a total of 28,200 kilometers (17,523 miles) of roads, of which only 3,440 kilometers (2,138 miles) were paved. Although the government attempted to improve many major roadways during the final years of the 20th century, most remain in poor repair and are not passable during the monsoon season. A major effort in this regard was to reconstruct the Old Burma Road from Mandalay to the borders of China. As of late 2000, the work on the project was still incomplete. Rail services remain poor despite attempts in the 1990s to renovate the existing lines, add new ones, and upgrade railway services on the main routes. Burma has a total of 3,991 kilometers (2,480 miles) of railways, over 320 locomotives, and more than 4,000 rail cars. The recent efforts include upgrading Rangoon-Mandalay rail line and beginning a new 162-kilometer Ye-Dawai Rail track project. In the 1995-96 fiscal year the railways carried 53,400,000 passengers and 3,280,000 tons of freight. Burma has 80 airports and 1 heliport. Only 10 airports have paved runways. Both the private sector and the state sector are active in air transportation. The Department of Civil Aviation is responsible for the airports and the state-run airline. Air Mandalay, Myanma Airways, and Myanma Airways International are the chief airlines of the country. Burma's chief airports at Rangoon, Mandalay, and Bago were upgraded in the late Communications aData are from International Telecommunication Union, World Telecommunication Development Report 1999 and are per 1,000 people. bData are from the Internet Software Consortium ( http://www.isc.org ) and are per 10,000 people. SOURCE: World Bank. World Development Indicators 2000. 1990s. During the 1995-96 fiscal year state-run airlines carried a total of 719,000 domestic passengers and 138,000 international passengers. Light transportation such as buses and cars are a private sector activity in Burma. As of March 31, 1996, Burma had 151,934 passenger cars, 42,828 trucks, 15,639 buses, 88,521 motorcycles, and another 6,611 registered vehicles. Also during 1996, state-owned maritime vessels carried 24,491,000 passengers and 3,158,000 tons of freight. These numbers show an increase over the same period of the previous fiscal year. Industrial production and expansion are limited due to inadequate production and intermittent supply of electric power. Electricity production of 4.38 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) in 1998 was far below demand. Around 38 percent of the electricity is generated by hydroelectric projects while the remaining 62 percent comes from fossil fuels. Chronic shortages and frequent disruptions of supply exist. Therefore, state and private enterprises operate far below their capacity. Moreover, very often they have to depend on their own diesel-run power generators to meet their electrical needs. As of 1995, there were 158,000 main telephone lines. In 1997, there were 500 exchanges with a capacity to reach 320 of the 324 townships in the nation. The number of mobile cellular phones was only 2,007 in 1995. Although the telephone system is capable of providing basic services, it is inefficient and outdated. Attempts in the 1990s to upgrade the system yielded only minimal results. Cellular and wireless phones function more efficiently than the traditional lines. The switching system is incapable of meeting current demands, and people have to wait for a long time for a telephone connection to their homes and factories. International service powered by a satellite earth station is relatively good. The 2 television stations in Burma service 260,000 (1997) television sets. TV Burma is able to transmit 82 percent of its broadcasts to 267 of the 324 townships in the country with the help of 120 TV relay stations. These are in addition to Burma's 2 AM, 3 FM, and 3 shortwave radio stations. In 1997 the country had a total of 4.2 million radio sets. Radio and television stations are state-owned and operated. In 1996, there were 5 newspapers with an estimated circulation of 449,000, a significant decline from 1994 circulation figures. There are about 50,000 computers in all of Burma. Public access to the Internet is prohibited for fear that it could encourage and widen political dissent and protest. Unauthorized ownership of modems is punishable by up to 15 years in jail. E-mail is restricted to foreigners and businesspeople with close ties to the administration. Private e-mail providers are prohibited, and only the Ministry of Post and Telegraph is allowed to provide e-mail service. Improvements in the infrastructure were partly funded by deficit spending. In the absence of adequate funds, the government is unable to fully develop the country's transportation and communication systems and facilities. This situation had a negative impact on modernization and economic growth of the country for many decades. ECONOMIC SECTORS Agriculture, industries, energy and tourism are the main sectors of the Burma economy. Agriculture, however, is the dominant sector and accounts for almost 60 percent of the GDP. The heavy industries are owned and operated by the state. Agriculture is mostly a private activity, although rice exports are a state monopoly . Recent government initiatives to improve agricultural production failed because drought and flooding diminished in rice production. The cultivation of pulses and beans, however, has increased significantly. Industrial manufacturing is still undeveloped. Government attempts to privatize some industries have stalled, even though government-owned concerns continue to lose large sums of money. Foreign investments, although encouraged, have failed to generate enough international interest due to sanctions and boycotts protesting the military regime's human rights violations. All told, industry contributed just 11 percent of GDP in 1997. The energy sector grew considerably during the late 1990s. The exploration and discovery of petroleum and natural gas deposits continued during this period. The construction of the Yadna gas pipeline to Thailand was a major development and is expected to be a major source of revenue. The lack of sufficient electrical power contributes to the country's poor economic growth. Following the military crackdown on the pro-democracy movement in 1988, there was a sharp decline in the number of foreign tourists visiting the country. Early in the 1990s the government placed great emphasis on tourism development. The government's attempt to turn tourism into a "cash cow" has not materialized, although the number of people visiting Burma has certainly increased in the last several years. Realizing the difficulties on the road to rapid industrialization, the government of Burma, while not giving up on industrialization, is hoping to make the agricultural sector the centerpiece of its plans for economic revitalization of the country. This sector, however, has seen declining financial returns. Burma is caught in a vicious circle of inflation, deficit financing, unemployment, and poverty. In an age of increasing international interdependence, Burma cannot expect to develop without the cooperation of the international community. AGRICULTURE Agriculture, which includes crop production, hunting, fishing, and forestry, is the mainstay of the Burma economy. This sector is responsible for much of the income and employment in the country. About 60 percent of the GDP comes from agriculture, and as much as 65 percent of the labor force is employed in this sector alone. Burma produces enough food to feed its entire population. In the absence of purchasing power, however, many people go hungry. Further, about a third of the rural households do not have any land or livestock. Only half of the arable 45 million acres is under cultivation. Rice is the most important agricultural commodity of Burma. Rice production increased from 5,200,000 metric tons in 1950 to 16,760,000 metric tons in 1993. The crop is cultivated along the river valleys, coastal areas, and in the Irrawaddy River delta. A wide variety of crops are cultivated in the northern dry zone. Rubber and other commercially useful products are cultivated in the Irrawaddy and Tenasserim regions. Agricultural products form the bulk of the export trade and include rice, teak, prawns, beans and pulses, and opiates. Burma's agriculture is heavily dependent on the monsoon rains. While some areas suffer from too much rain, other regions receive too little. Government efforts in the 1990s increased the amount of irrigated land to 2.2 million acres. Many agricultural products like tobacco, sugar, groundnut, sunflower, maize, jute and wheat, however, have not reached their pre-1985 production levels. This reduction is offset by higher production in rice, pulses and beans. Rice production increased due to supportive government policies as well as favorable market forces. According to Asian Development Bank estimates, however, real annual growth in agriculture declined from 5.0 percent in 1996-97 to 3.7 percent in 1997-98 and to 2.8 in the 1998-99 fiscal years. Further, per-acre yield of the crops has not increased because of inadequate application of fertilizers and pesticides. One factor that helped to improve production was the removal of government controls over the agricultural sector. Deforestation has been a major concern in Burma. The slash-and-burn method of agriculture is destroying the forests of the country, causing soil erosion and depletion of fertility. Periodic droughts, floods, landslides, and cyclones sometimes have devastating effect on agriculture. For example, flooding in Pegu and Irrawaddy during the 1997-98 growing season did considerable damage to rice production. Consequently, Burma exported only 28.4 thousand metric tons of rice in the 1997-98 season as opposed to 93.1 thousand metric tons in the previous year. The heavy reliance on monsoons is a major handicap for Burmese agriculture. The authorities have recently renovated dams and reservoirs, built new ones, pumped water from rivers and streams and taken other measures to improve irrigation. More remains to be done in this regard. Another impediment to agricultural improvement is the inability of farmers to secure adequate loans to enhance cultivation. Private lenders charge exorbitant rates, and there are not enough banking institutions to serve people in the rural areas. As a result, farmers are not able to buy fertilizers and pesticides for their crops. Financial services need to be improved to make funds available to the cultivators. The economic liberalization policies of the military junta have transformed the agricultural sector. Under the new economic system, the government distributed land among the landless, improved irrigation facilities, and increased the floor price of paddy that the government procures from the farmers. Some private activity in the export sector has been allowed since economic liberalization began in 1989. Consequently, the share of the agricultural sector in the GDP has gone up. LIVESTOCK . Burmese farmers raise a variety of animals including cattle, water buffalo, goats, sheep, chickens, and pigs. Oxen and water buffalo serve as draught animals in agriculture and for rural transportation. The GDP share of the livestock has increased slightly during the past decade. Most of the cattle are raised in the dry zone in the north. FORESTRY . Burma is rich in forests and woodland. While its neighbors, India, China and Thailand, have already depleted their forests, Burma is still regarded as the "last frontier of biodiversity in Asia ." (Biodiversity refers to ecosystems that are rich, varied, and largely unpolluted or tampered with by human development.) Most of the timbers, especially teakwood, consumed in these Asian countries come from Burma, although most of these exports are illegal. In their search for precious foreign exchange, the military junta is engaged in indiscriminate destruction of forests. Deforestation increases erosion and landslides and threatens the lives of many already endangered species in the rain forests. Burma is the leading supplier of teak in the international market. In addition to hardwoods, Burma also produces large quantities of bamboo in the delta regions and in the areas of heavy rainfall. Elephants and water buffalo play a key role in hauling teak and other hardwoods. FISHING . Burma is blessed with some of the world's most bountiful fishing grounds that extend from the Bay of Bengal to the Gulf of Martaban. Fish, often dried and salted, is part of Burmese cooking and is the most important source of protein in the diet. The government took many steps to encourage deep-sea fishing although the people prefer fresh-water fish. There has been a steady increase in the catch since the 1980s. Since 1989, Thai companies have been given permission to fish in the Burma waters. They use a modernized trawler fleet to harvest fish. The government also encourages fresh-water fish farms with a view to increasing fish production. Moreover, the Tenasserim area is home to some of world's finest pearls. As a result, the export value of fish and fish products alone has gone up from 159.4 million kyats in 1995-1996 to 227.8 million in 1996-97. INDUSTRY Primarily an agricultural country, Burma has always lagged behind in industrial production. The colonial authorities discouraged industrialization and encouraged only the production of raw materials, although there were some industrial developments towards the end of the colonial period. World War II caused serious damage to the country's infant industries. It took a long time for production to catch up to pre-war levels, and in 1952, the government established the Industrial Development Corporation to stimulate industrial production. The country's effort to industrialize without foreign assistance was successful to a certain extent in areas such as petroleum and natural gas production. In the 1960s, under military rule, many industries were nationalized. Since the 1970s, there has been a steady growth in industrial production. In 1988, the government liberalized the economy, abandoned state socialism, and encouraged foreign investment. Much of the industrial sector, especially heavy industries, is controlled by the government, although the share of private enterprise in this area is steadily growing. Industry accounts for only about 11 percent of the GDP and employs only 10 percent of the total labor force. Most of the industries center around agricultural processing, textiles, footwear, wood and wood products, copper, tin, tungsten, iron, construction materials, petroleum and natural gas, pharmaceuticals, and fertilizers. Cars and television sets are also assembled in the country. In 1999, the annual rate of growth of industries was estimated at 4 percent. The heavy losses of the public sector factories and industries are in part responsible for slow industrial growth. Pegu is the seat of most industrial activity. In addition, the government has opened 17 special industrial zones all over the country, 5 of which are in the Rangoon area. Foreign investment is encouraged in 2 of the zones. While these zones are not fully developed, several factories and plants manufacturing clothing, consumer goods , and iron and steel materials are already operating there. MINING . Although their GDP contribution is not very significant, mineral products are important in earning foreign exchange. Burma has large amounts of mineral deposits. They include tin, zinc, copper, tungsten, lead, silver, gold, iron and antimony. Coal , natural gas, and crude oil are also extracted. Jade, rubies, sapphires, and gold are also found in Burma. Should the country ever open to foreign investment there may be significant opportunities for development in this sector. OIL AND NATURAL GAS . Burma's petroleum industry dates back to pre-independence days. During 1963-1964, the government took complete control of petroleum exploration, extraction, and purification. Petroleum is found in the Irrawaddy basin, the delta region, and at offshore sites. Burma is self-sufficient in oil. The discovery of natural gas reserves in the Gulf of Martaban added to Burma's energy reserve. In 1986 the country produced 32,600 million cubic feet of natural gas. Burma also has large deposits of natural gas in the Andaman off-shore fields. In its efforts to facilitate the growth of its energy sector, the government built the Yadana natural gas pipeline, connecting natural gas stores off the Andaman Islands and Thailand, with the help of Unocal and Total, 2 international petroleum companies. According to government estimates, the energy sector grew approximately 88 percent in 1998. Government projections showed a 77 percent growth for the year 1999. SERVICES With just 30 percent of GDP and 25 percent of the workforce, the services sector is not a dominant part of the economy as it often is in developed countries. TOURISM. Like the cash-strapped countries of Jamaica and Cuba , Burma is also actively promoting itself as an island paradise to increase tourism. Both the government and private enterprises are heavily engaged in the tourism industry. In order to attract tourists, the country has improved roads, built international standard hotels, and other facilities. In 1988, roughly 40,000 foreigners visited the country, although following the suppression of the democracy movement that same year, tourism decreased. Between 1993 and 1996, tourism once again revived. The government proclaimed 1996 as "Visit Burma Year" and hoped to attract 500,000 tourists. However, only 180,000 people showed up. In the 1997-98 fiscal year 191,000 tourists visited the country. Both the government and the private sector, having invested heavily in new tourist facilities, were disappointed. Nevertheless, Burma—the land of Buddhist pagodas—has great tourism potential. Rangoon, Mandalay, Pagan, Pegu, and Tawnggys, with their palaces and shrines and pagodas, are the centers of tourism. However, the tense political situation, human rights violations, and boycotts by the international community have deterred many people from visiting. Tourism, so far, makes up only a small percentage of the GDP. FINANCE. During the post-independence days, most financial institutions were private. In 1964, the military junta nationalized all of the country's 24 banks. In their place, the government created 4 state banks. In 1990, the financial sector was revamped under the provisions of the Central Bank of Myanmar Law. Since then the financial institutions are the Central Bank of Myanmar, the Myanmar Agricultural and Rural Development Bank, the Myanma Economic Bank, the Myanma Foreign Trade Bank, the Myanma Industrial and Commercial Bank, the Myanma Small Loans Enterprise, and Myanmar Insurance. The 1990 law also allowed for both private and foreign banks. As a result, by February 1996, 16 private banks were formed, most of them in Rangoon. During the same period, more than 20 foreign banks opened branches or offices in Myanmar. The banking sector is still underdeveloped. The people have yet to maintain regular banking habits. The inflation rate is so high that the real rate of interest does not encourage deposits. But without deposits, banks cannot provide credit. In contrast, during the 1970s, when the interest rate was raised, people deposited more money in the banks. The Burma Securities Exchange was founded in 1996 as a joint venture between Japan's Daiwa Institute of Research and Myanma Economic Bank. The financial sector contributes only a small percentage of the GDP. INTERNATIONAL TRADE Historically, most of Burma's export-import trade was with Asian countries. In 1999, more than 80 percent of the country's export-import trade was with Asian nations, including about half with ASEAN countries. Japan, Singapore , Malaysia , and China are its major trading partners. Singapore is the single most important partner both in terms of imports and exports, providing 31 percent of imports and taking 10 percent of exports. There has been a decline in trade with Europe and the United States since the 1988 military crackdown on the democracy movement. Burma's export-import trade with the United States constitutes about 5 percent of the total foreign trade. The country's exports are mostly agricultural products. They include pulses and beans, teak, prawns, rubber, rice and other agricultural products. There is a large black market that smuggles live animals, gems, minerals, teak, and rice into the neighboring countries. Burma Trade (expressed in billions of US$): Burma Exports 2.666 SOURCE: International Monetary Fund. International Financial Statistics Yearbook 1999. also conducts brisk trade in narcotics. During the 1997-98 fiscal year, imports included raw materials, transport equipment, construction materials, and food items. While priority was given to the importation of materials needed for the Yadana natural gas pipeline, the government took measures to control importation of non-essential goods. In 1998 the country exported $1.2 billion in goods and services while importing $2.5 billion, reflecting a steady increase of imports over exports during the 1993-98 period. In fact, the trade imbalance has been a chronic problem for the country for well over 2 decades. During the 1965-75 period, rice exports fell, and Burma cut back on imports. During the 1976-80 period, although exports increased, there was a corresponding increase in imports. By the mid-1980s, exports declined, but imports continued to soar. The adverse balance of payment situation continues to plague Burma. This imbalance has a negative impact on the economy as a whole, forcing Burma to spend its precious foreign exchange reserves. To compensate for this situation, the government has printed currency to buy foreign exchange, thereby accelerating the inflationary tendencies of the economy. This inflation has wiped out many of the gains the country made as a result of economic liberalization in the 1990s. Making matters worse, the government had to buy foreign exchange from foreign sources at commercial rates. Consequently, Burma was unable to service its debt payment, prompting the World Bank to sever ties with the country. The net effect for Burma's people is that their purchasing power and standard of living declined. The regime, while continuing to increase military spending, was forced to cut back on education, health, and other essential services. Growing international concern about human rights abuses and the regime's inability to tackle narcotics trafficking have led many countries, including the United States, and international financial institutions, to refuse aid or loans to the country. The government's use of forced labor has also led to boycotts of Burmese goods. MONEY Adverse balance of payments, decreasing tax revenues, high defense spending, and deficit financing all have led to the printing of more currency and price inflation. The official exchange rate of the kyat to dollar, however, remains unchanged. There are 4 different rates for currency exchange: the official exchange rate, the customs rate, the official market rate, and the black market rate. Officially, US$1 equals 6.73 kyats, whereas in the black market the dollar may fetch 375 or more kyats. Exchange rates: Burma 5.9176 SOURCE: CIA World Factbook 2001 [ONLINE]. The Asian currency crisis of 1997 added to Burma's currency woes. The sharp decline in the Thai bhat had a negative impact on the kyat. During the 1997-98 fiscal year, according to U.S. embassy estimates, the kyat lost 54 percent of its value. Between April and December 1997, the kyat declined from 167/dollar to 257/dollar. In 1997 and 1998, when the kyat fell, the government intervened to prop up the value of the kyat and took strong measures to keep foreign exchange from leaving the country. It put a monthly cap of $50,000 on remittances , cut the number of banks allowed to handle foreign exchange transactions, and placed stiff controls on trade. The Asian economic crisis prompted foreign investors to either withhold investments or stay out of the Burmese market. Crises in the neighboring countries, Burma's principal trading partners, cost the country its export markets. The resultant ballooning of the trade deficit prompted the country to expand its money supply and draw down on foreign exchange reserves. According to the U.S. State Department Commercial Guide for 1999, the country was "virtually bankrupt." POVERTY AND WEALTH Like most countries of the world, Burma has extremes of wealth and poverty. Once prosperous, Burma was, in 2001, one of the poorest countries of the world. GDP per Capita (US$) 6,700 Data are estimates. SOURCE: Handbook of the Nations, 17th,18th,19th and 20th editions for 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999 data; CIA World Factbook 2001 [Online] for 2000 data. Most people live in the 40,000-odd villages of the country, while the majority of the urban population resides in the capital city of Rangoon. Among the population engaged in agriculture, 37 percent of the people do not have any land or livestock. Poverty and misery have increased in the past 3 decades. In 1997 the CIA World Factbook estimated that 23 percent of the Burmese population had incomes that placed them below the poverty line. The economic crisis of 1997 added to the problem. Inflation as of 1999 was at an all-time high of 50 percent on domestic goods and 104 percent on imported items. The government's policies have not helped to diminish inflation, which has eroded the purchasing power of Burma's citizens. The gap between rich and poor and rural and urban areas has increased. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), per capita income registered only a minimal increase in the 1990s. Many poor people are forced to send their children to work. Many women reportedly are sent to work in Thailand. The number of street children has also increased, and malnutrition among children is widespread. Sanitary conditions are far from satisfactory. Malaria, diarrhea, dysentery, tuberculosis, and more recently HIV/AIDS (due to drugs and prostitution) are the major health hazards of the country. In the countryside, a bullock cart (a 2-wheeled cart drawn by 2 castrated bulls) is the most popular means of transportation. Most farmers own a pair of oxen or water buffalo, a hoe, and a bullock cart for agricultural purposes. The rural houses (actually huts without running water or toilets) are made of bamboo. One portion is used for cooking and the other for sleeping. In the major towns and cities, there are houses made of brick and concrete. They are usually small and overcrowded. The government's socio-economic policies have not helped the people. Large outlays of money have been spent on the military, while only meager funds have gone to education and health issues. The numbers of children who do not attend school or who have dropped out reportedly increased in the 1990s. According to World Bank estimates, only 46.9 percent of the secondary school-age children were enrolled in schools during 1995. Education beyond the primary age is not compulsory. Burmese authorities boast a literacy rate of 83 percent, though independent observers have suggested that the rate may be as low as 30 percent. Most universities have been closed since December 1996. Health care in the rural areas was marginal until the 1960s. The government has opened more rural health centers and directed more doctors to the rural areas. As a result, the doctor-patient ratio has decreased considerably, from 1 per 15,560 to 1 per 3,578 in 1986. Health care is provided free of charge. WORKING CONDITIONS The Burmese labor force is estimated to be 19.7 million strong and consists of people between the ages of 15 and 59. About 65 percent of the labor force is employed in the agriculture sector. Of the remaining 35 percent, 10 percent is employed in the industrial sector while the remaining 25 percent is employed in a variety of service sectors. The official government unemployment rate for the fiscal year 1997-98 was reported as 7.1 percent. One serious concern about the Burma labor situation is the reported use of forced labor on public works projects. In November 2000, the International Labor Organization (ILO) concluded that Burmese authorities had not discontinued the practice and advised member nations to review their relations with Burma. In response, Burmese authorities said that they would stop cooperating with the ILO. The government has maintained that the ILO action represented an effort by its member states to exert improper influence on Burma's internal affairs. According to U.S. sources in Rangoon, the government lessened its dependence on forced labor. Instead, it was using military personnel on some of these projects. Military authorities, however, continue to force civilians to work for them. Many women and children, for instance, have to work as porters for the army. There are reports of the continued prevalence of child labor in the country. Legally, children must be 13 or above before they can be employed. This and the compulsory education law, however, are not fully enforced. Consequently, a large number of children never enroll in school and many do not complete the primary school course. Therefore, children are frequently employed in many areas, especially in the arts and crafts industries. Since the military takeover in 1962, the authorities have consistently denied the people their freedom of speech, press, assembly, and association. Also in 1964, the government abolished all trade union organizations. Substituting for independent unions are government-sponsored Regional Workers Councils. In 1985, there were 1.8 million members. Coordinating the work of the regional councils is the central workers organization in Rangoon, formed in 1968. The Central Arbitration Board is given the responsibility to settle major labor disputes but is inactive. Minor labor concerns are addressed by the township level agencies. One labor organization, the Federation of Trade Unions-Burma (FTUB), is an anti-government group that was formed in 1991 by Burmese living in exile. Working conditions were set forth in a 1964 law called The Law on Fundamental Workers' Rights and the Factories Act of 1951. An abundance of labor and the failure of the government to protect the workers have led to substandard working conditions. The public sector employees follow a 5-day, 35-hour workweek. Employees in the private sector and state enterprises have a 6-day, 44-hour workweek. The law provides for overtime pay. However, these laws cover only a small percentage of the workers. Moreover, the workers are not allowed to organize in unions and bargain collectively. In the public sector industries, the government sets the wages and benefits. The joint sector companies are discouraged from paying their employees more than their counterparts in the public sector. As of March 2000, all institutions of higher education, with the exception of a military academy and a medical school affiliated with the army, were closed. The middle class is frustrated that their children are not able to get an education. Many Burmese of all classes have fled the country for fear of oppression. Thousands of Burmese refugees remain in camps in Thailand and Bangladesh. COUNTRY HISTORY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 1044. Pagan empire is founded on the banks of Irrawaddy. 1824. First Anglo-Burmese war leads to Burmese defeat and loss of territory. 1886. Burma is defeated in the Second Anglo-Burmese war, and Britain annexes the remainder of the country's territory. 1941-45. Japanese forces invade Burma and occupy much of the country during World War II. 1948. Burma becomes an independent, democratic country with a free market economy. 1962. The military under General Ne Win overthrows democracy, establishing the "Burmese way to socialism" and nationalizing banks and other private industries. 1974. The government establishes a new constitution and announces the formation of the Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma. 1988. Amid widespread protests and riots, a military junta headed by Generals Ne Win and Saw Maung replaces the civilian president with a new government called the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC). The SLORC renames the nation the Union of Myanmar, dropping the name "Burma," and liberalizes the economy. 1990. Elections are held, and the opposition National League for Democracy wins a clear majority. The SLORC refuses to cede power and opposition leaders are jailed. 1997. The Asian economic crisis damages Burma's economy. 2000. The International Labor Organization concludes that Burma is in violation of rules regarding forced labor and advises member nations to review their relations with Burma. FUTURE TRENDS Burma is a resource-rich, naturally beautiful, and culturally significant country. Its potential for growth and prosperity is tremendous. Yet Burma can never reach its potential until the military regime negotiates with the opposition and transfers power to the elected representatives of the people. The regime, however, has been trying to eradicate the opposition. Most international observers agree that the government must end human rights violations, release political prisoners, establish sound monetary policies , increase the tax base and revenue, enhance the infrastructure, and further liberalize the public sector if the country has any hopes of taking its place in international commerce. Despite announcing plans for such improvements, however, the ruling SPDC seems most concerned with retaining its grip on power through violence and intimidation of internal opposition and disengagement with the international community. In the absence of a change in this program, economic stagnation, poverty, disease, and illiteracy will remain Burma's most notable features. DEPENDENCIES Burma (Myanmar) has no territories or colonies. BIBLIOGRAPHY "Amnesty International Report 2000-Country Reports, Myanmar." Amnesty International. <http://www.web.amnesty.org/web/ar2000web.nsf/ebbd3384655495f2802568f500615e2f/3a9085ff93e50f80802568f200552950!OpenDocument>. Accessed December 2000. Cady, John Frank. Southeast Asia: Its Historical Development. New York : McGraw Hill, 1964. Cady, John Frank. The United States and Burma. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1976. Soe, Maung Maung. "Economic Reforms and Agricultural Development in Myanmar." ASEAN Economic Bulletin. Vol. 15, No. 1, April 1998. U.S. Central Intelligence Agency. World Factbook 2000. <http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html>. Accessed July 2001. U.S. Department of State. Country Commercial Guides FY 1999: Burma. <http://www.state.gov/www/about_state/business/com_guides/1999/eastasia/burma99.html> . Accessed December 2000. —George Thadathil Rangoon (Yangon). MONETARY UNIT: Kyat (Kt). One kyat is equal to 100 pyas. There are coins of 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 pyas and 1 kyat, and notes of 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 40, 90, 100, 200, 500, and 1,000 kyat. CHIEF EXPORTS: Pulses and beans, prawns, fish, rice, teak, and opiates. CHIEF IMPORTS: Machinery, transport equipment, construction materials, and food products. GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT: US$59.4 billion (purchasing power parity, 1999 est.). BALANCE OF TRADE: Exports: US$1.2 billion (1998). Imports: US$2.5 billion (1998). Cite this article Burmese Orientation Identification. The name of the country of Burma (or Myanmar , as it is now officially known) is associated with the dominant ethnic group, the Burmese. Because of the current regime's lack of legitimacy and poor human rights record, it is common practice outside the country not to use the name Myanmar. The country fell under British colonial rule during the nineteenth century. When it became independent as the Union of Burma in 1948, the country almost immediately entered a state of civil war as ethnic minorities fought against the Burmese-dominated central government. Insurgencies by some ethnic groups continue. In 1962, the military leader Ne Win seized power. His regime sought to isolate the nation and institute nationalist policies under the label "the Burmese Road to Socialism." In 1972, the name of the country was changed to the Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma. After civil unrest in 1988, the military government changed the name to the Union of Myanmar. Efforts to create a broadly shared sense of national identity have been only partly successful because of the regime's lack of legitimacy and tendency to rely on coercion and threats to secure the allegiance of non-Burmese groups. The low level of education and poor communications infrastructure also limit the spread of a national culture. Location and Geography. The state has an area of 261,789 square miles (678,034 square kilometers). It is bordered by Bangladesh to the west, India and China to the north, and Laos and Thailand to the east. The southern portion faces the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. The middle portion centers on the Irrawaddy River, with a large delta area at its mouth and the area above the delta featuring floodplains. Most of the population and agricultural lands are found along the Irrawaddy, which is navigable for about one-thousand miles. The western, northern, and eastern regions have mountains and high valleys and plateaus. The western region has the Arakan, Chin, and Naga hills. The most important geographic feature to the east is the Shan Plateau. The Burmese live primarily in the central lowlands, while the other ethnic groups live mainly in the highlands. Under British rule, the political capital was moved from Mandalay in the center to Rangoon on the eastern edge of the Irrawaddy delta in 1885. That city was built in 1755 and named Dagon. Rangoon remained the capital after independence (its name was changed later to Yangon ) and continues to be politically and economically the most important city. Both Rangoon and Mandalay lie within the area occupied primarily by Burmese peoples, although both cities have a significant Indian population as a legacy of British rule. Demography. The official population figure in 1995 was 44.74 million, but it may range from 41.7 million to 47 million. Linguists have identified 110 distinct ethnolinguistic groups, and the government recognizes 135 ethnic groups (referred to as races). The Burmese account for about 68 percent of the population. Other major ethnic groups include the Shan (about four million), Karen (about three million), Arakanese or Rakhine (about two million), Chinese (over one million), Chin (over one million), Wa (about one million), Mon (about one million), Indians and Bengalis (about one million), Jingpho (about less than one million), and Palaung (less than one million). With the exception of the Chinese, Indian, and Belgalis, each minority group occupies a relatively distinct area. Linguistic Affiliation. Burmese is a Tibeto-Burman language whose alphabet is derived from south Indian scripts. The largest ethnic group that speaks Burmese is the Myanma; there is a smaller Burmese-speaking ethnic group known as Baramagyi (or Barua). A few regional dialects of Burmese are associated with subgroups. Closely related Southern Burmish languages include Arakanese, Intha, and Taungyo (or Tavoyan). Burmese is the national language. It is spoken as a second language by most educated members of other ethnic groups, but some of those groups have little contact with the national language. Many educated urban residents speak English as a second language, but English is not widely spoken among the population as a whole. The teaching of English in schools was banned from 1966 to 1980. Shan is as an important second language for many ethnic groups in Shan State, while Jingpho is spoken as a second language by many smaller ethnic groups in Kachin State. Symbolism. Since 1962, the government has used an array of slogans urging discipline and support for the regime and the military. The promotion of nationalist sentiments through the media, public events, and the display of related images is especially marked on holidays. Among architectural sites with national symbolism, two of the most important are the archaeological site of the old capital of Pagan and Shwedagon Pagoda in Rangoon. History and Ethnic Relations Emergence of the Nation. The earliest civilizations associated with what is now Burma were the Mon (also called Taliang) in the south and the Pyu in central Burma which flourished during the first half of the first millennium. The Mon were strongly influenced by Indian culture through trade and the Buddhist religion. The Pyu went into decline in the 800s. Around that time, the ancestors of the Burmese, known as Mranma, settled to the south of Mandalay. With the former Pyu city of Pagan (known as Arimadanapura) as his capital, the Burmese ruler Anaw-rahta (ruled 1044–1077) founded the first Burmese kingdom. His conquest of Thaton resulted in the spread of Theravada Buddhism and the adoption of many aspects of Indian-inspired Mon art and architecture. The lowland area along the Irrawaddy River under the control of Pagan often is referred to as "Burma Proper," since it is the heartland of the region that has been most securely under Burmese rule. In the late 1200s, Pagan declined and the Burmese lost control over much of the territory. Over the next few centuries, the Burmese slowly regained control over portions of lowland Burma from their new capital of Pegu. However, the Mon remained independent until 1539 and the Arakanese until 1784, while most of the upland territory occupied by the Shan was outside their control or only loosely under Burmese domination. The capital was moved to Ava during the reign of King Tha-lun (1629–1648). During the reign of Ling Alaung-hpaya (1752–1760), a new dynasty was founded known as the Kon-baung, and the Burmese began a new period of military expansion. The Mon were conquered again, Burmese migration into Mon territory was instituted, and many Mon were resettled in the western Irrawaddy delta. Burmese migrants were sent to the east to serve as a barrier against the Shan. Efforts at expansion beyond the lowland area met with little success. In the early nineteenth century, incursions into border areas to the west brought Burmese rulers into conflict with the British in India, leading to the first Anglo-Burmese War in 1824. At the end of the war in 1826, the Burmese were forced to give up claims to territories in eastern India and a portion of southern Burma that included territories associated largely with non-Burmese ethnic groups. Continued poor relations resulted in the loss of the province of Pegu. This territory became known as Lower Burma. Although foreign relations improved under the reign of King Min-don (1853–1878), unstable conditions following his death and Prince Thibaw's overtures to the French led the British to invade Upper Burma again in 1885. In the face of local resistance that lasted until 1890, the British established colonial rule over not only the lowland territory but the Shan states as well. Over the next few decades, the British tried to bring the other highland areas under their control, but some territories remained free throughout the colonial period. In the 1920s and 1930s, the British implemented reforms aimed at granting eventual self-rule. The proindependence forces were not unified, and there was infighting between factions. In addition to sporadic anti-British violence, nationalist sentiments took on a Burmese ethnic tone that resulted in violent outbursts against local Indians and Chinese. Burma was occupied by the Japanese during World War II . The British returned toward the end of the war, but the colony quickly moved toward independence. An independent Union of Burma was declared in 1948 under Prime Minister U Nu. It was a fragile new nation beset by political infighting and civil war involving ethnic minorities and communists backed by China. National Identity. Before colonial rule, Burma consisted essentially of the central lowland areas and a few conquered peoples, with highland peoples only nominally under Burmese control. The British brought most of the highlands peoples loosely under their control but allowed highland minorities to retain a good deal of their own identity. This situation changed after independence as the Burmese-dominated central government attempted to assert control over the highland peoples. Despite continued resistance to the central government, those in the lowland areas and the larger settlements in the highlands have come to share more of a common national culture. The spread of Burmese language usage is an important factor in this regard. Ethnic Relations. The majority of the people speak Tibeto-Burman languages. Tibeto-Burman speakers in Burma can be divided into six distinct groups. The Burmish constitute the largest of these groups by population. Nungish speakers live in upland areas in Kachin State. The main Baric-speaking group is the Jingpho in Kachin State. The Kuki-Naga-speaking peoples include a large number of ethnic groups in the mountains along the border with India and Bangladesh. The Luish group includes the Kado, who live near the border with the Indian state of Manipur. The Karen groups live in the hills along the border with Thailand and the southern lowlands. The Lolo-speaking groups tend to be the most recent immigrants to Burma; they live in the highlands of Shan and Kachin states. There are also large numbers of speakers of Austro-Tai languages. The largest Daic-speaking group is the Shan, who constitute the majority in Shan State. Smaller, related groups include the Tai Khun, Lue, Tai Nua, and Khamti. Other Austro-Tai speakers include the Austronesian-speaking Moken and small groups of Hmong and Mien in Shan State. Under the British, ethnic minorities generally were able to retain some autonomy. Negotiations for independence after World War II brought suspicions among the political leaders of several ethnic minorities that their status would be undermined. Immediately after independence in 1948, serious divisions emerged between Burmese and non-Burmese political leaders, who favored a less unified state. Between 1948 and 1962, armed conflicts broke out between some of these minority groups and the central government. Although some groups signed peace accords with the central government in the late 1980s and early 1990s, others are still engaged in armed conflict. The Wa have signed a peace agreement but have retained a great deal of autonomy and control of much of the drug trade in northern Burma. Military operations in ethnic minority areas and government policies of forced resettlement and forced labor have dislocated many ethnic groups, and have caused large numbers of refugees to flee to neighboring countries. At present there are around three hundred thousand refugees in Thailand, Bangladesh, and India, mostly from ethnic minorities. Before independence, Indians were a dominant presence in urban-centered commercial activities. With the outbreak of World War II, a large number of Indians left for India before the Japanese occupation. Through the 1950s, Indians continued to leave in the face of ethnic antagonism and antibusiness policies. The Indians remaining in Burma have been treated with suspicion but have avoided overt opposition to the regime. Urbanism, Architecture, and the Use of Space About 80 percent of the population lives in rural areas. Rangoon has a population of 4 million, and Mandalay has almost 1 million residents. The ethnic composition of Rangoon and Mandalay is over-whelmingly Burmese, although these cities are also where most of the Indian population lives. Architecture reflects the country's Buddhist and colonial heritage. Buddhist temples are the most important architectural features throughout the country. The Buddhist temple serves as a religious school, a community center, a guest house, a place where the government and other agencies post information, a site for sports activities, a center for welfare services for those who are poor and ill, a morgue, and a center for music and dance. It also carries out economic services such as providing loans and renting lands and homes. Temples are also important in urban areas. While most temples in central Burma are Burmese in style, the temples of Shan State tend to have a distinctive look that is referred to as the Shan style. Temples tend to be surrounded by small shops that sell sacred and secular items. The traditional house is made largely of bamboo. Flattened pieces of bamboo made into large plaited sections are used to make the walls. The floors are made of bamboo planks or wood. The frame of the house is made of wood, with hard and durable wood being used for the house posts. Roof coverings are made of a variety of materials, including thatch made from broad-leafed grass or palm fronds. Roofs may be covered with tiles, wooden shingles, or zinc sheets. The front of the house usually has a veranda that is raised a few feet off the ground. This is the public area where guests are entertained. The center of the house is the living area for the family. Behind it is a covered cooking area where rice is stored. Especially in urban areas, these houses are being replaced by more generic ones made from cement. Some ethnic minorities have distinctive styles of houses. Many Palaung traditionally lived in multiple-family houses. Today, these structures are very rare, and most Palaung live in single-family houses. Food and Economy Food in Daily Life. Rice is the staple food except among those in highland areas where rice is difficult to grow. In those areas, rice, millet, sorghum, and corn are the staples. Rice is accompanied by a raw salad of leaves, fruit, or vegetables; a soup; and curries of fish, meat, prawns, or eggs. In addition to turmeric and chili, curries are seasoned with fermented fish or shrimp paste. A variety of cultivated vegetables and wild greens are eaten as well as bamboo shoots. Meals often are accompanied by lentils, pickled relishes, and balachaung (made from fried dry prawns). There are a variety of rice-noodle dishes. After a meal, it is common to eat fresh fruit. Burmese traditionally eat a morning meal and an evening meal that is taken before dark. The meals are served in a large platter or on a low table, with members of the household sitting on mats. Food is eaten with the fingers, although sometimes utensils are used. It is common to drink water and eat fruit after the main meal. Throughout the day people eat betel and smoke tobacco. Burmese not only drink tea made from dried tea leaves but also eat pickled tea as a snack. Other snacks include chappatis, fried insects, and Chinese pastries. Tea shops are found in every city, town, and large village. These establishments are important locales for social gathering. Street stalls sell a variety of foods in the cities and towns. Relatively few restaurants serve Burmese food. The majority serve Indian or Chinese food, and English food is served in many hotels and guest houses. Food Customs at Ceremonial Occasions. Feasting and sharing food are an important feature of traditional agricultural and religious rites. Often special foods are prepared for those occasions. Htamane, which is served during the rice harvest festival February, is made of glutinous rice mixed with sesame seeds, peanuts, shredded ginger, and coconut. Alcoholic beverages are drunk during some secular festivities but are not drunk during most religious festivals. In urbanized areas, commercial beer and other forms of alcohol are consumed, while in more remote rural areas, locally made alcohol is more common. Alcoholic drinks are made from fermented palm juice and a distilled rice-based solution. Fermented grain-based alcoholic drinks are more commonly consumed among highland groups. Basic Economy. The economy is dominated by agriculture, which accounts for over 59 percent of the gross domestic product and employs about two-thirds of the labor force. Rice is the main product. Production declined after independence but increased during the late 1970s and early 1980s because of the introduction of high-yielding varieties, fertilizer, and irrigation. Since that time, production has barely kept pace with population growth, and Burma, once the world's leading exporter of rice, is barely able to meet subsistence needs of its own population. It continues to export some rice to earn foreign exchange. The production of narcotics from poppies and other sources is widespread in the northern highlands, and Burma is the world's leading supplier of opiates. Land Tenure and Property. In areas under Burmese rule, land traditionally was held on the basis of service to the court and could be leased or sold and passed on to one's heirs; it also could be taken away by the court. In more remote areas, land ownership tended to be related to continual cultivation and occupancy. Under the British, private ownership became widespread in the central areas and a system of land taxation was introduced in which failure to pay property taxes could result in the loss of land. Before World War II, in the southern delta area absentee ownership of productive land was widespread. In the central area, agricultural land tended to be in the hands of small-scale owner-producers. Shortly after independence, the government passed a land nationalization act that was intended to turn land owned by wealthy landlords over to those who worked the land. However, that act was not implemented. A second act passed in 1954 met with only partial success. The revolutionary government that seized power in 1962 nationalized the larger commercial and manufacturing establishments, including those of Indian traders. This created a large black market economy as people attempted to circumvent government control of commerce. The revolutionary government attempted to remove the landlord class and turned all land over to peasant producers while retaining ultimate ownership for itself. In practice, agricultural tenancy was not eliminated, and producers had the added burden of state intervention. After 1988, the government allowed a greater role for the private sector and foreign investment. While these reforms have allowed greater private ownership, considerable insecurity remains among those who own property. Commercial Activities. Since 1992, the military regimes have emphasized self-sufficiency and tried to limit imports. The largest companies and financial institutions are state-owned, with the private sector limited mainly to small-scale trading. In recent years, however, more imported goods, especially from China, have appeared in local markets and there has been growth in the private sector. The main cities and many smaller towns have one or more central markets that sell a wide variety of domestic and imported goods, including clothing and cloth, tobacco, food, baskets, jewelry, toiletries, and electronic goods. There are also specialized markets, such as the iron bazaar in Rangoon's Chinatown. Major Industries. Industrial production focuses on goods for local consumption, although a handful of factories produce for exportation. Local industries include textiles and footwear, wood processing, mining, the production of construction materials, pharmaceuticals, and fertilizer manufacturing. Although the country has substantial gem, oil, and natural gas reserves, extraction and processing capabilities are limited. There is a small tourist industry. There has been a dramatic growth in the number of hotels built since the introduction of economic reforms. Travel restrictions and poor infrastructure have concentrated the tourist industry in a few areas. Trade. Legal exports include timber, rice, beans and pulses, fish, garments, precious stones, and rice. Legal imports include construction materials, plant equipment, and consumer goods. The difference in the value of imports and exports is covered in large part by revenue from narcotics and other illegal exports. Under British colonial rule, Burma was the world's leading exporter of rice, and rice remains the major legal export. Logging was also important in the colonial economy, but excessive harvesting and poor forestry management have resulted in a sharp drop in the availability of teak. China, Thailand, and India are their main markets for timber, but most wood is exported illegally. Burma is famous for rubies and jade, but since 1962, a lack of capital and expertise has hindered that industry. As with timber, most ruby and jade exports go through illegal channels. Burma is the world's largest supplier of illegal opiates (opium and heroin), and the export of amphetamines has increased. Money from the illegal narcotics trade plays a crucial role in the national economy and in keeping the regime solvent. Much of the production of illegal narcotics, however, is in the hands of ethnic rebels in Shan State. Recent peace accords between the government and some rebel groups have given the regime access to income from narcotics. Thailand and India are Burma's primary sources of legal and illegal imported goods. Small amounts are also imported from other neighboring countries such as India, Malaysia , and Singapore . Division of Labor. There is little specialization in the agricultural sector. Small-scale commercial trading is done by both men and women, with men being primarily responsible for the transportation of goods. Ethnic Indians and Chinese are an important segment in commercial trading, but many Burmese and others are involved in commercial activities. Few tasks or professions are the monopoly of a single ethnic group. There are various forms of traditional craft specialization. This includes making lacquer ware, stone working, fine wood carving, and working with metal. Modern technical professions such as medicine and engineering are related to one's level of education and specialized training. Those in the higher levels of commerce and administration generally come from the families of prominent members of the regime, and connections with the regime are important factors in amassing wealth and power. Social Stratification Classes and Castes. Not only is poverty widespread, there is marked inequality. Essentially, the society is divided into a tiny elite, a fairly small middle class, and a large number of very poor people. While there are traditional elites within most of the ethnic groups and new elites in some groups whose wealth comes from smuggling, the national elite is overwhelmingly Burmese. In recent years income from the narcotics trade has been an important source of wealth for members of the elite. Although some segments of the middle class have prospered from the economic reforms of the late 1980s, most have not done well and remain poor. Political Life Government. The military has ruled the country since 1962. In the face of growing opposition to the government and its socialist policies, Ne Win and President San Yu resigned in July 1988, and widespread civil unrest followed. General Saw Muang formed a new military regime known as the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) and abolished much of the socialist system. Elections were held for the 485-member People's Assembly in 1990. The opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) won 396 seats, while the military-backed party won only 10. The People's Assembly was never convened, and many of its leaders were arrested or forced into exile. The military began drafting a new constitution in 1992, but this task has not been completed. The regime changed its name to the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) in 1997. The council includes a chairman and twenty other members. The government formed by the council consists of a prime minister, two deputy prime ministers, and thirty-seven ministers. Leadership and Political Officials. Political leadership revolves around political intrigues and struggles for power within the military. From 1962 until 1988, General Ne Win was the dominant political figure, with other officers and their associates jockeying for positions underneath him. General Than Swe's hold on power since 1988 has been far less absolute. The officers holding positions in SLORC/SPDC tend to be roughly the same age and have roughly similar backgrounds and values. The National League for Democracy is led by Aung San Suu Kyi, the daughter of the assassinated independence leader Aung San. She is currently under house arrest in Rangoon. The majority of the small inner circle around Aung San Suu Kyi are former military officers and associates or followers of Aung San. Both the regime and its leading opponents therefore form a small political elite. There is an ethnic dimension to political office holding and leadership. The 1948 and 1962 governments were predominantly Burmese in composition and pursued pro-Burmese policies. Those policies sparked ethnic insurgencies led by ethnic elites, and the situation deteriorated when the regime passed a law in 1983 that created three tiers of citizenship rights based largely on ethnicity. At the bottom was a category of "other races" that included naturalized immigrants, mainly from India and China, whose ancestors arrived during the colonial period. Those assigned to this tier cannot run for political office or hold senior government posts. The 1988 regime signed peace accords with most of the insurgent groups, but national leadership has remained in the hands of the Burmese. Social Problems and Control. The authoritarian military regime has been harsh in its treatment of ethnic minorities and rules by decree, without a constitution or legislature. The regime systematically violates human rights and suppresses all forms of opposition. The judiciary is not independent of the military regime, which appoints justices to the supreme court. These justices then appoint lower court judges with the approval of the regime. Prison conditions are harsh and life-threatening. The regime reinforces its rule with a pervasive security apparatus led by a military intelligence organization known as the Directorate of Defense Services Intelligence (DDSI). The regime engages in surveillance of government employees and private citizens, harassment of political activists, intimidation, arrest, detention, and physical abuse. The movements and communications of citizens are monitored, homes are searched without warrants, and people are forcibly relocated without compensation. There is no provision for judicial determination of the legality of detention. Before being charged, detainees rarely have access to legal counsel or their families. Political detainees have no opportunity to obtain bail, and some are held incommunicado for long periods. After being charged, detainees rarely have counsel. In ethnic minority areas, human rights abuses are widespread, including extrajudicial killings and rape. The regime justifies its actions as being necessary to maintain order and national unity. Although the regime officially recognizes the NLD, political rights are limited. There is virtually no right of assembly or association. Intimidation of NLD supporters forced the party to close its offices throughout the country. Opponents of the regime have disappeared and been arrested. Detainees often face torture, beatings, and other forms of abuse. There is little academic or religious freedom. Under the 1974 constitution, the regime required religious organizations to register with it. Religious meetings are monitored, and religious publications are subject to censorship and control. Buddhist monastic orders are under the authority of the state-sponsored State Clergy Coordination Committee. The regime has attempted to promote Buddhism and suppress other religions in ethnic minority areas. Workers' rights are restricted, unions are banned, and forced labor for public works and to produce food and other goods and perform other services for the military is common. Military personnel routinely confiscate livestock, fuel, food supplies, alcoholic drinks, and money from civilians. Military Activity. Since 1962, the military (the Tatmadaw ) has been the dominant political and economic force, with a large proportion of the population serving in the armed forces since the 1960s. In 1985, there were an estimated 186,000 men and women in the military; another 73,000 were in the People's Police Force and 35,000 served in the People's Militia. Reflecting the country's poverty and international isolation, the military is poorly armed and trained. Direct spending on the military declined from about 33 percent in the early 1970s to about 21 percent in 1987, representing less than 4 percent of the gross domestic product. This decline in personnel and expenditure was reversed in 1988. By 1997, the military had grown to over 350,000 and military spending had increased greatly. At present, military spending by the government is greater than nonmilitary spending. Military officers and their families play an important role in economic affairs outside the formal activities of the military. This is true both in the formal economy through government economic entities and in the black market, especially narcotics smuggling. The military's formal role includes intimidation of the population and waging war against ethnic insurgents. Gender Roles and Statuses Division of Labor by Gender. Both men and women do agricultural work, but individual tasks are often gender-specific. Men prepare the land for planting and sow seeds, and women transplant rice seedlings. Harvesting is done by both men and women. Men thresh the rice. Most domestic work is done by women. During ceremonies, however, men are involved in food preparation. A variety of traditional handicrafts are made within the household or by specialists. Items of metal, wood, or stone generally are made by men, and weaving usually is done by women. Pottery, basketry, plaiting, making lacquerware, and making umbrellas can be done by men or women. Small-scale market selling and itinerant trading are conducted by both sexes. Transportation of goods or people by animal, carts, boat, or motor vehicle is done mainly by men. Religious specialists and traditional curers generally are male, but sometimes they are female. Spirit mediums can be male or female. Traditional theatrical and musical performances involve both genders. Women work mainly in teaching and nursing. The Relative Status of Women and Men. Traditional society was known for the relatively high status of women. If a couple divorces, for example, common goods are divided equally and the wife retains her dowry as well as the proceeds from her commercial activities. However, military rule has undermined the status of women, especially at the higher levels of government and commerce. Women, however, play a significant role in the political opposition to the regime. The higher levels of business are in the hands of men, but many medium-size and small businesses are run by women. Marriage, Family, and Kinship Marriage. Individuals usually find their own marriage partners. Arrangements for the marriage may be made by the parents of sometimes an intermediary is employed. If the parents oppose the union, often the children elope and later the parents condone the marriage. When a man asks a woman's parents for their consent, it is common practice for him to bring a gift for the woman. Wedding ceremonies are relatively simple except among wealthy families. After speeches by the parents, members of the families and guests share pickled tea. Polygyny is rare. Far more common is the practice of wealthy and powerful men having an informal second wife. Divorce is relatively common and usually involves the couple ceasing to live together and dividing their property. Domestic Unit. A newly married couple may live with the parents of one partner (often the parents of the wife) but soon establish their own household. The nuclear family is the primary domestic unit, but it may include extended family members such as unmarried siblings, widowed parents, or more distant unmarried or widowed relatives. The husband is nominally the head of the household, but the wife has considerable authority. Women are responsible for most domestic chores. Inheritance. Property generally is divided equally among the children after the parents die. Kin Groups. Descent is reckoned bilaterally. Traditionally, there were no family names. Socialization Infant Care. Young children receive a great deal of attention. Newborns are placed in very carefully made cradles. A mother keeps her baby with her when she leaves the house. Burmese women carry babies on the hip, while most hill-dwelling peoples hold them in a sling on the back. Young children are pampered, given considerable freedom of movement, and allowed to handle virtually anything that catches their attention. Weaning usually takes place when a child is two to three years old. Relative or friends may nurse an infant. Adults take a great deal of interest in children, including those who are not their own. Child Rearing and Education. Young children undergo several rites of passage. When a child is a few years old, a ceremony is held to give the child a name. Children in rural areas grow up surrounded by the implements that they will use when they grow up and watch adults performing domestic, agricultural, and artisanal tasks. In the past, all boys eight to ten years of age would begin attending school in a nearby Buddhist monastery, where they would learn about Buddhism and be taught to read and write. Those schools gradually gave way to public schools, but many young men continue to receive some education in monasteries. Under that system, few women were educated; their education took place mainly at home as they learned how to perform domestic tasks. Modern education began under King Mindon (1853–1878), who built a school for an Anglican missionary. Under the British, secular education spread and the country achieved a relatively high level of education. Since 1962, the educational infrastructure has deteriorated. Today two-thirds to three-quarters of children drop out of elementary school before the fifth grade. The curriculum is scrutinized by the military regime, and it often is forbidden to teach in languages other than Burmese. Higher Education. There are forty-five universities and colleges and 154 technical and vocational schools. There has been a steady erosion of higher education since 1962. After the civil unrest in 1988, during which many students were involved in antigovernment activities, there were widespread closures of universities and colleges. Since that time there has been a repeated cycle of opening and closing the universities and colleges that has made serious study virtually impossible. The universities and colleges were closed in 1996, and only a few were reopened in 2000. Etiquette It is considered improper to lose one's temper or show much emotion in public, but the Burmese are a very friendly and outgoing people. The Burmese and other Buddhists follow the Buddhist custom of not touching a person on the head, since spiritually this is considered the highest part of the body. Patting a child on the head not only is improper but is thought to be dangerous to the child's well-being. A person should not point the feet at anyone. Footwear is removed upon entering temple complexes for religious reasons, and it is polite to remove footwear when entering a house. Religion Religious Beliefs. Almost 90 percent of the people are Buddhists, and the proportion is higher among the Burmese majority. Burmese follow the Theravada form of Buddhism, which is also known as Hinayana Buddhism and the doctrine of the elders or the small vehicle. In Theravada Buddhism, it is up to each individual to seek salvation and achieve nirvana. Buddhism is believed to have been introduced to Burma by missionaries sent by the Indian emperor Ashoka in the third century b.c.e. Buddhism is followed by many of the non-Burmese ethnic groups. While all these groups follow Theravada Buddhism, there are some differences between the in beliefs and practices and those of the Burmese. Buddhist beliefs and practices include animistic elements that reflect belief systems predating the introduction of Buddhism. Among the Burmese, this includes the worship of nats, which maybe associated with houses, in individuals, and natural features. An estimated 3 percent of the population, mainly in more isolated areas, who adhere solely to animistic religious beliefs. Another 4 percent of the population is Christian (3 percent Baptist and 1 percent Catholic), 4 percent is Muslim , 4 percent is Hindu, and 1 percent is animist. Christian missionaries began working in the country in the nineteenth century. They had relatively little success among Buddhists but made numerous converts among some of the minority groups. Religious Practitioners. Between ages of ten and sixteen, most young Burmese men and some young women become Buddhist novices and go to live in a monastery. While most young men remain at the monastery for only a short time before returning to the secular life, some become fully ordained monks. A person who wants to become a monk is expected to be free of debt and certain diseases, have the permission of his parents or spouse, agree to follow the disciplinary rules of the monkhood, and not become involved in secular life. While monks are expected to lead a life of aestheticism, they perform important functions in the community, especially as counselors. A variety of religious practitioners are associated with the animistic beliefs of most Buddhists, including spirit dancers who become possessed by spirits and may engage in healing and fortune-telling. There are also astrologers, other types of healers, tattoists with occult knowledge, and magicians. Rituals and Holy Places. Thingyan, the water festival, marks the advent of the new year in mid-April. Buddha images are washed, and monks are offered alms. It is also marked by dousing people with water and festive behavior such as dancing, singing, and theatrical performances. Kason in May celebrates Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and entrance into nirvana. The day includes the ceremonial watering of banyan trees to commemorate the banyan tree under which Buddha sat when he attained enlightenment. A ceremony is held in July to mark the start of the three-month lenten period and commemorate Buddha's first sermon. It is at this time that young males become novices. Lent is a period of spiritual retreat for monks, who remain in their monasteries. During this time people may not marry. Lent ends in October. Over a three-day period, candles, oil lamps, paper lanterns, and electric bulbs are lit to show how angels lit Buddha's return from heaven. Many marriages are held at this time. A celebration is held in November to produce new garments for monks and Buddha images. People come to complete the production of the cloth within a single day. Death and the Afterlife. Buddhists believe that those who die are reborn in a form that is in keeping with the merit they accumulated while alive. The cycle of death and rebirth is believed to continue as long as ignorance and craving remain. The cycle can be broken only through personal wisdom and the elimination of desire. Funerals involve either burial or cremation. The ceremony includes a procession of monks and mourners who accompany the coffin to the cemetery or crematorium, with the monks chanting and performing rites. Funerals for monks tend to be elaborate, while those who have died a violent death generally are quickly buried with very little ceremony, since their spirits are believed to linger as malevolent ghosts. Medicine and Health Care The use of traditional forms of medicine remains important, especially among the ethnic minorities. Few young people, however, receive training in these forms of medicine by an aging group of traditional healers and many traditional practices and the knowledge of traditional remedies are being lost. Serious health problems are reaching crisis proportions, and nontraditional health care by the public and private sectors has deteriorated. Malaria, AIDS , and malnutrition and related diseases are a serious problem. Intravenous drug use formerly was a problem mainly in the northeast among ethnic minorities, but since 1988, drug used has spread to the lowlands and the urban areas inhabited by the Burmese majority. There are only 703 hospitals and 12,464 doctors. These facilities are in very poor condition, and funding for medical care and training is inadequate. Secular Celebrations The major state holidays are Independence Day (4 January), Union Day (12 February), Peasants' Day (2 March), Resistance or Armed Forces Day (27 March), May Day or Workers' Day (1 May), Martyr's Day (19 July), and National Day (late November or early December). These are occasions for the regime to promote nationalist sentiments, and some are accompanied by festive events. Far more important for most Burmese are the older celebrations associated with agriculture and the Buddhist religion. The Arts and Humanities Support for the Arts. Until the 1880s, the nobility was an important source of support for artists. After the fall of the monarchy, support came from newly rich merchants and British colonial officers. From the 1920s to the 1940s, there was relatively little support from the government or the public. State schools for the fine arts were opened in Rangoon and Mandalay in 1953, and there was a revival of interest in traditional art forms. The military regime of 1962 encouraged art forms supportive of its nationalist and socialist agenda. Since 1988, there has been little government support. Literature. The focus of writing within Burmese society was, and to a large extent still is, focused on writing for theater performances (pwe ) and producing texts relating to Buddhism. In addition, since the nineteenth century there is a fair amount of popular fiction. There is also some British fiction from the colonial period that is set in Burma. Among the early British works of fiction concerned with the Burmese are two novels by H. Fielding: The Soul of a People (1898) and Thibaw's Queen (1899). By far the best known British novel set in Burma is George Orwell's Burmese Days (1934), a critical examination of British colonial rule. Graphic Arts. The graphic arts include temple sculpture in wood, stucco, stone, and wood; temple mural painting, usually in tempera; other forms of wood carving; ivory carving; work in bronze, iron, and other metals; jewelry; ceramics; glassware; lacquerware; textiles and costume; items made of palm and bamboo; and painting on paper or canvas. Lacquerware entails the covering of an object made of bamboo or wood with a liquid made from tree sap. These objects include containers as well as tables, screens, and carved animal figures. The process preserves, strengthens, and waterproofs objects and has been developed into a decorative art form. Its origins are ancient. Pagan is the largest and most important center for lacquerware. The Government Lacquerware School was established by local artists in Pagan in 1924. The Shan also have a distinctive lacquerware tradition. Weaving is a highly developed traditional art form. Among the Burmese, it reached its highest form in the production of lun-taya acheik cloth. The technique was brought from Manipur in the eighteenth century, but the complex motifs are distinctly Burmese. This style of cloth is still woven near Mandalay for sale to elite Burmese. There are distinctive textile traditions among the ethnic minorities. Traditional painting on paper made from tree bark or bamboo pulp is known as parabaik painting. The earliest known example dates back to the eighteenth century. Pigments were made of tempera, with gold and silver inks used for the costumes of nobles and deities. The paintings also formed folded pages in books. Initially these paintings depicted religious scenes, court scenes, or astrological charts, medicines, tattoo designs, and sexual techniques, and the painters were itinerant artists employed by the court. In the nineteenth century, the court in Mandalay employed full-time artists, and a system of apprenticeship was put in place. Among the new styles of painting that emerged after the fall of the monarchy were paintings of happy families sold to the newly rich. Traditional painting declined in the 1920s as local patrons and artists became more interested in European styles. A revival of interest in Burmese themes took place after the 1962 military takeover. The new regime held an annual painting exhibition to promote select painters. The exhibitions ended in 1988, but the military regime allowed the fine arts school to remain open. Most painters today are dependent on sales through a handful of private galleries that cater largely to resident expatriates. The themes of newer paintings continue to be Burmese, especially religious paintings and landscapes. Performance Arts. Popular performances often combine music, dance, and drama in a pwe ("show"). These shows take place at fairs, religious festivals, weddings, funerals, and sporting events. They generally are held at night and can go on all night long. A pwe typically includes performances based on legends and Buddhist epics; comedy skits; singing, dancing, and music; and sometimes a puppet show. Traditional music and dance have been influenced by Thailand. Traditional instruments played in an ensemble include a circle of drums, a thirteen-stringed boat-shaped harp, a circle of gongs, a xylophonelike instrument, an oboelike instrument, a bamboo flute, a bass drum, small cymbals, and bamboo clappers. Today these traditional instruments are combined with Western ones, including a guitar. The Kon-baung court employed performers specializing in recitation, singing, dancing, and acting. Highly stylized dramatic performances were accompanied by music. There is also a tradition of popular public performances such as the nebhatkhin (a pageant depicting the birth of Buddha) and the more secular myai-waing (an earth-circling performance) conducted by traveling actors and musicians. After 1885, entertainers performed for a new public, and more lively forms of entertainment were developed, including all-female dance troupes. Western-style stage plays were introduced at that same time. There was interest in newer forms of performance in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Such performances ended with the outbreak of World War II. After of independence, there was a revival of interest in traditional dance, drama, and music. The 1950s saw a revival of traditional art forms and the emergence of a new form of modern melodrama called pya-zat. These were modern plays that rarely dealt with traditional subjects. While secular performance arts now dominate popular entertainment, the military regime has continued to support more traditional performances and the fine arts schools still teach traditional forms of dance and drama, although the audiences consist largely of tourists, resident expatriates, and members of the ruling elite. The State of the Physical and Social Sciences Training in the physical and social sciences at national institutions such as Yangon University and Yangon Technical University is very limited. Since 1962, the social sciences have been almost nonexistent. Some social science research continues to take place, but most of it focuses on the relatively distant past. Institutions involved in such work include the Myanmar Historical Commission, Cultural Institute, Department of Archaeology, and Religious Affairs Department. Bibliography Aung San Suu Kyi. Freedom from Fear: And Other Writings, 1991. ——. Aung San Suu Kyi: Conversations with Alan Clements, 1997. ——. Letters from Burma, 1997. Aung-Thwin and Michael A. Pagan. The Origins of Modern Burma, 1995. ——. Myth and History in the Historiography of Early Burma: Paradigms, Primary Sources, and Prejudices, 1998. Carey, Peter, ed. Burma: The Challenge of Change in a Divided Society, 1997. Fraser-Lu, Sylvia. Burmese Lacquerware, 1985. ——. Burmese Crafts Past and Present, 1994. Fredholm, Michael. Burma: Ethnicity and Insurgency, 1993. Gravers, Mikael. Nationalism as Political Paranoia in Burma: An Essay on the Historical Practice of Power, 1999. Howard, Michael C. Textiles of the Hill Tribes of Burma, 1999. Isaaca, Ralph, and T. Richard Blurton. Visions from the Golden Land: Burma and the Art of Lacquer, 2000. Lintner, Bertil. Outrage: Burma's Struggle for Democracy, 2nd ed., 1990. ——. Burma in Revolt: Opium and Insurgency since 1948, 1999. Luce, Gordon H. Phases of Pre-Pagan Burma Languages and History, 1995. Maring, Joel M. and Ester G. Maring. Historical and Cultural Dictionary of Burma, 1973. Maung, Mya. The Burmese Road to Poverty, 1991. Renard, Ronald D. The Burmese Connection: Illegal Drugs and the Making of the Golden Triangle, 1996. Silverstein, Josef, ed. Independent Burma at Forty Years: Six Assessments, 1989. Singer, Noel F. Burmese Puppets, 1992. ——. Burmese Dance and Theatre, 1995. Smith, Martin. Burma: Insurgency and the Politics of Ethnicity, 1991. Spiro, Melford. Burmese Supernaturalism, 2nd ed., 1974. ——. Kinship and Marriage in Burma, 1977. ——. Buddhism and Society: A Great Tradition and Its Burmese Vicissitudes, 1982. ——. Anthropological Other or Burmese Brother? Studies in Cultural Analysis, 1992. Strachan, Paul, ed. Essays on the History and Buddhism of Burma, 1988. ——. Imperial Pagan: Art and Architecture of Burma, 1990. Taylor, Robert H. The State in Burma, 1987. —Michael C. Howard Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. MLA

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Beside which river are the Indian cities of Delhi and Agra?

Agra travel guide - Wikitravel Taj Mahal[ edit ] Rules and Regulations at the Taj Mahal Security is tight and rules and regulations are very important and must be followed at the Taj Mahal. There are many rules to be followed at the premises of the monument to maintain the holiness of the monument and other rules are mostly for the maintenance and protection of the monument. Remaining rules and regulations are to be followed for the protection of all the tourists visiting the Taj Mahal. •Arms, ammunition, fire, smoking items, tobacco products, liquor, food, chewing gum, knives, wire, mobile charger, electric goods (except video cameras, photography cameras and similar consumer electronic products like MP3 players, iPhones, Smartphones etc. and music players) are prohibited inside the Taj Mahal complex. Leave these in the hotel or in your driver's car. Avoid carrying a bag altogether if you can as the bag scanning process is cumbersome. •Playing cards, games, dice, etc. may be prohibited depending on the guard. •Mobile phones are allowed. They don't really seem to enforce this with camera phones. •Eating and smoking is strictly prohibited inside the Taj Mahal complex. •Lockers are available at the gates to keep your belongings (of course, at your own risk). •Avoid carrying big bags and books inside the monument as this may increase your security check time. •Video camera (handicam) is allowed up to the red sand stone platform at the main entrance gate of the Taj Mahal complex. There is a charge of 25 Rupees per video camera. •Photography is prohibited inside the main mausoleum, and visitors are requested not to make noise inside the mausoleum. •Tourists must co-operate in keeping the monument neat and clean by making use of dustbins. •Avoid touching and scratching the walls and surfaces of the monument as these are old heritage sites that need special care. •Tourists are advised to hire official audio guides available at the ASI ticket counter or to use only pre-arranged approved guides. Pre-arranged approved guides charge Rs. 900 and the audio guide costs Rs. 100 + taxes Warning - touts regularly exhibit fake identity cards. Some will try to convince you that a guide is included in the ticket price (it's not) - ignore them and walk away. •Tourists are allowed to carry a water bottle inside the monument. Shoe covers, 1/2 litre water bottle and Tourist Guide Map of Agra are provided free of cost with the foreigner's entry ticket for the Taj Mahal. After getting your ticket, proceed to the side of the ticket window to collect your water and shoe covers. •Wheelchairs for disabled persons and First Aid Boxes are available at A.S.I. Office inside the Taj Mahal complex. A refundable charge of ₹1000 is to be deposited as security before wheelchairs are made available for the disabled. •All the above mentioned items along with the mobile phones are banned for the night viewing of the Taj Mahal. •Video cameras are permitted after the security check during night viewing of the Taj Mahal, though extra batteries are prohibited. •Remember that the Taj Mahal is a religious site and it is best to dress conservatively when visiting the Taj Mahal complex, not only because the Taj Mahal itself is a mausoleum, but also because there are mosques inside the Taj Mahal complex, if you wish to visit them as well. Grand Entrance Building to the Taj Mahal Complex Gate to the Taj Mahal Complex showing intricate work and Quranic passages in Arabic Agra Fort, as seen from the Taj Mahal Please note that the Taj Mahal is closed every Friday. 'If you buy the foreigner high price ticket, you go in a separate, much smaller line and they give you shoe covers and water. Touts (tour guides) will say they can cut the line because they're guides, but you get in the smaller line anyway with your 750 Rupee ticket.' The Taj Mahal is an immense mausoleum of white marble, built between 1631 and 1648 by order of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favourite wife. Taj Mahal means Crown Palace. One of his wife's names was Mumtaz Mahal, Ornament of the Palace. The Taj is one of the most well preserved and architecturally beautiful tombs in the world, one of the masterpieces of Indian Muslim architecture, and one of the great sites of the world's heritage. The Taj Mahal has a life of its own that leaps out of marble, provided you understand that it is a monument of love. The Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore called it a teardrop on the cheek of eternity, while the English poet, Sir Edwin Arnold, said it was Not a piece of architecture, as other buildings are, but the proud passions of an emperor's love wrought in living stones. It is a celebration of woman built in marble, and that is the way to appreciate it. Although it is one of the most photographed edifices in the world and instantly recognisable, actually seeing it is awe-inspiring. Not everything is in the photos. The grounds of the complex include several other beautiful buildings, reflecting pools, extensive ornamental gardens with flowering trees and bushes, and a small gift shop. The Taj framed by trees and reflected in a pool is amazing. Close up, large parts of the building are covered with inlaid stonework. There is an apocryphal tale that Shah Jahan planned to build an exact copy of the Taj Mahal out of black marble on the opposite side of the river as his own tomb. His plans were foiled by his son, who murdered three elder brothers and overthrew his father to acquire the throne. Shah Jahan is now buried alongside his wife in the Taj Mahal. If you are taking a camera, beware that because the Taj is white your camera may underexpose your photos. If it is a film camera you will not find out until it is too late. Overexposure by 1 or 2 stops is recommended. The Taj is open from 6:00 AM to 6:30 PM (sunset) every day except Friday. The gates won't open until 6:00 AM at the earliest, often a few minutes later, so don't bother getting there at 5:00 AM. Entry costs ₹750 for foreigners and ₹20 for Indians. Get there as early as possible to beat the crowds. Crowds are the biggest during the weekend when people overshadow the grandeur of the Taj. Plan to visit the Taj at least two different times during the day (dusk and dawn are best) in order to experience the full effect of changing sunlight on the amazing building. It is utterly stunning under a full moon. You can also get very good views from Mehtab Bagh (see Gardens section below). It is a good idea to bring a flashlight, because the interior of the Taj Mahal is quite dark even during the day. To fully appreciate the details of the gem inlays, you need a good light. To buy tickets, you can go to the South gate, but this gate is 1 km far away of the entrance and the counter opens at 8:00 AM. At the West and East gates, the counters open at 6:00 AM. These gates also have smaller queues in peak times as the big tour buses drop groups off at the South gate. Alongside the ticket counter, you can also purchase a self-guided audio tour (allows two to a device) for ₹100 in English and foreign languages and ₹60 for Indian languages. The Taj is located in the middle of town. Expect a line to get into the grounds. There are three gates. The western gate is the main gate where most tourists enter. A large number of people turn up on weekends and public holidays, and entry through the western gate may take hours. The southern and eastern gates are much less busy and should be tried on such days. There are night viewing sessions during full moons and two days before and after (five days in total). Exceptions are Fridays (the Muslim sabbath) and the month of Ramadan. Tickets must be purchased 24 hours in advance from the Archeological Society of India office situated at 22, Mall Road, Agra. Ticket fare is Rs. 500 for Indian Nationals and Rs. 750 for Non Indians. Night tickets go on sale starting at 10am, but they do not always sell out, so it can be worth looking into it when you arrive even if well after 10am. Tickets only allow viewing from the red sandstone plaza at the south end of the complex, and only for a 1/2 hour window. Make sure to wear mosquito repellent. Viewing hours for night viewing is from 8:30pm-9:00pm and 9:00pm-9:30pm. Arrive 30 minutes early for security check at Taj Mahal Ticketing counter on East Gate or you may lose your chance. The night view is not worth spending as the visitors are kept quite far from Taj Mahal nearly 200 Mts away and there in no light so it could hardly be seen during night hours at viewing hours. Cameras also do not give images with near zero flux can easily be avoided for night viewing. Entering the palace within Agra Fort Agra Fort[ edit ] The Taj and the Yamuna River from the ramparts of Agra Fort The fort is similar in layout to the Red Fort in Delhi , but considerably better preserved, as much of Delhi Fort was razed by the British after the Mutiny. As much as palace as a defensive structure, it is also constructed mainly from red sandstone. Emperor Akbar, king at 14, began consolidating his empire and, as an assertion of his power built the fort in Agra between 1565 and 1571, at the same time as Humayun's Tomb in Delhi. Emperor Shah Jahan added to the fort and ended up a prisoner in it. The fort has a beautiful view of his masterpiece, the Taj Mahal, on a clear day. You can get to the fort by Rickshaw from Taj Mahal for around ₹25-30. Entry to the fort is ₹500(SEP 2016) (plus levy of ₹50 if you have not already paid the ₹500 fee for Taj Mahal). There are left luggage services at Agra Fort where you can stow your bags at no cost. A fine of ₹5,000 applies if you lose your luggage ticket. There are also audio guides available at Agra Fort which you can rent for a cost of ₹100 in English and other foreign languages (German, French, Spanish, etc) or ₹60 in Indian languages such as Hindi or Bengali. Gardens[ edit ] Soami Bagh, (10 km north of Agra). The white marble samadhi of the Radha Soami religion is currently under construction. It was started in 1904 and is not expected to be completed until sometime next century. You can see pietra dura inlaid marble work actually being worked on. Soami Bagh is 2km north of Agra and can be reached by bus or cycle.   edit Ram Bagh. The first Mughal gardens, built by the first Mughal Emperor Babar, 500 m North of the Chini Ka Rauza.   edit Mehtab Bagh, (directly across the Yamuna River from the Taj Mahal, the trip takes about 30 minutes from the centre of town by autorickshaw and will cost about ₹200). Sunrise to Sunset. These botanical gardens give you an opportunity to view the Taj at a remove from the crowds of tourists.. Alternatively, walk past the entrance and straight to the sandy banks of the river: the view of the Taj is every bit as lovely (perhaps more so, since the barbed wire fence surrounding the gardens will be behind you), although you may have to deal with aggressive touts. In the rainy season when the river is full you can get good photos of the Taj at sunset, as the reflection mirrors off the water. Take a round trip by auto rickshaw, as there are usually aren't any rickshaws looking for fares here. Entrance to the park is ₹100 for foreigners.   edit Other sights[ edit ] The antechamber to Akbar's tomb at Sikandra Sikandra, (10 km north of Agra on the Agra Delhi highway). Open from sunrise to sunset. The tomb of Akbar lies here in the centre of the large garden. Akbar started its construction himself but it was completed by his son Jehangir, who significantly modified the original plans which accounts for the somewhat cluttered architectural lines of the tomb. Four red sandstone gates lead to the tomb complex: one is Muslim, one Hindu, one Christian, and one is Akbar's patent mixture.   edit Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb. Empress Nur Jehan built Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb, sometimes called the Baby Taj, for her father, Ghias-ud-Din Beg, the Chief Minister of Emperor Jahangir. Small in comparison to many other Mughal-era tombs, it is sometimes described as a jewel box. Its garden layout and use of white marble, pietra dura, inlay designs and latticework presage many elements of the Taj Mahal.   edit Mariam's Tomb, (West from Akbar's Tomb on Agra-Delhi highway). Constructed by Jahangir in the memory of his mother Mariam Zammani a title bestowed upon her,. The grave is made of white marble. Though this building is in a ruined condition, yet it has in its vicinity, a Christian Mission School and a church. It is also said; Akbar himself made that it in the memory of his Christian wife.   edit Jama Masjid. A large mosque attributed to Princess Jahanara Begum, built in 1648 during the reign of the father Shah Jahan. Notable for its unusual dome and absence of minarets.   edit Chini Ka Roza. A memorial dedicated to the Prime Minister of Shah Jahan, Allama Afzel Khal Mullah Shukrullah of Shiraz, notable for its dome of blue glazed tiles. This monument is off the beaten path, and hoards of local children can surround western women.   edit Gurudwara Guru ka Taal, (at Delhi-Agra Highway, located between Transport Nagar and Sikandra), [7] .   edit Do[ edit ][ add listing ] Adlabs multiplex. Interactive Theatre, which is the first ever interactive cinema theatre in the world, each viewer holds a wireless remote unit with push buttons and a small LCD screen, enabling them to participate in a trivia game about the theme of the film. The show is called India in Motion, a 25 minute show where the audience will pass through today's India in, or on, a variety of typical vehicles and see the historical events at sites like Mohenjo Daro, Indraprastha and the Taj Mahal, experiencing the bumpy elephant rides with the wind blowing through their hair, or the swaying boat with salty spray on their faces. Before the actual show there is a interactive quiz on various topic relating to India. ₹150 for a Hindi Show & ₹450 for a show in English.   edit Agra Food Tour, [8] . Explore sights and cuisine of Agra via food walks and photo tours. These food walks are an excellent way for tourists to taste some great local food in a safe way. Photo tours can be customized to help the guests make most of their Agra trip and take great pictures.   edit Taj Mahotsav, [9] . 10 day festival held in February/March every year at Shilpgram, near the Taj Mahal. For 2012 it is starting from 15th of March and continues till 25th of March. It is a festival of art, craft, culture, etc.   edit Discover Agra in Battery Powered Rickshaws. Experience not just the heritage monuments but also the city’s culture, cuisine, craft and life of the local people.   edit Taj Mahal Photo Shoot, [10] . These photo shoots are an excellent choice if you want to get a photographer to take your pictures in front of Taj Mahal and other monuments in the city. The local guide/photographers take you to some of the best spots and take pictures there. Itinerary can be customised to a certain extent.   edit Buy[ edit ][ add listing ] Agra has many shops selling various stone products, from jewellery to small boxes and plaques with inlay work resembling that on the Taj. The best of these are wonderful, and even the run-of-the-mill ones are rather pretty. Agra is also famous for its leather goods. Consider spending time in Sadar Bazaar for some shopping and enjoying cheap food. Beware of being overcharged. Do not let anyone lead you to a shop, lest the price go up to cover their commission, typically 50%. Be very wary of the promises these people make. Bargain hard. Be prepared to walk away, you can nearly always get the same items in another shop. Also remember that in these globalized times, you can always order stuff you liked in your visit over the internet after you return. Expect to encounter petty and greedy shop owners who will resort to every lie in the book to make a sale (with initial markups of 1000-10000%). Mughal Bazar on the Taj East Gate road, about 2km from the East Gate is a better place to shop for your obligatory Taj Mahal figurine vs. the little stores nearby the gate. Much more relaxed and friendly with better prices for the same goods, and no petty lies to make a sale. Many local markets are there: SADAR BAZAR..a sophisticated market, Raja ki Mandi market, Sanjay Place for all the offices, Shah Market for electronics. All these markets are situated along the M G Road. Hospital Road Market and Subhash Bazar for clothing situated near Agra Fort railway station. Rawatpara market is for spices of all origin. Besides these there are many branded showrooms situated along the M G Road.. Many wholesale marble products are available at Gokul Pura (Market)near Raja Mandi (this place is near to M. G Road) which can be easily reached by auto rickshaw, the prices of any product is nearly 25% of that in the retail market. Be careful with the jewels: Lots of stones are fakes and the price is very high! Marble Cottage (Factory & Retail outlet), (near GMB restaurant and Domino's Pizza). descendant of the same artist who worked on the walls of Taj Mahal....You will get very good Prices and Some Indian Handmade Gifts Products   edit Eat[ edit ][ add listing ] Agra specialities are petha, a type of very sweet candy, and Dal Moth, a spicy lentil mix. Both are also popular souvenirs. Chaat. Agra is a heaven for any Chaat lover. Chaat can be of various types but there is one thing common among them all is that they are spicy and you will find crowd outside virtually every chaat stall, especially popular places like Double Phatak (near Sikandra) for Mangores. You'll find quality Bhallas and Panipuri at Sadar and Belangunj. Samosa and Kachori are found at every sweet shop that flood the city. Some typical chaat items are Aloo Tikki (pan-fried potato cakes), paneer tikka (cubes of cottage cheese baked in a tandoor with spices), pani puri or golguppa (small round hollow shells filled with a potato-based filling and a spicy sweet blend of sauces), mangores, Samosaes, Chachori etc. If you want to savour the typical Agra Breakfast do remember to have a bite of one of those spicy Berahi and round it off with sweet Jalebies. Sweets. There are quite a few good sweets shops all round the city. The best stores for buying the famous petha of Agra are at Hari Parwat, a short ride from Agra Fort. Amongst the well-known stores are Panchi's , Bhimsain BaidyaNath and The Pracheen Petha store. There are many types of petha available but, for the authentic experience, try either the plain one (ivory white) or Angoori Flavored (rectangular and yellow pieces soaked in sugar syrup). Other stores in Agra include: Bikanervala,Sri Dauji mishtan, Deviram, Munnalal Petha, Gopaldas, and Ajanta Sweets, Kamla Nagar. Do remember to round off your meal with a Joda(Pair) of Pan unique to the city. There is also an abundance of Korean food at most restaurants. There are several restaurants in the Taj Ganj area, catering for the many tourists staying around the Taj Mahal. Treat Restaurant, South Gate Taj Mahal, ☎ 9319697497 ( [email protected] ). breakfast, lunch and dinner. 20-60 for main dish, great Indian food..   edit The Silk Route Restaurant (TSR), 18-A/7-B Fatehabad Road (Opposite Howard Park Plaza), ☎ 0562 4002786, [11] . .   edit Shankara Vegis, South Gate Taj Mahal, ☎ 0562331384 ( [email protected] ). breakfast, lunch and dinner. 40-150, Great Thali dishes and shakes on the roof top with a wonderful view of the Taj.   edit Only Restaurant, ☎ 0562-2364333 / 2266508, [12] . 600-800 for main dish of 2.   edit Joney's place Taj ganj. Perfect for early breakfast, when you want to wake up early to visit the Taj at 6 Am. ₹10 Toast, ₹10 coffee, ₹15 cornflakes. However, be skeptical about the mains despite their self-bragging. The 'speciality' dishes they serve -- be it Indian or Korean -- are by all means their 'adulterated' editions. Kamat Hotel Roof top restaurant with view on the Taj. Correct quality. Beer available. ₹70 for a vegetable curry. Priya Restaurant, Fatehabad road near by shanti manglik hospital, ☎ 05622231579,08057108649, [13] . Three star restaurant with all facility like air condition hall with big LCD and all types food available except south Indian ₹250 per person.   edit Gulshan Highest, (Literally opposite the south gate exit), ☎ 8449997950. 9808738895. 9359719161. A great cheap place near the Taj. They do western food pretty well, and their rice pudding/pancakes are good. Sit up on the roof and you get a glimpse of the Taj over the roofs. Rs 25-80. Banana pancake Rs 25, Curry Rs60, Naan Rs 5.   edit Terrace Grill (Hotel Howard Plaza), Fatehabad Road, Agra, ☎ +91-562-4048600, [14] . A rooftop restro-bar with Taj Mahal at its backdrop. Good Music, a variety of cuisine to select from and good selection in bar menu. A place to relax, and enjoy a couple of drinks with good food.   edit Quisar Bagh, Taj road (Purani mandi crossing), ☎ 9897365604, [15] . 6AM-10PM. The food is cooked in clay ovens or tandoori in the traditional style of the Indian North-West Frontier region. This style of cooking requires great expertise on the part of the chefs, since the meat is not accompanied by any sauce or gravy, but only pre-marinated and cooked before serving. Budget.   edit Bob Marley Restaurant, Taj Nagri Phase one near Shilpgram Road , Agra (Behind Taj Mahal East Gate Parking), ☎ 09917885278, [16] . 24by7. Bob Marley Restaurant makes Yumm Yumm, Indian, Chinese, Mughali and American specialist. Roof Top from which can See the Taj Mahal and Agra City skyline. $ 0-10.   edit Bob Marley Restaurant (www.friendspayingguesthouse.com), p6 Taj Nagri Phase one colony near Shilpgram road (bob marley restaurant located inside friends paying guest house), ☎ +91-9917885278, [17] . 7 amto 10pm. welcome to Bob Marley Restaurant ( no woman no cry - no chapati no chai ). Best Mom Made Food and we also do cooking classes learn with us Indian traditional food , Indian food is so rich , tasty and spicy .we have nice roof top restaurant where you can enjoy view of Taj Mahal and Agra City view 5$.   edit Sheroes Hangout, Opposite The Gateway Hotel, Taj View Chowraha, Fatehabad Road, Tajganj, Agra, Uttar Pradesh 282001, ☎ 0562 400 0401, [18] . 9am-9pm. Sheroes Hangout is an initiative by Stop Acid Attacks campaign that was founded in New Delhi in 2013. As the idea of this space has evolved from a campaign for acid attack survivors, the ideas of beauty and importance of appearance in society remain the epicentre of discussions and programmes run from here. Simple menu. Pay what you wish. A must-visit when in Agra!   edit Drink[ edit ][ add listing ] Most hotel staff will be happy to find you a cold bottle of Indian beer for around ₹70-100, but there is virtually no nightlife in Agra outside of cultural shows at some of the larger hotels and restaurants. After getting off the streets of Agra and into your hotel, you will not want to go back anyway. Budget[ edit ] Friends Paying Guest House, p-6 , taj nagri phase 1, near shilpgram road, Agra, India 282001 (East Gate of Shilpgram parking lot), ☎ +91 99 1788 5278 ( [email protected] ), [19] . checkout: 13:00. Family-run guest house 15-minute walk East from the Taj. Food, decent Wi-Fi, TV in rooms. Cushion-furnished balcony common area for eating, drinking and lazing about. Double ₹400, 4 bed ₹800. (27.163552,78.053602)  edit Backpacker Panda Friends-Agra, P-6, Taj Nagri, Near Shilp Gram, Eastern Gate, Taj Mahal,Tajganj, Agra, Uttar Pradesh 282001 (Ideally located close to the Taj Mahal, the beautiful monument is barely a 30min walk (2.2km) away, hostel accommodation in Agra just doesn’t get any better than this!), ☎ +91-72313994 ( [email protected] ), [20] . checkin: 12:00 noon; checkout: 10:00 A.M. Neat and clean dormitories coupled with a free Wi-Fi and an ever helpful and energetic crew, this abode is perfect for relaxation after exploring the magnificent city of Agra! The hostel provides 2 bed private rooms,3 bed private rooms,3 bed mixed dormitories,4 bed female dormitories and 6 bed mixed dormitories..   edit Dayal Lodge (Comfortable & fully featured budget accommodation in Dayalbagh, Agra, India), 25 - New Agra, Dayalbagh Road, Agra - 5 (Near Bhagwan Talkis Crossing, Towards Dayalbagh), ☎ +91-9219606365, 9359848731, [21] . checkout: 11:00. "Best Hotel in Dayalbagh Area, Hotel Near Taj Mahal, Agra" Rs. 950.00.   edit Hotel Raj, 2/26, South Gate Taj Mahal, Tajganj, Agra, India (almost at the end of the little alley that ends on Taj Mahal South Gate), ☎ +91 9627743662, 9627401177, 5622330079, [22] . checkout: 13:00. One of the cheapest places in Tajganj, simple rooms, but great attention by the host; they also have a great restaurant, excellent food and good prices. Double ₹400 (march 2015).   edit Friends Paying Guest House, p-6 , taj nagri phase 1, near shilpgram road, Agra, India 282001 (East Gate of Shilpgram parking lot), ☎ +91 99 1788 5278 ( [email protected] ), [23] . checkout: 13:00. Family-run guest house 15-minute walk East from the Taj. Food, decent Wi-Fi, TV in rooms. Cushion-furnished balcony common area for eating, drinking and lazing about. Double ₹400, 4 bed ₹800. (27.163552,78.053602)  edit Hilltop Hotel, 21, Mall Road, ( [email protected] ). Very peaceful area (surrounded by trees) that is within 20 min walk to Taj Mahal. Rooms are old but good value. Single room may not appeal to the claustrophobics. The owner is very helpful and will make sure your needs are satisfied. There's a restaurant and simple amenities (eg toilet paper) are sold as well. Around Rs200 for single private, shared bathroom & Rs500 for single ensuite.   edit Hotel Sheela, Eastern Gate.Taj Mahal,Tajganj,Agra, ☎ 0562-2333074 ( [email protected] ). checkout: 10 a.m.. A 100% pollution free area,commission free transport bookings & just 100 metres from eastern gate of taj mahal,free incoming phone calls,24 hours hot water.There are 22 rooms in sheela & 22 rooms in sheela inn.Generator facility,laundry facility is also available. ₹500-800.   edit Hotel Amba Inn, 1/51, Delhi Gate, Near Raja ki Mandi Railway Station (2 mins from railway station), ☎ 91 562 2520779, 91 9412720194, [24] . checkout: noon. Offers facilities for 22 rooms in total. There are both double rooms, single rooms, as well as facility for an extra bed. All the rooms are air conditioned/air cooled, with television. Single ₹550-800, double ₹650-900.   edit Col Lamba Indian Home Stay, 58 Gulmohar Enclave, Shamshabad Rd, ☎ 0562-3298921, [25] . This B&B is run by Col.Lamba, a retired army officer, and his wife. There are 7 rooms which are very clean, airconditioned and with TVs. Home cooked lunch and dinner available on request. Guest Kitchens also present. Highlight of the B&B is the hosts who are very warm and hospitable and will assist you with their local knowledge. Around ₹700 per person.   edit Hotel Jaiwal, 3 Taj Road, Sadar Bazar, ☎ +91 562 2363153. ₹75-325.   edit Hotel Kamal, (by the south gate of the Taj Mahal), ☎ 0091-562-2330126 ( [email protected] ). Around ₹300-850.   edit Hotel Neel Kanth, Fatehabad Road, ☎ +91 562 2362039. ₹100+.   edit Youth Hostel, Sanjay Place, M. G. Road, ☎ +91 562 2154462. ₹50-125.   edit Saniya Palace, Chowk kajziyan, South Gate, Taj Ganj, ☎ +91 (0562) 3270199. Good budget hotel with some A/C rooms. 24 hr room service. Friendly staff & fantastic views of the Taj mahal from the roof top restaurant. ₹700   edit Shanti lodge, (South Taj gate). Hot water, TV. Restaurant on the roof top. Be careful with the bed sheets, not very clean. Cloak room available. From ₹400 economic room, non AC..   edit India Inn, Taj Mahal South Gate (As you come out on the street from the south exit, turn left, then almost immediately right down the side of the Taj cafe, it's at the end of the dusty parking lot 40m from the cafe), ☎ 09773712975. checkout: 10am negotiable. Comfortable enough, but they'll try an upsell with day trips almost constantly. Just say no - price doesn't go up. Rs 300 for a double in off season.   edit Tourists Rest House, Kutchery Rd, ☎ +91 562 2463961 ( [email protected] ). Many different types of rooms around a quiet inner yard with small trees and a respectable restaurant. In cheaper rooms hot water comes by the bucket. Free WiFi. double 250-750Rs.   edit Mid-range[ edit ] Aman Homestay, P-18, M.I.G Colony, Shilpgram Road, Taj Nagri Phase-1 Before Shilpgram Parking, Agra, ☎ +919536440915 ( [email protected] ), [26] . checkout: 11:00 AM. A family owned, operated, guest house in a peaceful and quite colony away from the city traffic and pollution. 300 m away from the Taj Mahal's East Gate ticket office. They have free parking, 24hr free Wi-Fi, Satellite TV, all day hot water supply and garden. Dinner/Lunch can be ordered. Vegetarian meal will cost ₹400 per head per head. Double A/C Room Price [March 2016]: ₹1680. (27.163590,78.053850)  edit Dayal Lodge (Comfortable & fully featured budget accommodation in Dayalbagh, Agra, India), 25 - New Agra, Dayalbagh Road, Agra - 5 (Near Bhagwan Talkis Crossing, Towards Dayalbagh), ☎ +91-9219606365, 9359848731, [27] . checkout: 11:00. "Best Hotel in Dayalbagh Area, Hotel Near Taj Mahal, Agra" Rs. 950.00.   edit Villa 21 Agra Bed & Breakfast, D 21, Jaipuria sunrise greens , Shamsabad road , Near Barauhli Ahir , Agra , Uttar Pradesh, India, ☎ +91 8171947447 +91 9319555232, [28] . checkout: noon. 6 kms from the Taj Mahal's East Gate Parking. It offers air-conditioned rooms each with cable TV with , broadband Wifi connection with Pick up and drop Complimentary , private bathroom with hot and cold water, doctor on call and direct-dial phone. One of the best in this range. Double Room Prices [March 2016]: from 2,00 Rs to 2,850 Rs. Breakfast and taxes included..   edit Hotel Priya, Near Priya Restaurant, Near TDI Mall, Fatehabad Road, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India, ☎ +91 5622231350 ,+91 9837774948, [29] . checkout: noon. 400 metres from the Taj Mahal's East Gate Parking. It offers air-conditioned rooms each with cable TV with 100 channels, broadband Internet connection, private bathroom with hot and cold water, doctor on call and direct-dial phone. One of the best in this range. Double Room Prices [June 2012]: from 1,355 Rs to 2,850 Rs. Breakfast (150 Rs) and taxes not included..   edit Hotel Mandakini Villas, Fatehabad Road, Purani Mandi, Taj Ganj (Next to Western Gate of Taj Mahal), Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India, ☎ +91 5626453854, [30] . checkout: noon. 200 metres from the Taj Mahal's West Gate. It offers air-conditioned rooms each with cable TV with 100 channels, broadband Internet connection, private bathroom with cold water and direct-dial phone. You might get a little bit warmer than cold water by requesting it from the reception a few times. It is not possible to sleep without ear plugs in the first floor because of the noise coming from corridor and reception all night. Get a room from higher floors. Rates start at ₹2,690.   edit Laurie's Hotel, Mahatma Gandhi Road, ☎ +91 562 2364536 (fax: +91 562 2268045). An old colonial hotel from the British era (some say it hasn't been upgraded since!), Laurie's retains some of the charm of travelling in India in days of yore. Rooms with impossibly high ceilings (fans, no aircon), lead off from verandahs with nice lawns outside. A swimming pool from yesteryears graces the lawn (unfortunately closed in the winter). But you can get British era service with 'bed tea', excellent freshly made chicken curry and rice to order, and creaky plumbing. Some people will love it, others hate it, but you can't be indifferent to Laurie's!   edit Hotel Raj, 2/26 south gate tajmahal (tajganj), ☎ 9999450107, [31] . Directly in front of the central entry of the Taj Mahal, simple but clean. Good view of taj mahal from roof top About ₹800.   edit Rajmahal hotel, Shilpgram , vip road (eastern gate),282010, agra. checkout: 12:00. 9 km from agra airport. You will also get a nice view of taj mahal from there(3 kms from taj mahal). from ₹3500 to ₹5500 for couple.   edit N.Home Stay, 15 Ajanta Colony, Vibhav Nagar, ☎ +919690107860 ( [email protected] ), [32] . checkout: 10:00 am. A family owned, operated guest house in a peaceful and quite colony away from the city traffic and pollution. They have free parking, 24hr free Wi-Fi, cable TV, all day water supply and accessible roof top. Dinner/Lunch can be ordered in advance. Vegetarian meal will cost ₹350 per head and Non-Vegetarian meal will cost ₹450 per head. Double A/C Room Price [March 2014]: ₹1799. (27.157487,78.035035)  edit Hotel Taj Resorts [33] Located right nearby Shilpgram on the road towards the Eastern Gate. Convenient location as you will need to go to Shilpgram to buy tickets for your visit to the Taj Mahal, before walking 1km to the Eastern Gate entrance. Plan to go at 8am, as earlier it will likely be too dark/polluted to get a good view (though you will have larger crowds to deal with). Modern design of the hotel was built in 2010, is very clean and with friendly staff, 3.5star for 60-70USD/night. Good reasonably priced restaurant offering delicious fares, with rooftop seating (and a beautiful pool) that offers a great view of the Taj (if not blocked by terrible pollution). Conveniently located right nearby to an internet cafe where you can also book a day-trip tour to Fatehpur Sikri-Mathura-Vrindaven for Double Room Prices [June 2012]: from 3999 Rs to 5999 Rs. Taxes not included. Sai Home Stay - Bed & Breakfast, 1 Saipuram , Addjoing Sector 2 Vibhav Nagar, Opp 106 M I G Shaheed Nagar . Agra 282001, ☎ +91 9917 6033 67 / +91 9219 6165 49, [34] . checkout: 10:00am. Clean room with hot water & free wifi, not far from Taj Mahal, about 20 mins tutu. Rates start at ₹1550.   edit Splurge[ edit ] Hotel Howard Plaza, Fatehabad Road, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India, ☎ +91 5624048600 ,+91 9634090605, [35] . checkout: noon. 900 metres from the Taj Mahal's West Gate. Broadband Wifi Internet connection, private bathroom with hot and cold water, doctor on call and direct-dial phone. One of the best in this range. Double Room Prices [Mar 2013]: from 3500 Rs to 7000 Rs. Breakfast (Included) and taxes not included..   edit ITC Mughal, Taj Ganj, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India, ☎ +91 562 4021700, [36] . checkout: noon. Sprawled over 35 acres of luxurious gardens, and in close proximity to the Taj Mahal   edit Contact[ edit ] Agra comes under Uttar Pradesh (west) circle as per TRAI. BSNL [37] ,Airtel [38] are the two main providers of terrestrial telephone lines in Agra, while BSNL [39] , AirTel [40] , Vodafone [41] and Idea [42] provide GSM (triband) and Reliance [43] and Tata [44] provide CDMA services. Internet[ edit ] There are several internet cafes / Cyber Cafes from where you can access the internet for sending email or uploading your digital photos. Reliance World [45] has broadband connectivity at many location across the city. Sify Iway [46] also offers broadband connectivity at different locations spread all over the city. Many cheap café's, such as the Taj Cafe also have free wifi for you to use.

Yamuna

On which inland sea do the ports of Astrakhan and Baku lie?

agra - Information About agra Tourist Places, Attractions in agra - MakeMyTrip.com Day 1 Delhi to Agra (232 km. | approx. 4.5 hours) Witness the legacy of the Mughal Empire as you spend your weekend in Agra. A driver will pick you from your home, drive you to your hotel and stay with you for the entirety of the trip. Once you have checked-in to your room, head out to explore Agra all by yourself. Use the car and driver provided as you visit places you wish to see. Walk through the Mehtab Bagh, a garden perfectly aligned with the Taj or indulge in delicious cuisines. Later, return to your hotel for the night.   Day 1 Delhi to Agra (232 km. | approx. 4.5 hours) Taj Mahal - Shah Jahan's love for his wife immortalised; if you haven't seen the Taj yet, the time is now. On the first day of your trip, a driver will pick you up from your home, drive you to your hotel in Agra and stay with you for the entirety of the trip. Once you have checked-in to your hotel, get ready for an experience of a lifetime. Indulge in the activity that takes you back in time. Agra Culture Day tour (included in the package) will take you to all the famous sightseeing places and end at a secret spot, with a view of the magnificent Taj Mahal at dusk. After you have explored Agra to your heart's content, return to your hotel for a comfortable night.   Day 3 Delhi - Agra (204 kms/approx. 5-hour drive) After breakfast at the hotel your journey continues to another historical and romantic city - Agra. En route, visit Sikandara - the mausoleum of Emperor Akbar. Thereafter, proceed to visit Taj Mahal, which was built by Mughal Emperor Shahjahan in 1630 AD for his beloved queen, Mumtaz  Mahal. Continue the tour by visiting the Agra Fort - containing the Royal residential palaces, the Halls of Public and Private Audience and beautiful gardens. Overnight stay at the hotel.  Note: Taj Mahal is closed for visitors on Friday. In case you happen to reach Agra on Friday, we will plan your Taj Mahal visit on Saturday morning.   Day 2 Sunday: Arrival & Sightseeing in Vadodara As you enjoy breakfast in the morning, the Deccan Odyssey would arrive at the capital of the Gaekwads - Vadodara - located along the seasonal river Vishwamitri. You would disembark and proceed to visit Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the only complete, unchanged pre-Mughal Islamic city in India. Marvel at the Jami Masjid (Great Mosque) built in 1513 representing a perfect blend of Hindu and Muslim architecture.   Then you would drive back to Vadodara for a leisurely lunch on-board the Deccan Odyssey. Later visit the Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum; originally constructed as a school for the Maharaja's children, today, art lovers can view various works of art displayed in the museum.   Later you would enjoy high tea at the resplendent Laxmi Vilas Palace, built in 1890, and the residence of the Royal family even today. Witness a folk performance typical of the region as you savour some of the special delicacies from the Royal kitchens.  Then return to the Deccan Odyssey for dinner and an overnight stay as it departs for Udaipur.   Day 3 Monday: Arrival & Sightseeing in Udaipur The Deccan Odyssey would roll into Udaipur this morning. Set on the shores of the placid Lake Pichola, Udaipur, known as the City of Lakes, is easily one of the most romantic cities of India, surrounded by scenic hills. Enjoy your breakfast as you will admire the picturesque landscape of the Aravali hills. You would then disembark to visit the famous City Palace, the largest palace complex in Rajasthan, with its scalloped arches, fretted balconies, and cupolas, which also houses the spectacular Crystal Gallery. The tour of this magnificent city would be complete with a boat cruise on the tranquil waters of Lake Pichola.  You would then return to the Deccan Odyssey for lunch, and later embark for a walking tour through the Old City of Udaipur. Here you would sample an exquisite variety of handicrafts ranging from toys, bewitching puppets, wall hangings, cloth lanterns, handmade papers, jewellery, paintings, painted wooden boxes, pottery, brassware and terracotta sculptures. Thereafter you would return to the Deccan Odyssey for a relaxed evening and dinner as you depart for Jodhpur.   Day 4 Tuesday: Arrival & Sightseeing in Jodhpur This morning as the Deccan Odyssey travels through the stronghold of the Marwar region, you could enjoy a relaxing morning on-board with breakfast and experience the striking panorama of the Thar Desert, arriving at Jodhpur.   While the morning is at leisure, you could opt to visit a weavers’ & potters’ village as well as Bishnoi village. The Bishnoi tribe, indigenous to India, follow the 29 principles laid down by their Guru about 540 years ago, to protect trees and wildlife ensuring a healthy eco-friendly social life for the community. Alternately you could choose to enjoy spa facilities at a hotel.   Day 5 Wednesday: Arrival in Agra & Visit to the Taj Mahal Arriving at Agra, you would soon realize that the Mughals were not just the greatest dynasty to rule India but also its greatest builders. After a leisurely breakfast on-board, you would visit the iconic Taj Mahal, which was Emperor Shah Jahan’s gift of love to his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, and is truly the world’s most wondrous monument. The making of the Taj Mahal is as much a fable as the edifice itself. It took 20000 men 22 years to build this unrivaled mausoleum and its exquisite white marble was brought from 200 miles away by caravans of elephants and camels. Later lunch would be at a city hotel.   After lunch, your tour of Agra would continue as you visit Itmad-ud-Daulah, a marble mausoleum built by Nur Jahan, the wife of Emperor Jahangir, in memory of her father, Ghiyas Beg.   Thereafter you would proceed to Agra Fort, another outstanding example of Mughal architecture. The present structure owes its origins to Emperor Akbar who had its first buildings of red sandstone erected on the eastern bank of the river Yamuna. His grandson Shah Jahan, the most artistic and prolific builder of the dynasty, later added the impressive marbled private quarters and the mosque while Aurangzeb added the outer ramparts. A visit to the Diwan-e-Am or ‘Hall of Public Audience’ and the Royal Pavilions is not to be missed.   Later, you would have the opportunity to visit the local markets to admire the exquisite Pietra Dura (marble inlay) artefacts and Mughal ornaments. Else you could opt for an optional activity and avail of spa facilities at a hotel before completing your tour of this historical city.  Late evening, you would return to the Deccan Odyssey for dinner and your onward journey to Sawai Madhopur.   Day 6 Thursday: Arrival in Sawai Madhopur & Visit to Ranthambore National Park Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan is the alighting point for the famous Ranthambore National Park, where conservation efforts for the dwindling tiger population are taken. The park is one of the finest tiger reserves in the country and the most likely place to spot one of these majestic animals. Enjoy an early morning breakfast before you would set out for your morning game drive.   Ranthambore is home to several species of wildlife; you could see herds of Chital and Sambhar deer, wild boar, Nilgai antelope, chinkara gazelles, etc. On your lucky day, you could spot a tiger lolling around lazily in the sun, or feverishly hunting down deer around the lakes!   When you’re done with the jungle, you would return to share the spoils (of your photo-shoots!) over a leisurely lunch before you set out for a village safari.   The warm and welcoming people of Rajasthan’s villages are mostly tribal who subsist on farming and hunting. They are happy to show guests around their villages, giving deep insights into their daily lives. The women here wear bright colours to offset the drab desert, and most people live in mud huts. You could visit a local home and interact with the family.   After a fulfilling afternoon, you would proceed for high tea at the Sawai Madhopur Lodge, the former hunting lodge of the erstwhile royal family of Jaipur.  Then head back to the Deccan Odyssey where you can relax with a drink before dinner on-board, as the Deccan Odyssey sets off for Jaipur.   Day 7 Friday: Arrival & Sightseeing in Jaipur Legendary for the triumphs of its proud Rajputs - Jaipur - the City of Victory - is surrounded by the rugged Aravali hills, crowned by formidable forts and beautiful palaces, mansions and gardens. The city is a colourful oasis in the desert and you will notice a timeless quality to Jaipur's bazaars and its people. After breakfast you would drive to Maharaja Mansingh’s 17th century masterpiece, the Amber Fort that overlooks the beautiful Maota Lake. Behold the Sheesh Mahal, ‘Hall of Mirrors’, where a single lamplight reflects in many mirrors, and lights up the entire room, creating a dazzling effect.   En-route to Amber Fort you would visit the Palace of Winds or the ‘Hawa Mahal’, famous for its intricate pink sandstone carving.   Then visit the famous City Palace of Jaipur, an overwhelming complex of exquisite palaces, gardens and courtyards, decorative art and carved doorways. You would walk across to the adjacent Jantar Mantar, the astronomical observatory built in the 18th centuryby Sawai Jai Singh.A wondrous achievement worth mentioning is that this observatory gives accurate readings even to this day. Following lunch at a city hotel you may choose to participate in one of the optional tours: spa facilities at a palace hotel or exploring the colorful bazaars of Jaipur that offer a wide range of ethnic handicrafts. After a day of delving in the royal history of Jaipur, you would return to the Deccan Odyssey for dinner on-board as it departs for Delhi.   Day 2 Sunday: Arrival in Sawai Madhopur & Visit to Ranthambore National Park Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan is the alighting point for the famous Ranthambore National Park, where conservation efforts for the dwindling tiger population are taken. The park is one of the finest tiger reserves in the country and the most likely place to spot one of these majestic animals. Enjoy an early morning breakfast before you would set out for your morning game drive.  Ranthambore is home to several species of wildlife; you could see herds of Chital and Sambhar deer as well as wild boar, Nilgai antelope and chinkara gazelles. There are also sloth bear, a few leopards and crocodiles and extensive bird life includes jungle fowl, partridges, quails, the crested serpent eagle, woodpeckers, flycatchers, etc. There are also water birds like storks, ducks and geese at the lakes and waterholes. On your lucky day, you could spot a tiger lolling around lazily in the sun, or feverishly hunting down deer around the lakes! When you’re done with the jungle, you would return to the comfort of the Deccan Odyssey. And share the spoils (of your photo-shoots!) over a leisurely lunch before you set out for a village safari. After a fulfilling afternoon, you would proceed for high tea at the Sawai Madhopur Lodge, the former hunting lodge of the erstwhile royal family of Jaipur.  Then head back to the Deccan Odyssey where you can relax with a drink before dinner on board, as the Deccan Odyssey sets off for Agra   Day 3 Monday: Arrival in Agra & Visit to the Taj Mahal Arriving at Agra, you would soon realize that the Mughals were not just the greatest dynasty to rule India but also its greatest builders. After a leisurely breakfast on board, you would visit the iconic Taj Mahal, which was Emperor Shah Jahan’s gift of love to his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, and is truly the world’s most wondrous monument. The making of the Taj Mahal is as much a fable as the edifice itself. It took 20000 men 22 years to build this unrivaled mausoleum and its exquisite white marble was brought from 200 miles away by caravans of elephants and camels. Later lunch would be at a city hotel. After lunch, your tour of Agra would continue as you visit Itmad-ud-Daulah, a marble mausoleum built by Nur Jahan, the wife of Emperor Jahangir, in memory of her father, Ghiyas Beg. Sometimes called the ‘Baby Taj’, it is beautifully conceived in white marble, mosaic and lattice. Thereafter you would proceed to Agra Fort, another outstanding example of Mughal architecture, and the seat of Mughal reign and administration for three generations. The present structure owes its origins to Emperor Akbar who had its first buildings of red sandstone erected on the eastern bank of the river Yamuna. His grandson Shah Jahan, the most artistic and prolific builder of the dynasty, later added the impressive marbled private quarters and the mosque while Aurangzeb added the outer ramparts. A visit to the Diwan-e-Am or ‘Hall of Public Audience’ and the Royal Pavilions is not to be missed. Later, you would have the opportunity to visit the local markets to admire the exquisite Pietra Dura (marble inlay) artefacts and Mughal ornaments. Else you could opt for an optional activity and avail of spa facilities at a hotel before completing your tour of this historical city    Day 4 Tuesday: Arrival & Sightseeing in Jaipur Legendary for the triumphs of its proud Rajputs, Jaipur - the City of Victory - is surrounded by the rugged Aravali hills, crowned by formidable forts and beautiful palaces, mansions and gardens. After breakfast you would drive to Maharaja Mansingh’s 17th century masterpiece, the Amber Fort that overlooks the beautiful Maota Lake. The fort is a sprawling complex of courtyards, halls and rooms adorned with beautiful paintings, precious stones and mirrors. Behold the Sheesh Mahal, ‘Hall of Mirrors’, where a single lamplight reflects in many mirrors, and lights up the entire room, creating a dazzling effect.   En-route to Amber Fort you would visit the Palace of Winds or the ‘Hawa Mahal’, famous for its intricate pink sandstone carving and a beautiful view of the city.   Then visit the famous City Palace of Jaipur, an overwhelming complex of exquisite palaces, gardens and courtyards, decorative art and carved doorways. You would walk across to the adjacent Jantar Mantar, the astronomical observatory built in the 18th centuryby Sawai Jai Singh.A wondrous achievement worth mentioning is that this observatory gives accurate readings even to this day. Following lunch at a city hotel you may choose to participate in one of the optional tours: enjoy spa facilities at a palace hotel or explore the colorful bazaars of the Pink City which offer a wide range of ethnic handicrafts produced in the city-centre and its outskirts. After a day of delving in the royal history of Jaipur, you would return to the Deccan Odyssey for dinner on board as it departs for Udaipur.   Day 5 Wednesday: Arrival & Sightseeing in Udaipur The Deccan Odyssey would roll into Udaipur this morning. Set on the shores of the placid Lake Pichola, Udaipur, known as the City of Lakes, is easily one of the most romantic cities of India, surrounded by scenic hills. Enjoy your breakfast as you will admire the picturesque landscape of the Aravali hills. You would then disembark to visit the famous City Palace, the largest palace complex in Rajasthan, with its scalloped arches, fretted balconies, and cupolas, which also houses the spectacular Crystal Gallery. Later, you will board a ferry to ride on Lake Pichola to reach Jagmandir - a 17th century Palace located on an island on the picturesque lake - for an exquisite lunch. Allow the sounds of the Tabla and the unique Jal Tarang to soothe your inner rhythm as you glance out to the lovely views of one of the most romantic cities of Rajasthan. After lunch, you would return to Deccan Odyssey for a short rest and later embark for a walking tour through the Old City of Udaipur. Here you would sample an exquisite variety of handicrafts ranging from toys, bewitching puppets, wall hangings, cloth lanterns, handmade papers, jewellery, paintings, painted wooden boxes, pottery, brassware and terracotta sculptures.  Thereafter you would return to the Deccan Odyssey for a relaxed evening and dinner as you depart for Vadodara.   Day 6 Thursday: Arrival & Sightseeing in Vadodara On this day you would arrive at the capital of the Gaekwads – Vadodara - located along the seasonal river Vishwamitri.   After breakfast, you would disembark and proceed to visit the Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the only complete and unchanged pre-Mughal Islamic city in India. Marvel at the Jami Masjid (Great Mosque ) built in 1513 representing a perfect blend of Hindu and Muslim architecture which became a model for later mosque architecture in India.   Then you will drive back to Vadodara for a leisurely lunch on board the Deccan Odyssey. After lunch, you would visit the Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum, originally constructed as a school for the Maharaja's children. Today, art lovers can view a large number of art displayed in the museum including a collection of the paintings of  Raja Ravi Varma and other renowned European Masters.   Later you could enjoy high tea at the resplendent Laxmi Vilas Palace, built in 1890, and the residence of the Royal family even today. The palace also houses a remarkable collection of old armoury and sculptures in bronze, marble & terracotta by Fellici. Witness a folk performance typical of the region as you savour some of the special delicacies from the Royal kitchens.   After a thrilling day, you will return to the Deccan Odyssey for dinner as it pulls out for Aurangabad.   Day 7 Friday: Arrival in Aurangabad & Visit to Ellora Caves Aurangabad, named after the last Great Mughal Aurangzeb, is an industrial town in Maharashtra and the stop from where you would head out to visit the exceptional Ellora Caves - a World Heritage site. The city itself has deep Mughal influences and there are several monuments of note here: the Daulatabad Fort, Bibi-ka-Makbara and the city’s 52 gates, each with its own history, amongst them This day would be a late start, leaving the morning free for you to enjoy a languid breakfast and enjoy some of the activities available on board. Later, as you savour lunch, the Deccan Odyssey would arrive at Aurangabad, from where a scenic drive will take you to the Ellora Caves, carved into the side of a basaltic hill 30 km from the city. The finest specimen of cave-temple architecture in India, the site encompasses 34 rock-cut shrines representing Buddhist, Jain and Hindu art dating from the 4th to 5th century A.D. The 12 caves to the south are Buddhist, the 17 in the centre Hindu, and the 5 caves to the north are Jain. The most remarkable is the Kailash temple, meant to be a replica of Shiva’s celestial abode on Mt. Kailash. It is the best example of rock cut architecture and an engineering marvel.   After exploring Ellora, you would return to the Deccan Odyssey to spend a relaxed evening with a Sundowner at the Mumbai-Hi before dinner is served.   Day 2 Sunday: Arrival & Sightseeing in Vadodara As you enjoy breakfast in the morning, the Deccan Odyssey would arrive at the capital of the Gaekwads - Vadodara - located along the seasonal river Vishwamitri. You would disembark and proceed to visit Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the only complete, unchanged pre-Mughal Islamic city in India. Marvel at the Jami Masjid (Great Mosque) built in 1513 representing a perfect blend of Hindu and Muslim architecture.   Then you would drive back to Vadodara for a leisurely lunch on-board the Deccan Odyssey. Later visit the Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum; originally constructed as a school for the Maharaja's children, today, art lovers can view various works of art displayed in the museum.   Later you would enjoy high tea at the resplendent Laxmi Vilas Palace, built in 1890, and the residence of the Royal family even today. Witness a folk performance typical of the region as you savour some of the special delicacies from the Royal kitchens.  Then return to the Deccan Odyssey for dinner and an overnight stay as it departs for Udaipur.   Day 3 Monday: Arrival & Sightseeing in Udaipur The Deccan Odyssey would roll into Udaipur this morning. Set on the shores of the placid Lake Pichola, Udaipur, known as the City of Lakes, is easily one of the most romantic cities of India, surrounded by scenic hills. Enjoy your breakfast as you will admire the picturesque landscape of the Aravali hills. You would then disembark to visit the famous City Palace, the largest palace complex in Rajasthan, with its scalloped arches, fretted balconies, and cupolas, which also houses the spectacular Crystal Gallery. The tour of this magnificent city would be complete with a boat cruise on the tranquil waters of Lake Pichola.  You would then return to the Deccan Odyssey for lunch, and later embark for a walking tour through the Old City of Udaipur. Here you would sample an exquisite variety of handicrafts ranging from toys, bewitching puppets, wall hangings, cloth lanterns, handmade papers, jewellery, paintings, painted wooden boxes, pottery, brassware and terracotta sculptures. Thereafter you would return to the Deccan Odyssey for a relaxed evening and dinner as you depart for Jodhpur.   Day 4 Tuesday: Arrival & Sightseeing in Jodhpur This morning as the Deccan Odyssey travels through the stronghold of the Marwar region, you could enjoy a relaxing morning on-board with breakfast and experience the striking panorama of the Thar Desert, arriving at Jodhpur.   While the morning is at leisure, you could opt to visit a weavers’ & potters’ village as well as Bishnoi village. The Bishnoi tribe, indigenous to India, follow the 29 principles laid down by their Guru about 540 years ago, to protect trees and wildlife ensuring a healthy eco-friendly social life for the community. Alternately you could choose to enjoy spa facilities at a hotel.  Lunch would be served on-board the Deccan Odyssey. Following lunch, you would set out to explore the magnificent city of Jodhpur. The Blue City, is called so after the vivid blue-painted houses that surround the Mehrangarh Fort . This former capital of Marwar boasts of some of the finest architecture from the Rajput era, with its superb forts and glorious palaces. Explore the city by walking through the bustle of the Old Clock Tower market, past old havelis and houses, to the magnificent Mehrangarh Fort - the pride of Jodhpur. Here you could marvel at the intricate carvings and expansive courtyards of the several palaces inside.   In the evening, you would be treated to a wide array of sumptuous Marwar barbeque delights served in the royal courtyard of Mehrangarh Fort as you admire the cityscape from atop. After taking in the sublime beauty of Jodhpur, you will return to the Deccan Odyssey and head for Agra.   Day 5 Wednesday: Arrival in Agra & Visit to the Taj Mahal Arriving at Agra, you would soon realize that the Mughals were not just the greatest dynasty to rule India but also its greatest builders. After a leisurely breakfast on-board, you would visit the iconic Taj Mahal, which was Emperor Shah Jahan’s gift of love to his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, and is truly the world’s most wondrous monument. The making of the Taj Mahal is as much a fable as the edifice itself. It took 20000 men 22 years to build this unrivaled mausoleum and its exquisite white marble was brought from 200 miles away by caravans of elephants and camels. Later lunch would be at a city hotel.  After lunch, your tour of Agra would continue as you visit Itmad-ud-Daulah, a marble mausoleum built by Nur Jahan, the wife of Emperor Jahangir, in memory of her father, Ghiyas Beg. Thereafter you would proceed to Agra Fort, another outstanding example of Mughal architecture. The present structure owes its origins to Emperor Akbar who had its first buildings of red sandstone erected on the eastern bank of the river Yamuna. His grandson Shah Jahan, the most artistic and prolific builder of the dynasty, later added the impressive marbled private quarters and the mosque while Aurangzeb added the outer ramparts. A visit to the Diwan-e-Am or ‘Hall of Public Audience’ and the Royal Pavilions is not to be missed.   Later, you would have the opportunity to visit the local markets to admire the exquisite Pietra Dura (marble inlay) artefacts and Mughal ornaments. Else you could opt for an optional activity and avail of spa facilities at a hotel before completing your tour of this historical city.  Late evening, you would return to the Deccan Odyssey for dinner and your onward journey to Sawai Madhopur.   Day 6 Thursday: Arrival in Sawai Madhopur & Visit to Ranthambore National Park Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan is the alighting point for the famous Ranthambore National Park, where conservation efforts for the dwindling tiger population are taken. The park is one of the finest tiger reserves in the country and the most likely place to spot one of these majestic animals. Enjoy an early morning breakfast before you would set out for your morning game drive.   Ranthambore is home to several species of wildlife; you could see herds of Chital and Sambhar deer, wild boar, Nilgai antelope, chinkara gazelles, etc. On your lucky day, you could spot a tiger lolling around lazily in the sun, or feverishly hunting down deer around the lakes!  When you’re done with the jungle, you would return to share the spoils (of your photo-shoots!) over a leisurely lunch before you set out for a village safari. The warm and welcoming people of Rajasthan’s villages are mostly tribal who subsist on farming and hunting. They are happy to show guests around their villages, giving deep insights into their daily lives. The women here wear bright colours to offset the drab desert, and most people live in mud huts. You could visit a local home and interact with the family.   After a fulfilling afternoon, you would proceed for high tea at the Sawai Madhopur Lodge, the former hunting lodge of the erstwhile royal family of Jaipur.   Then head back to the Deccan Odyssey where you can relax with a drink before dinner on-board, as the Deccan Odyssey sets off for Jaipur.   Day 7 Friday: Arrival & Sightseeing in Jaipur Legendary for the triumphs of its proud Rajputs - Jaipur - the City of Victory - is surrounded by the rugged Aravali hills, crowned by formidable forts and beautiful palaces, mansions and gardens. The city is a colourful oasis in the desert and you will notice a timeless quality to Jaipur's bazaars and its people. After breakfast you would drive to Maharaja Mansingh’s 17th century masterpiece, the Amber Fort that overlooks the beautiful Maota Lake. Behold the Sheesh Mahal, ‘Hall of Mirrors’, where a single lamplight reflects in many mirrors, and lights up the entire room, creating a dazzling effect.   En-route to Amber Fort you would visit the Palace of Winds or the ‘Hawa Mahal’, famous for its intricate pink sandstone carving.   Then visit the famous City Palace of Jaipur, an overwhelming complex of exquisite palaces, gardens and courtyards, decorative art and carved doorways. You would walk across to the adjacent Jantar Mantar, the astronomical observatory built in the 18th centuryby Sawai Jai Singh.A wondrous achievement worth mentioning is that this observatory gives accurate readings even to this day. Following lunch at a city hotel you may choose to participate in one of the optional tours: spa facilities at a palace hotel or exploring the colorful bazaars of Jaipur that offer a wide range of ethnic handicrafts. After a day of delving in the royal history of Jaipur, you would return to the Deccan Odyssey for dinner on-board as it departs for Delhi.   Day 2 Sunday: Arrival in Sawai Madhopur & Visit to Ranthambore National Park Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan is the alighting point for the famous Ranthambore National Park, where conservation efforts for the dwindling tiger population are taken. The park is one of the finest tiger reserves in the country and the most likely place to spot one of these majestic animals. Enjoy an early morning breakfast before you would set out for your morning game drive.  Ranthambore is home to several species of wildlife; you could see herds of Chital and Sambhar deer as well as wild boar, Nilgai antelope and chinkara gazelles. There are also sloth bear, a few leopards and crocodiles and extensive bird life includes jungle fowl, partridges, quails, the crested serpent eagle, woodpeckers, flycatchers, etc. There are also water birds like storks, ducks and geese at the lakes and waterholes. On your lucky day, you could spot a tiger lolling around lazily in the sun, or feverishly hunting down deer around the lakes! When you’re done with the jungle, you would return to the comfort of the Deccan Odyssey. And share the spoils (of your photo-shoots!) over a leisurely lunch before you set out for a village safari. After a fulfilling afternoon, you would proceed for high tea at the Sawai Madhopur Lodge, the former hunting lodge of the erstwhile royal family of Jaipur.  Then head back to the Deccan Odyssey where you can relax with a drink before dinner on board, as the Deccan Odyssey sets off for Agra   Day 3 Monday: Arrival in Agra & Visit to the Taj Mahal Arriving at Agra, you would soon realize that the Mughals were not just the greatest dynasty to rule India but also its greatest builders. After a leisurely breakfast on board, you would visit the iconic Taj Mahal, which was Emperor Shah Jahan’s gift of love to his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, and is truly the world’s most wondrous monument. The making of the Taj Mahal is as much a fable as the edifice itself. It took 20000 men 22 years to build this unrivaled mausoleum and its exquisite white marble was brought from 200 miles away by caravans of elephants and camels. Later lunch would be at a city hotel. After lunch, your tour of Agra would continue as you visit Itmad-ud-Daulah, a marble mausoleum built by Nur Jahan, the wife of Emperor Jahangir, in memory of her father, Ghiyas Beg. Sometimes called the ‘Baby Taj’, it is beautifully conceived in white marble, mosaic and lattice. Thereafter you would proceed to Agra Fort, another outstanding example of Mughal architecture, and the seat of Mughal reign and administration for three generations. The present structure owes its origins to Emperor Akbar who had its first buildings of red sandstone erected on the eastern bank of the river Yamuna. His grandson Shah Jahan, the most artistic and prolific builder of the dynasty, later added the impressive marbled private quarters and the mosque while Aurangzeb added the outer ramparts. A visit to the Diwan-e-Am or ‘Hall of Public Audience’ and the Royal Pavilions is not to be missed. Later, you would have the opportunity to visit the local markets to admire the exquisite Pietra Dura (marble inlay) artefacts and Mughal ornaments. Else you could opt for an optional activity and avail of spa facilities at a hotel before completing your tour of this historical city    Day 4 Tuesday: Arrival & Sightseeing in Jaipur Legendary for the triumphs of its proud Rajputs, Jaipur - the City of Victory - is surrounded by the rugged Aravali hills, crowned by formidable forts and beautiful palaces, mansions and gardens. After breakfast you would drive to Maharaja Mansingh’s 17th century masterpiece, the Amber Fort that overlooks the beautiful Maota Lake. The fort is a sprawling complex of courtyards, halls and rooms adorned with beautiful paintings, precious stones and mirrors. Behold the Sheesh Mahal, ‘Hall of Mirrors’, where a single lamplight reflects in many mirrors, and lights up the entire room, creating a dazzling effect.   En-route to Amber Fort you would visit the Palace of Winds or the ‘Hawa Mahal’, famous for its intricate pink sandstone carving and a beautiful view of the city.   Then visit the famous City Palace of Jaipur, an overwhelming complex of exquisite palaces, gardens and courtyards, decorative art and carved doorways. You would walk across to the adjacent Jantar Mantar, the astronomical observatory built in the 18th centuryby Sawai Jai Singh.A wondrous achievement worth mentioning is that this observatory gives accurate readings even to this day. Following lunch at a city hotel you may choose to participate in one of the optional tours: enjoy spa facilities at a palace hotel or explore the colorful bazaars of the Pink City which offer a wide range of ethnic handicrafts produced in the city-centre and its outskirts. After a day of delving in the royal history of Jaipur, you would return to the Deccan Odyssey for dinner on board as it departs for Udaipur.   Day 5 Wednesday: Arrival & Sightseeing in Udaipur The Deccan Odyssey would roll into Udaipur this morning. Set on the shores of the placid Lake Pichola, Udaipur, known as the City of Lakes, is easily one of the most romantic cities of India, surrounded by scenic hills. Enjoy your breakfast as you will admire the picturesque landscape of the Aravali hills. You would then disembark to visit the famous City Palace, the largest palace complex in Rajasthan, with its scalloped arches, fretted balconies, and cupolas, which also houses the spectacular Crystal Gallery. Later, you will board a ferry to ride on Lake Pichola to reach Jagmandir - a 17th century Palace located on an island on the picturesque lake - for an exquisite lunch. Allow the sounds of the Tabla and the unique Jal Tarang to soothe your inner rhythm as you glance out to the lovely views of one of the most romantic cities of Rajasthan. After lunch, you would return to Deccan Odyssey for a short rest and later embark for a walking tour through the Old City of Udaipur. Here you would sample an exquisite variety of handicrafts ranging from toys, bewitching puppets, wall hangings, cloth lanterns, handmade papers, jewellery, paintings, painted wooden boxes, pottery, brassware and terracotta sculptures.  Thereafter you would return to the Deccan Odyssey for a relaxed evening and dinner as you depart for Vadodara.   Day 6 Thursday: Arrival & Sightseeing in Vadodara On this day you would arrive at the capital of the Gaekwads – Vadodara - located along the seasonal river Vishwamitri.   After breakfast, you would disembark and proceed to visit the Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the only complete and unchanged pre-Mughal Islamic city in India. Marvel at the Jami Masjid (Great Mosque ) built in 1513 representing a perfect blend of Hindu and Muslim architecture which became a model for later mosque architecture in India.   Then you will drive back to Vadodara for a leisurely lunch on board the Deccan Odyssey. After lunch, you would visit the Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum, originally constructed as a school for the Maharaja's children. Today, art lovers can view a large number of art displayed in the museum including a collection of the paintings of  Raja Ravi Varma and other renowned European Masters.   Later you could enjoy high tea at the resplendent Laxmi Vilas Palace, built in 1890, and the residence of the Royal family even today. The palace also houses a remarkable collection of old armoury and sculptures in bronze, marble & terracotta by Fellici. Witness a folk performance typical of the region as you savour some of the special delicacies from the Royal kitchens.   After a thrilling day, you will return to the Deccan Odyssey for dinner as it pulls out for Aurangabad.   Day 7 Friday: Arrival in Aurangabad & Visit to Ellora Caves Aurangabad, named after the last Great Mughal Aurangzeb, is an industrial town in Maharashtra and the stop from where you would head out to visit the exceptional Ellora Caves - a World Heritage site. The city itself has deep Mughal influences and there are several monuments of note here: the Daulatabad Fort, Bibi-ka-Makbara and the city’s 52 gates, each with its own history, amongst them This day would be a late start, leaving the morning free for you to enjoy a languid breakfast and enjoy some of the activities available on board. Later, as you savour lunch, the Deccan Odyssey would arrive at Aurangabad, from where a scenic drive will take you to the Ellora Caves, carved into the side of a basaltic hill 30 km from the city. The finest specimen of cave-temple architecture in India, the site encompasses 34 rock-cut shrines representing Buddhist, Jain and Hindu art dating from the 4th to 5th century A.D. The 12 caves to the south are Buddhist, the 17 in the centre Hindu, and the 5 caves to the north are Jain. The most remarkable is the Kailash temple, meant to be a replica of Shiva’s celestial abode on Mt. Kailash. It is the best example of rock cut architecture and an engineering marvel.   After exploring Ellora, you would return to the Deccan Odyssey to spend a relaxed evening with a Sundowner at the Mumbai-Hi before dinner is served.  

i don't know

Which country was suspended from the Arab League for ten years from 1979?

The Arab League - Council on Foreign Relations Council on Foreign Relations Authors: Jonathan Masters , Deputy Editor, and Mohammed Aly Sergie Updated: October 21, 2014 See More of the Most Viewed Introduction Founded in March 1945, the League of Arab States (or Arab League) is a loose confederation of twenty-two Arab nations, including Palestine, whose broad mission is to improve coordination among its members on matters of common interest. The League was chartered in response to concerns about postwar colonial divisions of territory as well as strong opposition to the emergence of a Jewish state in Palestine, but it has long been criticized for disunity and poor governance. Critics also say it has traditionally been more representative of its various autocratic regimes than of Arab citizens. The organization had the opportunity to advance social interests with the push for Palestinian statehood at the UN and the unrest in many Arab countries in 2011. Some critics see positive developments in the League's actions in Libya, where it supported a no-fly zone and the ouster of Muammar al-Qaddafi, and in Syria, where it orchestrated a fact-finding mission to observe the conflict and called on President Bashar al-Assad to step down after months of deadly clashes with protesters. A League of Their Own According to its charter , the founding members of the Arab League (Egypt, Syria, Transjordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, and Yemen) agreed to seek "close cooperation" on matters of economics, communication, culture, nationality, social welfare, and health. They renounced violence for the settlement of conflicts between members and empowered League offices to mediate in such disputes, as well as in those with non-members. Signatories agreed to collaborate in military affairs ; this accord was strengthened with a 1950 pact committing members to treat acts of aggression on any member state as an act against all. The charter established the Arab League headquarters in Cairo, created a permanent General Secretariat, and scheduled sessions to meet biannually, or at the request of two members in extraordinary circumstances. A formal commitment to international human rights law entered League conventions in 2004 (it was ratified in 2008) when some members adopted the Arab Charter on Human Rights . The charter has an annex on the issue of Palestine. It affirms Palestinian independence and states that "even though the outward signs of this independence have remained veiled as a result of force majeure," an Arab delegate from Palestine should "participate in [the League's] work until this country enjoys actual independence." The Arab League has no mechanism to compel members' compliance with its resolutions, a void that has led critics like NYU Associate Professor Mohamad Bazzi to describe the organization as a "glorified debating society." The charter states that decisions reached by a majority "shall bind only those [states] that accept them," which places a premium on national sovereignty and limits the League's ability to take collective action. While some actions are taken under the aegis of the Arab League, they are executed only by a small faction. Bazzi says, "During the Lebanese civil war, the Arab League had limited success trying to help negotiate a peace, but in the end it was the individual powers, in this case Syria and Saudi Arabia, that helped end the conflict by convening the Taif Agreement . Technically it was under League auspices, but it was really Saudi Arabia and Syria as the driving force." A Pan-Arab Pedigree The concept of an integrated Arab polity based on shared culture and historical experience, which is at the heart of the Arab League's charter, dates to the Islamic caliphates under the disciples of Mohammed. Modern pan-Arabism, or Arab nationalism, arose in opposition to Ottoman rule and nineteenth-century attempts to impose the Turkic language and culture on Arab subjects. During World War I, the Sharif of Mecca led an Arab revolt against the Ottomans in concert with British forces. The British government assured Arabs their support would be rewarded with the establishment of an independent state . However, a separate Anglo-French accord signed in 1916, known as the Sykes-Picot Agreement , betrayed this plan and carved up Arab lands into respective spheres of influence. During World War II, the British once again pledged "full support" for Arab unity. This policy was expressed by Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden in his Mansion House speech in May 1941. Encouraged by the news, Arab leaders embarked on negotiations for a pan-Arab union that would bolster support for the Arabs of Palestine. The process culminated in 1944 with the Alexandria Protocol , the document that laid plans for the Arab League. In 1948, five nations of the newly formed regional body took up arms against the state of Israel following its declaration of independence. The conflict marked the first major action of the League and the first of several bloody conflicts between Arab and Israeli forces over the future of Palestine. The resulting Arab defeat, known as the Nakba or "catastrophe," was a defining moment. In his 1996 book Palestine and the Arab-Israeli Conflict, Charles D. Smith writes, "Many, especially of the younger generation, saw Israel's existence as symbolic of Arab humiliation at the hands of a superior power relying on Western technology that they were denied. Here there existed a desire for revenge coupled with the fear of Israeli military might and possible future expansion." The Palestinian issue continues to be a catalyst for collective Arab action. The League emphasized the importance of the Palestinian cause in 1964 with the establishment of the Palestinian Liberation Order , whose charter states "the liberation of Palestine, from an Arab viewpoint, is a national duty." Following another significant defeat by the Israelis in 1967, the League issued the Khartoum Resolution , often remembered for its three "nos": "no peace with Israel, no recognition of Israel, no negotiations with it." The Arab League has maintained an official boycott of Israeli goods and companies since 1948 , but measuring the effects of the ban is difficult due to lax enforcement and limited trade flows. Still, policies toward the Jewish nation did not develop uniformly. These postures, as well as relations with one another, were shaped by factors including individual territorial ambitions, evolving Cold War alliances, and inter-Arab rivalries. Seeds of Conflict After WWII, the pan-Arab project gained its most charismatic champion in Egyptian leader Gamal Abdel Nasser, but several critical international developments over the following decades exposed the limits of League solidarity. The decline of British and French colonial empires and the emergence of a bipolar Cold War altered the architecture of power in the region. Inter-Arab antagonisms, the strategic implications of Mideast oil, and a U.S. policy of Soviet containment provided ample seeds of conflict for the newly formed League. "During the Lebanese civil war, the Arab League had limited success trying to help negotiate a peace, but in the end it was the individual powers, in this case Syria and Saudi Arabia, that helped end the conflict."—Mohamad Bazzi Under Nasser's leadership, Arab nationalism reached new heights. Nasser's assent to power in 1952, in the Arab world's first military coup, was seen as a victory against Western imperialism and an inspiration to other Arab states. Still, the pan-Arabism project suffered several setbacks under his reign. The brief political union of Egypt and Syria, known as the United Arab Republic, fell apart after only three years (1958-1961). The outbreak of civil war in Yemen in 1962 deteriorated into a disastrous eight-year proxy battle between Egyptian and Saudi-backed forces. Even Palestine proved to be a source of contention as Arab League members vied to assert control over the PLO. "Arab politics were more chaotic than at any point in modern history. Nasser's revolution promised unity—but delivered fragmentation and discord," wrote Michael Scott Doran in Foreign Affairs in 2011. Perhaps the most pivotal event of the period was Egypt's nationalization of the Suez Canal in 1956. The ensuing crisis, while perceived as a victory for Nasser in the Arab world, convinced the Eisenhower administration to pursue a proactive role in the Middle East, and primed the region for Cold War polarization. Washington provided economic and military assistance, primarily to Israel, to counter similar flows of Soviet assistance to Egypt, Iraq, and Syria. This arms race culminated in the Six-Day War (1967), a defeat for Arab armies that included the Israeli occupation of the remnants of Arab Palestine. The decision by Egyptian President Anwar Sadat to open unilateral peace negotiations with Israel in 1979 further underscored Arab divisions. As a result, Egypt was suspended from the Arab League (but was readmitted in 1989). An Opportunity for Reform The Arab League continues to struggle with disunity and dysfunction, and critics question whether the organization has any relevance in its current form. Though it achieved notable consensus over the Saudi-sponsored Arab Peace Initiative in 2002, the League failed to coordinate its policy over both the 1990-1991 Gulf War and the 2003 Iraq War. Interviews conducted by al-Jazeera in 2009 illustrated the Arab public's frustration with the organization. "If we are to measure competence in terms of results and achievements," said a twenty-four-year old Syrian, "then the Arab League is not competent simply because they have not achieved anything." Even the League's secretary-general , Nabil al-Araby, joined the chorus of criticism in September 2011, describing the organization as "impotent." The Arab revolts throughout the Middle East and North Africa in 2011 offered the League a new opportunity to reform. Some critics see the appointment of al-Araby as a step toward this end. In a 2011 interview with CFR, Shadi Hamid of the Brookings Institution said, "Here is someone who is more in tune with Arab public opinion, who is respected among Arab activists, protestors, and members of the opposition. He's not someone who is a stooge of the regime by any stretch of the imagination. All of this suggests that the Arab League is changing." After rare action to topple Qaddafi in 2011, the Arab League turned its focus to the conflict in Syria. It suspended Syrian membership in November 2011, brokered an ill-fated peace agreement with the Assad regime , and, for the first time in its history, assembled a team of observers to monitor the implementation of its plan. Frustrated with a lack of compliance by Syria, the Arab League officially called for Assad to step down in January 2012 and requested a resolution from the UN Security Council to support this proposal. The Arab League eventually recognized the Syrian opposition as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people, but Assad-regime allies in the organization such as Iraq, Lebanon, and Algeria blocked the oppositions' full assumption of the role. Tensions between Sunni and Shia Muslims , exacerbated by wars in Syria and Iraq, are creating new fissures among Arabs. Sunni leaders largely snubbed a 2012 summit in Baghdad, reflecting their rejection of a Shia-led Iraq with close ties to Iran. Those who did attend traded barbs during their speeches, dashing an opportunity to foster closer between Iraq and its Sunni-majority neighbors. Even as the Arab League condemns the Sunni extremist group known as ISIS , and Sunni powers such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates launch air strikes on the terrorist organization, few Arab countries are willing to coordinate efforts with the Iraqi government. Iraq, for its part, has invited Iranian military advisers and deployed Tehran-funded Shia militias in its battle against ISIS. Many mideast experts say the Arab League is likely to improve little on its record of collective action until members agree to sacrifice some sovereignty and comply with resolutions. And until democracy is the mainstay of the Arab world, the League will continue to struggle with issues of legitimacy. Additional Resources

Egypt

With what is the Japanese art of bonsai concerned?

Profile: Arab League - BBC News BBC News Read more about sharing. Close share panel The League of Arab States, or Arab League, is a voluntary association of countries whose peoples are mainly Arabic speaking or where Arabic is an official language. Its stated aims are to strengthen ties among member states, coordinate their policies and direct them towards a common good. It has 22 members including Palestine, which the League regards as an independent state. The idea of the Arab League was mooted in 1942 by the British, who wanted to rally Arab countries against the Axis powers. However, the league did not take off until March 1945, just before the end of World War II. At that time the issues that dominated the league's agenda were freeing those Arab countries still under colonial rule, and preventing the Jewish community in Palestine from creating a Jewish state. At a glance Key players: Egypt, Saudi Arabia Members: 22 members including Palestine Population: 300 million (approx) Profile compiled by BBC Monitoring The highest body of the league is the Council, composed of representatives of member states, usually foreign ministers, their representatives or permanent delegates. Each member state has one vote, irrespective of its size. The council meets twice a year, in March and September, and may convene a special session at the request of two members. Day-to-day, the league is run by the general secretariat. Headed by a secretary-general, it is the administrative body of the league and the executive body of the council and the specialised ministerial councils. Secretary-general: Nabil el-Arabi Nabil el-Arabi was elected secretary-general of the Arab League in May 2011, succeeding fellow-Egyptian Amr Moussa. He took office in July. Image copyright AFP Image caption Nabil al-Arabi served for many years as an Egyptian diplomat Born in 1935 and a lawyer by training, Mr El-Arabi had a long career in the Egyptian diplomatic corps, and played a significant role in negotiations with Israel from the Camp David accords onwards. During the uprising against President Hosni Mubarak in early 2011 Mr El-Arabi was one of a group of senior public figures who mediated the president's departure. He briefly served as foreign minister before taking up his post at the Arab League. All secretaries-general of the League have been Egyptians, except for the period 1979-1991 when Egypt was expelled over its peace treaty with Israel. Division between members a big issue The Arab League's effectiveness has been severely hampered by divisions among member states. For example, during the Cold War some members were Soviet-oriented while others fell within the Western camp. There has been rivalry over leadership, notably between Egypt and Iraq. Then there have been the hostilities between traditional monarchies - such as Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Morocco - and new republics, or "revolutionary" states such as Egypt under Gamal Abdel Nasser, Baathist Syria and Iraq, and Libya under Muammar Gaddafi. The league was severely tested by the US-led attack on Saddam Hussein's Iraq, with some backing the war, some opposing it and others standing on the sidelines. Because decisions made by the Arab League are binding only on members who voted for them, these divisions have in effect crippled the league in the sphere of "high politics". 'Arab spring' brings new purpose Thus it failed to coordinate foreign, defence or economic policies, rendering core league documents such as the Treaty of Joint Defence and Economic Cooperation and key bodies such as the Joint Defence Council completely ineffectual. Image copyright AFP Image caption The Arab League sent monitors to Syria. They were derided by the president and treated with suspicion by the opposition More recently the League has shown a greater sense of purpose since the "Arab spring" uprisings in early 2011. It backed UN action against Muammar Gaddafi's forces in Libya. It also suspended Syria over it's repressions of nationwide protests, but its monitoring mission to Damascus fell apart over divisions between member-states who support a UN resolution against the Assad government and those that shy away from "internationalising" an Arab matter. Where members do agree on a common position, such as support for the Palestinians under Israeli occupation, this rarely if ever goes beyond the issuing of declarations. Perhaps the sole exception has been the economic boycott of Israel, which between 1948 and 1993 was almost total. However, the Arab League has been a little more effective at lower levels, such as shaping school curricula, preserving manuscripts and translating modern technical terminology. It has helped to create a regional telecommunications union.

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By what name was Thailand known until 1939?

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Thailand was known as Siam until 1939. The name "Thailand" means "Land of the Free". The Mekong River, the longest river in South-East Asia, forms a border between Thailand and Laos. Phunket is Thailand's largest island. White (albino) elephants were highly prized by the kings of Thailand. The  HYPERLINK "http://www.meezer.com/" Siamese cat was brought to Britain from Thailand in 1884 by the British Consul General of Bangkok. Thailand's largest reclining Buddha image can be found in the temple, Wat Po. The world's tallest Buddhist monument in the world stands 127 meters (387 feet) in the town of Nakhon Pathom. Most young men are Buddhist monks for a short time and shaven-head monks go out and ask for alms each morning. In Bangkok, and elsewhere in Thailand, goods can be bought from floating markets where produce is sold from boats. Silk production has a long tradition in Thailand. "The Golden Triangle" where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet on the Mekong River was a centre for growing opium poppies. "The Beach", written by Alex Garland, is about a young backpacker who found a legendary beach in Thailand. The story was later made into a film. On 26 December 2004, a  HYPERLINK "http://www.worldinfozone.com/features.php?section=PartnersDiscussion3" quake occurred under the sea near Aceh in north Indonesia (8.9 on the Richter scale); this produced tsunamis causing flooding and destruction in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Thailand, Sri Lanka and the east coast of Africa (Kenya and Somalia). Geography The Kingdom of Thailand, formerly known as Siam, is in South East  HYPERLINK "http://www.worldinfozone.com/newslink.php?section=Asia" Asia. Its land borders are with  HYPERLINK "http://www.worldinfozone.com/country.php?country=Myanmar" Myanmar (Burma), Laos,  HYPERLINK "http://www.worldinfozone.com/country.php?country=Cambodia" Cambodia (Kampuchea) and  HYPERLINK "http://www.worldinfozone.com/country.php?country=Malaysia" Malaysia. Bangkok, a major port, is also the capital city. Chiang Mai is the second largest city. The climate is tropical with rains brought with the southwest monsoon in mid May. Environment Forests cover over a quarter of the country and trees include teak, mangrove, rattan and palm. Elephants are a symbol of Thailand; the white elephant being highly prized. Architecture Thailand has thousands of monasteries, temples and shrines. Bangkok, alone, has over four hundred Buddhist buildings. Population Thailand's population was estimated at 64,865,523 in July 2004. Seventy-five per cent of the population is Thai with fourteen per cent Chinese. Thai hill-tribes include the Karen, Hmong and Lisu. Languages Thai is the official language. English is also used in business. Religion Ninety five per cent of the population is Buddhist with almost four per cent Muslim. There is still a following in the animist religion that believes there is a spirit in everything. Food Thai cuisine is spicy using ingredients such as coriander, tumeric, mint, ginger, chilli pepper, garlic and coconut milk. Seafood and shredded meat (often chicken) is eaten with rice or noodles. Thailand has a variety of tropical fruit including the durian, jack fruit, bananas and mangoes which are served for dessert. Fruit carving is an art form and is practised for special occasions. The Thai population drink iced water, coffee and tea. Beer and a rice-based whisky are also drunk. 7V��/ 0 T U ` a � � � � r � � � � �     -6yz������'(/0@A��������������������n�������-hh5�>*
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Thailand

What kind of wild cattle with shaggy coats and upturned horns live in the mountains of Tibet?

Thailand Map / Geography of Thailand / Map of Thailand - Worldatlas.com Print this map A number of Thailand's archaeological sites contain relics indicating the earliest rice cultivation and bronze casting in all of Asia happened here. Heavily influenced by Indian culture, Thailand was at one point ruled by the Khmer Empire, then by various states after its collapse in the 13th century. The origins of the Thai Kingdom first developed and established as an all-powerful monarchy, the kingdom of Ayutthaya, in the mid-14th century. Known as the "Golden age of medicine in Thailand" the Ayutthaya period first came into contact with the western world during the 16th century, when Portuguese ambassador, Duarte Fernandes, arrived in 1511. By the 18th century, trade with the Dutch and French flourished, and Ayutthaya was considered to be the largest city in the world. Over time, Thailand experienced significant problems, and after 400 years of power the Ayutthaya Kingdom was destroyed by invading Burmese armies in 1767. Eventually, the unwanted marauders were expelled, and the country reunified. In 1782, Bangkok was established as the capital of the newly created Chakri dynasty, and under the ruling of King Rama I the Great, Thailand (or Siam as it was known until 1939) became the only Southeast Asian country to successfully prevent colonization by a European power. Thailand at the turn of the 20th century saw a drastic change in their political system, armed forces, schools, and economy. A bloodless revolution in 1932 ended the absolute monarchy and led to a constitutional monarchy. After a military attack by Japan in 1941, Thailand aligned with Japan and passively declared war on Britain and the United States . At the end of World War II, following Japan's defeat, Thailand subsequently became a U.S. ally. Thailand is currently facing armed violence in its three Muslim-majority southernmost provinces, but the country works hard with Malaysia to control the situation and the proliferation of terrorism. Thaksin Shinawatra became head of a provisional government on September 19, 2006, after the parliament was completely dissolved. However, a bloodless coup d’état was launched some weeks later, as Thaksin went off to New York City for a UN meeting, and by December 2007 a civilian government led by the People's Power Party was restored. Thailand's incredible natural beauty, the ruins and relics of its ancient history, and countless attractions, including Phuket Island and the miles and miles of perfect beaches, have transformed this exotic country into one of the most popular tourist destinations in all of Asia . Prev Page 1/2 Next Page See Also

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