title: John McDouall Stuart

paragraphs: John McDouall Stuart (7 September 18155 June 1866) is regarded as one of Australia's greatest explorers. He went on seven major exploring trips into the centre and north of Australia. He was leader of six of these expeditions. He spent more time out in the Australian bush exploring the land than any other explorer. On each trip, he was able to go further north and found water sources that helped him with his final long journey. In 1862, he crossed Australia from Adelaide, South Australia, to Van Diemen Gulf in the Northern Territory. He was the first European to cross the continent from north to south and then return again.

paragraphs: Exploring Australia caused Stuart to become very sick from diseases such as scurvy and beriberi. He pushed himself to the very limits of human endurance. Each trip left him weaker and at the end of his last trip he was unable to walk or ride and had to be carried back. Stuart's discoveries opened up the country for the growth of farming sheep and cattle. His route was used to build the Australian Overland Telegraph Line from Adelaide to Darwin which joined an undersea line from Java. This meant that for the first time, Australians could communicate quickly with the rest of the world. But his personal rewards were small. He was given some land by the government and a small salary from his employers. Stuart died poor in England at the age of 50.

paragraphs: Stuart was born on 7 September 1815, at Dysart, Fife, Scotland. His father, William Stuart, had been a captain in the British Army. His mother was Mary McDouall. They had nine children, John McDouall was the sixth. His parents died when he was ten years old. The children were separated and sent to live with different relatives. Stuart was educated at the Scottish Naval and Military Academy in Edinburgh. He studied to be an engineer and surveyor.

paragraphs: In 1839, Stuart moved to Adelaide, South Australia, and began work as a surveyor. Adelaide had only been settled for two years and was mainly still a tent city. The government needed to have maps so that land could be sold or leased. Stuart worked for three years on the edges of the settled areas, measuring the land and dividing it into farm blocks. He learned skills to live and travel in the Australian bush. He was known as a heavy drinker, often spending days at a time drunk. When a recession hit the South Australian economy, Stuart found himself without a job.

paragraphs: Stuart joined Charles Sturt's Central Australian Expedition to search for an inland sea in August 1844. Sturt was so sure that there was an inland sea in the centre of Australia, that he took a large boat as part of his equipment. Stuart joined the group as a draftsman, who would draw up the maps. He was paid one pound a week, and provided with food. Stuart and James Poole, the second in command, were sent out ahead of the main group to find water. The main group could only travel as fast as their flock of sheep could walk. Stuart and Poole found water at Depot Glen, near the current site of Milparinka.

paragraphs: In the hot dry climate of summer, the group remained trapped at the waterhole for seven months. Stuart took a small group to find water to the north, west, and east, but found none. Stuart was left behind in charge of the main group at Depot Glen. It was very hot so they dug an underground room to keep cool. All the men became sick from scurvy because of the lack of fresh fruit and vegetables. This caused their gums to become soft and their teeth to fall out. They had headaches, their noses bled, and their skin began to turn black. When Poole died, Stuart was made second in command. He also became the surveyor and did all the mapping as Sturt could not see properly. When it finally rained the group tried to keep going north but were blocked by the sand dunes of the Simpson Desert. They turned south and went back to the Darling River. Stuart took over as leader when Sturt became blind and too ill to lead the group. They arrived back in Adelaide after six weeks hard travelling. Sturt had to be carried in a cart, and Stuart, crippled with scurvy and beriberi, looked like a skeleton.

paragraphs: It took Stuart nearly a year to recover from the expedition. He wrote in a letter: "I lost the power of my limbs for ... six months, and was quite unable to do anything for myself for ... twelve months." For the next few years he was unable to work. The money he had made was spent on doctors and living expenses. In 1849 he moved to near Port Lincoln on the Eyre Peninsula and worked on a farm. He soon found work surveying in the area, and met William Finke and James Chambers. Finke and Chambers were rich men and they paid Stuart to explore for them. They wanted him to find them new farm lands and water, as well as minerals like gold and copper.

paragraphs: Stuart learned from his trip with Sturt that large groups were not able to move quickly through the dry Australian lands. He believed that a small group would have more success. Finke paid him to find out if the land north of Lake Torrens would be suitable for sheep. On this first trip he went with two men, Forster and an unnamed Aboriginal youth. They took six horses, enough food for six weeks, a watch and a compass. In May 1858 they went through settled areas until they reached Oratunga Station, one of the most remote farms in South Australia. It is near the present day town of Blinman, in the north of the Flinders Ranges. From here they went northwest and found a permanent water hole, Andamooka Waterhole, on a creek Stuart named Chambers Creek. It has since been renamed Stuart Creek. The country was very dry, and they could only find water in Aboriginal wells. The stony ground hurt the horses feet. At the end of July they reached the site of the present day town of Coober Pedy. Their horses were in poor condition and they were running out of food. Stuart decided to change direction to the south west and try and reach the coast near Fowlers Bay. The Aboriginal youth would not go any further and went back. He was scared of other Aborigines in the area they were going into. Stuart said the land was "...dreary, dismal, dreadful desert." Stuart and Forster reached the coast at Denial Bay in August 1858, and were back in settled farm lands by 11 September. They had completed a journey of in four months. He gave his diary and maps to the South Australian government. As a reward, Stuart was given the lease to 1,000 square miles of land at Chambers Creek.

paragraphs: The official South Australian government explorer Benjamin Herschel Babbage followed Stuart's maps and went to Chambers Creek. He reported that the map showed the creek was marked too far to the north. Stuart went back to Chambers Creek to survey the area again. This expedition was paid for by James Chambers and William Finke who realized the value of reliable water supplies on the other side of the salt lakes. Stuart left Oratunga Station on 2 April 1859, with a small group, three men and 14 horses. The men he took with him included a Bavarian naturalist and artist, David Herrgott, and Louis Müller, a stockman and botanist. Both Herrgott and Müller had been gold miners in Victoria, and would know how to look for gold in the country around Chambers Creek. They did not carry much equipment, only a blanket to sleep with, but no tents. The only food they took was flour, dried beef (jerky), tea, sugar and tobacco. He took more equipment than just his watch and compass on this trip; a sextant, a copy of the Astronomical Almanac and a telescope.

paragraphs: Stuart went a different way to Chambers Creek, going through a gap in between the salt lakes that had been explored by Major Peter Warburton earlier in the year. Herrgott found a group of 12 artesian springs, which Stuart named after him. This name later became the settlement of Herggott Springs. The name was changed again during World War One because of strong anti-German feelings in Australia. The town is now called Marree after the Aboriginal word for possum. These springs were mound springs; over thousands of years the salt in the water had formed small hills, and the water came out of them like water out of a volcano. Some of the mounds were over high. They were valuable because they provided reliable water for people and animals moving north to Chambers Creek.

paragraphs: After surveying Chambers Creek again, Stuart explored the area to the north west of Chambers Creek. They found more mound springs which Stuart named Elizabeth Springs after one of Chamber's daughters. They continued north west and searched for gold in the Davenport Range. They found more springs which they named the Spring of Hope. They were able to continue and found more springs, which Stuart named Freeling Springs, after Major Freeling, a South Australian politician. By the time they had passed the current site of Oodnadatta, both the men and the horses were suffering from the lack of water and proper food. The horses' shoes had worn out in the rocks around the Davenport Range. On 12 June 1859, Stuart turned around and went back. They rode south back to Port Augusta and then took a boat back to Adelaide.

paragraphs: The South Australian government offered a prize of £2,000 to the first person to cross Australia from the south to the north. They hoped this would be a route for the Australian Overland Telegraph Line that would connect Australia to the line that came from Europe. Stuart and Chambers plans for the trip were not accepted by the government. The government sent Alexander Tolmer to lead the trip. His expedition did not make it out of the settled areas. In August 1859, one month after his last trip, Stuart went back to do more surveying for Chambers at Chambers Creek. With William Darton Kekwick and two other men, they took 12 horses and explored the west side of Lake Eyre. Chambers and Stuart believed that the lake might hold water. Instead Stuart found mud after he walked several kilometres into the dry salt lake. He found another artesian mound spring, more than in height, which he named William Springs, after one of Chamber's sons. He then set off for the Spring of Hope. He saw grasslands and eventually made a base at Freeling Springs. He explored much of the surrounding area hoping to find gold. On 6 January 1860, with his food supplies getting low, and two of the men refusing to go any further, Stuart once again returned home.

paragraphs: There was a lot of support for an expedition to cross Australia. In Melbourne, the biggest exploring expedition in Australian history, the Victorian Exploring Expedition, was being organized for the crossing. This became known as the Burke and Wills expedition, named after its two leaders, Robert O'Hara Burke and William John Wills. Stuart knew that he would be able to travel further and faster by only going with a small group. In March 1860, with Kekwick, Benjamin Head and 13 horses, Stuart left Chambers Creek and headed north. They were the first Europeans to enter central Australia. They reached the Finke River, the MacDonnell Ranges, and the strange rock formation Stuart called Chambers Pillar. On 23 April, Stuart worked out that they were at the very centre of Australia. He named a small hill near the spot Mount Sturt, after Charles Sturt. Stuart and Kekwick climbed the hill and raised the British flag. Stuart wrote that the flag would be a sign to the Aborigines "...that the dawn of liberty, civilization, and Christianity is about to break upon them." The name was later changed to Central Mount Stuart. From here Stuart tried to go northwest to reach the Victoria River. This took them into the Tanami Desert, but they could not find water and were forced to go back.

paragraphs: They continued to travel north, beyond the site of the town of Tennant Creek. On 26 June they reached a creek, now called Attack Creek, about north of Adelaide. A large group of Aborigines from a group called the Warramunga, attacked the explorers. The Warrumunga threw boomerangs at the explorers, and then set fire to the grass. Stuart and his men fired their guns at the Warrumunga, but Stuart does not say in his diary if any were killed or injured. The men quickly left the creek and went south.

paragraphs: Stuart decided they could not get any further north because they were running out of food, water was scarce and the horses were in poor condition. He wrote "...I think it would be madness and folly to attempt more." The return journey was very difficult. Stuart could only ride for a few hours a day; on one day he just dug a hole in the sand and curled up in it. Head was so hungry he stole food, which left them with even less. Their clothes were only torn rags and their bodies were covered in bruises caused by scurvy. Stuart wrote in his diary that "My men have now lost all their former energy...and move about as if they were a hundred years old. It is sad to see them..." Stuart wrote in his diary that sores on his hands had made them to painful to be used and he could only just sit in the saddle. He gums had become so sore and his teeth so loose that he could only eat flour boiled in water. He wrote on 16 May that "...I almost wished that death would come and relieve me from my fearful torture..." The medicines he had with him did not help.

paragraphs: The explorers made their way back to Adelaide as Burke and Wills were starting their journey north from Melbourne. Stuart was treated as a hero when he arrived in Adelaide. In 1859 the Royal Geographical Society in London presented him with gold watch. This was given to the explorer Count Paul Strzelecki to take back to Australia.

paragraphs: The cost of Stuart's exploring had been paid for by Chambers. Because of this, Stuart would not make his journals and maps available to the public. This led to claims that Stuart had not really travelled that far north and that he was lying about his discoveries. In Victoria it was even said that Stuart had not really gone north, but had been hiding in a cellar in Adelaide.

paragraphs: The public and the newspapers began to talk about a race across the continent of Australia. Could Stuart, experienced and used to moving quickly, beat the better equipped, but very slow moving Burke and Wills expedition. After their failures with Babbage and Tolmer's expeditions, the South Australian government now believed that Stuart would succeed if he had enough support. They gave £2,500 to set up another expedition and provided ten armed men to protect Stuart from any more attacks by the Aborigines. Chambers agreed to supply more horses and to pay Stuart and Kekwick's wages. In Victoria, a policeman was sent off to tell Burke to get going to the Gulf of Carpentaria as fast as possible, but Burke had already heard about Stuart's planned trip. Burke divided his group in two, and leaving most of his supplies behind at Menindee on the Darling River, he headed north to Cooper Creek.

paragraphs: On 1 January 1861, Stuart with a group of 12 men and 49 horses set off from Chambers Creek. The hot weather made it hard to find water and many waterholes from his earlier trips were dry. In February Stuart sent back two men with five horses. They reached the northern border of South Australia at about the same time that Burke and Wills reached the Gulf of Carpentaria. He was able to travel 240 km north of Attack Creek, where he found a large waterhole he called Glandfield Lagoon, after the mayor of Adelaide. Chambers later changed the name on Stuart's maps to Newcastle Waters, after the Duke of Newcastle, a British politician. From here Stuart again looked for a way to go north west to the Victoria River, but he was unable to find water. With the food running out, the men becoming sick, and horses in poor condition, Stuart again decided to return to Adelaide. Burke and Wills had not returned to Cooper Creek and were missing.

paragraphs: Stuart was presented with the Royal Geographical Society's Patron's Medal for 1861.

paragraphs: Stuart set out on his third attempt to cross Australia on 25 October 1861. This expedition was called the Great Northern Exploring Expedition. The group was: John McDouall Stuart, William Darton Kekwick, Francis William Thring, William Patrick Auld, Stephen King Jnr., John William Billiatt, James Frew Jnr., Heath Nash, John Woodforde, John McGorrery and Frederick George Waterhouse.

paragraphs: McGorrey was a blacksmith who would be able to fix the shoes on the group's 78 horses. Waterhouse was a naturalist who would be able to keep a scientific notes of their discoveries. Stuart was injured when a horse stood on his right hand, and remained behind for a month to recover. He learned about the deaths of Burke and Wills at Cooper Creek.

paragraphs: The group left Chambers Creek on 8 January 1862 moving fast, covering between 30 and 50 kilometres a day. The fast pace meant that in the first three weeks eight horses died and Woodforde left and went back. Stuart left some of the supplies behind and cut the amount each man was allowed to eat. At Mount Hay in central Australia, they were again attacked by Aboriginal warriors, but they were no match for the group's guns and several may have been killed.

paragraphs: They reached Newcastle Waters in three months, and then took a week to rest. Stuart spent the next five weeks searching for water. He finally found a series of waterholes, creeks and rivers which meant the whole group were able to continue to the north. He gave up trying to reach the Victoria River. When they got to the Roper River, which had been explored by Ludwig Leichhardt in 1845, he knew he could easily go west to the Gulf of Carpentaria, but instead chose to continue north. Auld later said that "...the mosquitos and flies were terrible. Our hands, feet and necks were blistered with their bites." They crossed Arnhem Land, and made the way along the edge of what is now Kakadu National Park. He followed the Adelaide River, but when the ground became too soft and muddy, they went further north to the Mary River and eventually reached the sea.

paragraphs: They arrived at Van Diemen's Gulf on 24 July 1862. On a tall tree branch they raised a Union Jack flag with Stuart's name embroided on it which had been made by Chamber's daughter, Elizabeth. Wood from the tree, which has since been destroyed, is in the collection of the Royal Geographical Society of South Australia's collection. The group then had to travel back to Adelaide. Food was becoming scarce, and the hot weather meant there was little water. Many horses died, and Stuart was again forced to leave behind equipment. Waterhouse had to leave all his carefully collected plants and animals. The men were very hungry and even shot and ate dingos. Stuart was in poor health and became blind. He was unable to speak for several days and the men thought he was going to die. He was unable to ride his horse, and they made a bed with long poles and blankets that could be carried between two horses. Stuart was carried by this method. after crossing the MacDonnell Ranges, they discovered that rain had fallen and there was lots of grass. On reaching the settled areas, Stuart learned that his friend and partner, James Chambers had died. He left Kekwick in charge of the group, and went ahead with Auld. They got on the train at Kapunda and arrived in Adelaide on 17 December 1862.

paragraphs: Stuart and his group were given a special welcome in Adelaide on 16 January 1863. They dressed in their old clothes and rode into the city as heroes. This was also the day that Burke and Wills were buried in Melbourne after the failure of their expedition.

paragraphs: Stuart was in poor health, almost blind, and had a crippled right hand after the sixth trip. With Chambers dead, he no longer had a job. The government tried not to pay him the £2,000 reward, saying that they had paid for the cost of the expedition. After public pressure, they gave in, but invested the money and only gave Stuart a small amount each year. He was drinking a lot of alcohol and none of his friends would give him any help. The government then wanted £500 for the lease of the land they had given him at Chambers Creek. Stuart sold it to James Chambers' brother, John Chambers, for only £200, losing money on the deal.

paragraphs: He decided to return to Great Britain in April 1864. He lived with his sister Mary in Glasgow, Scotland. The Royal Geographical Society asked the South Australian government for a pension for Stuart, but they said he had been rewarded enough with grants of land. During the debate over the pension it was said that it was not the exploring that had ruined his health, but his drinking habits. He suffered from dementia, and it is possible he also had tuberculosis. He died in London on 5 June 1866 from a stroke and was buried in the Kensal Green Cemetery. Only seven people went to the funeral, four relatives, two members of the Royal Geographical Society, and Alexander Hay, a South Australian farmer who was in London at the time. The grave was damaged in World War II, but was repaired in 2011 by the Stuart Society and the Royal Geographical Society of South Australia.

paragraphs: The Australian Overland Telegraph Line was built along the route taken by Stuart. Using his notes they were easily able to find water supplies and trees to make the poles. The accuracy of his maps made building the line much easier. His journey is remembered in the Stuart Highway, one of Australia's major roads which joins Port Augusta to Darwin. It follows much of the same route discovered by Stuart. In June 1904, a statue of Stuart was put up in Adelaide. The Royal Geographical Society of South Australia has a wooden chair and table made by Stuart in 1854.

paragraphs: Benjamin Head later said about Stuart "...that he was a born leader of men: the sharpest little fellow you would find in a year's march."

paragraphs: Stuart and A.C. Gregory were arguably Australia’s greatest inland explorers. The latter was certainly financed and equipped much better than Stuart who had to rely on Chambers and Finke’s support rather than the State Government. It may very well have been possible for Stuart to reach the north coast earlier if he had the Government support that Gregory, Babbage and Tolmer were granted. That said, he didn’t and was totally driven to reach the north coast despite illness and afflictions that arguably he had since arriving in South Australia and were to see him die at such an early age in England in 1866. The key attributes that made Stuart one, if not the best inland explorer, include:

paragraphs: - He had exceptional dead reckoning and navigational skills that enabled him to understand exactly where he was.

paragraphs: - He spent more time in the field and explored more land than any other explorer without the loss of a man.

paragraphs: -He learnt from every trip how far to push the physical limits and when to turn back.

paragraphs: - He understood and cared for his horses and knew their limits and ability to move quickly through land and how far each type could survive without water. - He was courageous, a great leader and his concern and respect for his fellow expedition members was reciprocated.


title: Clayton Moore

paragraphs: Clayton Moore (September 14, 1914 – December 28, 1999) was an American actor.

paragraphs: His real name was Jack Carlton Moore. He was born in Chicago, Illinois. He began his career as a child, as an acrobat in the circus. In 1938 he went to Hollywood and acted in minor roles in Class B Western movies. In 1947 he was in the movie "Jesse James Rides Again". He played Jesse James. He also played James in "Adventures of Frank and Jesse James" (1948). He starred in "The Ghost of Zorro" (1949). The other B-movies he starred in were "Cyclone Fury" 1951; "Montana Territory", 1952, as Commissioner George Ives; and "Gunfighters of the Northwest", 1954.

paragraphs: In 1949 he was chosen by ABC Television to play The Lone Ranger. In the series of the same name. His co-star was the actor Jay Silverheels. It was the biggest success of ABC in the postwar period. From 1949 to 1956, 169 episodes were made of The Lone Ranger. His silver bullets, white hat and black mask were icons of the western U.S. In 1979, the company owning the rights to The Lone Ranger forced him to no longer use the character. Judge Vernon Foster said Moore could no longer use his black mask, or advertise as The Lone Ranger. Moore obeyed the judge's decision. In 1987 a star was placed on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles.

paragraphs: He died on December 28, 1999 from a heart attack in his Los Angeles, California home, aged 85.


title: Courtney Thorne-Smith

paragraphs: Courtney Thorne-Smith (born 8 November 1967) is an American actress. She is best known for her television work. Her television roles include Alison Parker on "Melrose Place", Georgia Thomas on the sitcom "Ally McBeal" and Lyndsey McElroy on "Two and a Half Men". She has acted in many movies and other television programs. Thorne-Smith was born in San Francisco, California.


title: Stan Laurel

paragraphs: Stan Laurel (16 June 1890 – 23 February 1965), was an English actor, comedian, writer, director and musician.

paragraphs: Laurel was born in Lancashire, England. He began his career in the late 1910s, to work with Charles Chaplin. Among his first works in this silent comedy short, "Nuts in May" (1917), "Phoney Photos" (1918), "Just Rambling Along" (1918) and "Do You Love Your Wife?" (1919), by Hal Roach, "Mud and Sand" (1922), "When Knights Were Cold" (1923), "Smithy" (1924), "Postage Due" (1924), "Monsieur Don't Care" (1924), and many more.

paragraphs: In 1918 he starred with Oliver Hardy, in the short silent movie "The Lucky Dog". That was the beginning of the famous duo, together again years later to form Laurel and Hardy. His first Hal Roach short with Hardy was "Duck Soup" (1927), followed by "Slipping Wives" (1927), "Love 'Em and Weep" (1927), "Why Girls Love Sailors" (1927), "The Second 100 Years" (1927), "Call of the Cuckoo" (1927), "The Battle of the Century" (1927). Short were a great success and catapulted the duo to stardom. They continued in short movies until 1931, his first feature film "Pardon Us", by James Parrott. His biggest movies were "The Devil's Brother" (1933), "Sons of the Desert" (1934), "Way Out West" (1937), "The Flying Deuces" (1939).

paragraphs: Stan Laurel also did some work in television as NBC live program "This is your Life", together with Oliver Hardy. He also made appearances on the BBC, "Grand Order of Water Rats" (1955), where they performed a show reliving the old days of Laurel and Hardy.


title: Page-turner

paragraphs: A page-turner is a person whose job is to turn sheet music pages for a solo musician, often a pianist, usually during a performance.

paragraphs: While some music is arranged so that the pages end at places where the musician can spare one hand to turn them, this is not always possible. A page-turner is often needed by musicians who are playing difficult pieces and prefer not to play from memory. A page-turner needs to be able to understand the musician's signals and follow the music to know when to turn the page. Page-turners are sometimes friends of the performer or members of the accompanying orchestra helping the musician. Professional page-turners are usually freelance casual workers.

paragraphs: Mechanical page-turners are also available, sometimes controlled by the musician via a foot pedal. Charles Halle is said to have invented the automatic page-turner.


title: Jim Thorpe

paragraphs: James Francis Thorpe (May 28, 1888 – March 28, 1953) was an American athlete in track, football, and baseball. Thorpe was part Native American and was from Oklahoma. He played football, track, and six other sports at Carlisle Indian School in Pennsylvania. While at Carlisle, Thorpe's team was one of the best in the country, and beat an Army team that had Dwight Eisenhower. Thorpe won gold medals in the pentathlon (five track and field events in one day) and decathlon (ten events in two days) at the 1912 Summer Olympics. After the decathlon, the King of Sweden called him the greatest athlete alive. His medals were taken away because he had played professional baseball, but were returned in 1982, long after his death.

paragraphs: After the Olympics, Thorpe played professional baseball and football. He played for football teams including the Canton Bulldogs, Rock Island Independents, Chicago Cardinals and New York Giants. He was commissioner of the NFL for one year. Thorpe is in the NFL Hall of Fame. He also played for baseball teams including the New York Giants, Cincinnati Reds, and Boston Braves For several years, Thorpe toured with football, baseball and basketball teams that only had Native American players. Late in life, Thorpe had problems with alcoholism. Thorpe died in 1953. He was buried in Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania, which changed its name to Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania.


title: Crocodylomorph

paragraphs: The Crocodylomorphs are an important group of archosaurs that include the crocodilians and their extinct relatives.

paragraphs: During Mesozoic and early Tertiary times the Crocodylomorpha were far more diverse than they are now. Triassic forms were small, lightly built, active terrestrial animals. These were supplanted during the early Jurassic by various aquatic and marine forms. The later Jurassic, Cretaceous, and Tertiary saw a wide diversity of terrestrial and semi-aquatic lineages. Modern crocodilians do not appear until the Upper Cretaceous.

paragraphs: The crocodylian lineage (clade Crurotarsi) were a very diverse group of reptiles. Not only are they an ancient group of animals, at least as old as the dinosaurs, they also evolved into a great variety of forms.

paragraphs: The earliest forms, the sphenosuchians, evolved during the Upper Triassic, and were highly gracile terrestrial forms built like greyhounds. During the Jurassic and the Cretaceous, marine forms evolved forelimbs that were paddle-like and had a tail similar to modern fish.

paragraphs: "Dakosaurus andiniensis", a species closely related to "Metriorhynchus", had a skull that was adapted to eat large marine reptiles. Several terrestrial species during the Cretaceous evolved herbivory. A number of lineages during the Tertiary and Pleistocene became wholly terrestrial predators.


title: Lepidosauromorph

paragraphs: The Lepidosauromorphs are a large group of reptiles. It includes all diapsids closer to lizards than to archosaurs.

paragraphs: The only living sub-group is the Lepidosauria: lizards, snakes, and the tuatara.

paragraphs: The most important fossil group, the Sauropterygia, includes the plesiosaurs.


title: Backlash (2006)

paragraphs: Backlash (2006) was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). It was held on April 30, 2006 at the Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky. It was the eighth annual Backlash PPV. The pay-per-view received 273,000 more buys then last year's Backlash pay-per-view.


title: Backlash (2005)

paragraphs: Backlash (2005) was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). It was held on May 1, 2005 at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, New Hampshire. It was the seventh annual Backlash PPV.


title: Lepidosauria

paragraphs: The Lepidosauria (Greek for "scaled lizards") are reptiles with overlapping scales. They include the tuataras, lizards, snakes and amphisbaenians.

paragraphs: Lepidosauria is a superorder of Sauropsida. It includes the orders :


title: Backlash (2003)

paragraphs: Backlash (2003) was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). It was held on April 27, 2003 at the Worcester Centrum in Worcester, Massachusetts. It was the fifth annual Backlash PPV. The pay-per-view had a 0.67 buyrate and sold 10,000 tickets.


title: Casineria

paragraphs: Casineria was a tetrapod which lived 340 million years ago (mya) in the Mississippian. It was a small animal, length about 15 centimeters.

paragraphs: It lived in what was then a fairly dry environment in what is now Scotland. It had a mosaic of 'basal' (= primitive) amphibian and 'derived' (= advanced) amniote characters.

paragraphs: "Casineria" was at or very near the origin of the amniotes. It may have been one of the very first true amniotes. The only fossil lacks key elements: most of the skull and the whole lower body is missing. This makes exact analysis difficult.

paragraphs: "Casineria" was an insectivore. This earliest amniote had five fingers with claws on each hand, and marks the earliest known clawed foot.

paragraphs: Its name, "Casineria", is a latin version of "Cheese Bay", the site near Edinburgh, where it was found.

paragraphs: In 1992, an amateur fossil collector spotted the remains of this four-legged creature on the shore of Cheese Bay, Scotland. For the next five years, the fossil waited at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh while researchers focused on other projects. In 1997, work began to expose the remainder of the fossil from the surrounding matrix of stone.

paragraphs: The work revealed that the animal probably lived in an environment much drier than previously understood. The findings were first reported in 1999.

paragraphs: "Casineria" shows features that ties it in with early tetrapods, notably a generally gracile (slim) build with light leg-bones, unfused ankles and toes ending in claws. This would enable the animal to use their feet actively in traction, rather than as holdfasts. This indicates a mainly terrestrial lifestyle. These traits shows it was closely related to amniotes.

paragraphs: With its advanced features, "Casineria" may have been one of the very first true amniotes, that is, egg-layers before the split between Synapsids and Sauropsids. "Casineria" pushes back the origin of amniote lineages much further than was previously realized.

paragraphs: "Casineria" and its relatives were perhaps the first vertebrates to live and reproduce on land.


title: Protoclepsydrops

paragraphs: Protoclepsydrops was an early amniote from about 314 million years ago. Its remains were found at the Joggins Fossil Cliffs World Heritage Site. The dating of this site has been debated, with dates from 320 million years ago (mya) to 305 mya being suggested. It is now settled as 314.5–313.4 mya +/- 1.1 million years.

paragraphs: The skeletal remains of "Protoclepsydrops" suggest it may have been a synapsid. If so, it is the oldest synapsid known, though its status is unconfirmed because its remains were fragmentary. "Protoclepsydrops" lived slightly earlier than "Archaeothyris", which was definitely a synapsid. Like "Archaeothyris", "Protoclepsydrops" had a body shape which resembled modern lizards.


title: Paleothyris

paragraphs: Paleothyris was a small, agile, anapsid reptile which lived in the Pennsylvanian epoch in Nova Scotia (about 312 to 304 million years ago).

paragraphs: "Paleothyris" had sharp teeth and large eyes: it was a nocturnal hunter. It was about a foot long. It probably fed on insects and other smaller animals found on the floor of its forest home.

paragraphs: "Paleothyris" was an early sauropsid, yet it still had some features that were more labyrinthodont-like than reptile-like. Its skull lacked fenestrae, holes found in the skulls of most reptiles and mammals.


title: Amy Brenneman

paragraphs: Amy Frederica Brenneman (born 22 June 1964) is an American producer and actor. She is best known for starring in "NYPD Blue" and "Judging Amy". She has also starred in many movies. She was born in Connecticut.


title: Westlothiana

paragraphs: Westlothiana lizziae is an early tetrapod. It is a transitional fossil, with a mixture of amphibian and early amniote characters. Its body shape had a superficial resemblance to modern-day lizards. It lived during the Carboniferous period, about 350 million years ago.

paragraphs: The type specimen was discovered in East Kirkton Quarry, Bathgate, Scotland, in 1984. It was named after the County of West Lothian where it was found.

paragraphs: This species probably lived near a freshwater lake, probably hunting for other small creatures that lived in the same habitat. It was a slender animal, with rather small legs and a long tail.

paragraphs: Together with "Casineria", another transitional fossil found in Scotland, it is one of the smallest terapods known, being a mere 20 cm in adult length.

paragraphs: The small size has made it a key fossil in the search for the earliest amniote, as amniote eggs are thought to have evolved in very small animals. There are derived (advanced) features which tie it in with the amniotes rather than amphibians. These are: unfused ankle bones, lack of labyrinthodont infolding of the dentine in teeth, a lack of an otic notch and a generally small skull.

paragraphs: The long body and small legs were a possible adaptation to burrowing, similar to that seen in modern skinks.

paragraphs: Ideas of how "Westlothiana" should be classified has varied from basal amniote to an amphibian Lepospondyl. The actual phylogenetic position of "Westlothiania" is uncertain.


title: Magic Kingdom

paragraphs: Magic Kingdom is one of four theme parks at the Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Florida. Magic Kingdom was the first park built at the resort. It opened on October 1, 1971. D

paragraphs: It was designed and built by WED Enterprises. The park's layout and attractions are similar to Disneyland in Anaheim, California. In 2009, the park had around 17.2 million visitors, making it the most visited theme park in the world.

paragraphs: The symbol of Magic Kingdom is Cinderella Castle. That castle is based on the castle in the movie "Cinderella".

paragraphs: The Transportation and Ticket Center, also called the TTC, is the first place park guests enter after the parking lot. At the TTC, guests can buy tickets to enter the park. After that, they can board either a boat or the Monorail, which will take them to the park. Walt Disney built the resort to have a big lake between the parking lot and the park so guests would have a magical experience watching the park come slowly into view.

paragraphs: Magic Kingdom is divided into six areas. Most of them are called "lands". The lands are Adventureland, Frontierland, Fantasyland, and Tomorrowland. The other areas are Main Street, U.S.A. and Liberty Square.

paragraphs: Main Sreet, U.S.A. is the first area guests enter after going through the gates. It was built to look like a typical street in the United States. The buildings use forced perspective to make the street look longer than it really is and Cinderella Castle look taller. That means the buildings closer to the viewer are taller than the buildings farther away.

paragraphs: The street is lined with shops and restaurants. The windows of the buildings have the names of people who worked for the Walt Disney Company on them.

paragraphs: Adventureland is themed around exploring unknown lands, like jungles and islands. Rides and shows in this area are the Enchanted Tiki Room (Under New Management), the Jungle Cruise, and Pirates of the Caribbean, among others.

paragraphs: Frontierland is based on the American west in the 1800s, also called the wild west. Rides and shows in this area include Big Thunder Mountain, Splash Mountain, and the Country Bear Jamboree.

paragraphs: Liberty Square is based on colonial America around the time of the American Revolution. Rides and shows in this area include the Hall of the Presidents and the Haunted Mansion.

paragraphs: Fantasyland is based on the magic of fairytales and has rides based on many of Disney's animated films. Rides in this area include "it's a small world", Peter Pan's Flight, and Dumbo.

paragraphs: Tomorrowland is based on visions of the future. Rides and shows in this area include Space Mountain, Stitch's Great Escape!, and Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress.


title: Archaeothyris

paragraphs: Archaeothyris was the earliest definite synapsid. It lived in the late Carboniferous period, 306 million years ago.

paragraphs: It was found in Nova Scotia, at the same locality as "Hylonomus", and "Petrolacosaurus", which are similar to "Archaeothyris", but probably sauropsids.

paragraphs: "Protoclepsydrops" is slightly older, but its status as a synapsid is unclear as the remains are more fragmentary.

paragraphs: "Archaeothyris" belonged to a group of early pelycosaurs that evolved early in the Pennsylvanian. It is thus seen as the precursor of all synapsids (which include mammals).

paragraphs: Unlike the early sauropsids, "Hylonomus" and its kin, "Archaeothyris" was relatively large, measuring head to tail. It was also more advanced than the early sauropsids (~reptiles), with strong jaws that could open wider than those of the sauropsids. Its sharp teeth were all of the same shape, and it had a pair of enlarged canines, suggesting that it was a carnivore.

paragraphs: "Archaeothyris" lived in what is now Nova Scotia, about 306 million years ago in the Carboniferous Period (Pennsylvanian). Nova Scotia at this time was a swamp, similar to today's Everglades in Florida. The 'trees' (actually giant clubmosses) were very tall. Some, such as "Lepidodendron", were up to tall. "Archaeothyris" and the other early amniotes lived on the forest floor.


title: Ray Milland

paragraphs: Ray Milland (3 January 1907 – 10 March 1986) was a Welsh actor and director.

paragraphs: In the early years he achieved success in films such as "Bulldog Drummond Escapes" (1937), "Hotel Imperial" (1939), "Beau Geste" (1939), and "The Major and the Minor" (1942) with Ginger Rogers. He was also in "Ministry of Fear" (1944), by Fritz Lang. In the Billy Wilder film "The Lost Weekend" (1945), he played the role of Don Birnam, an alcoholic writer. That role earned him an Academy Award as best actor.

paragraphs: In the 1950s he starred in the Alfred Hitchcock film "Dial M for Murder" (1954).

paragraphs: Another performance was as Oliver Barrett III (1970), in the Arthur Hiller film "Love Story" (1970), with Ali MacGraw and Ryan O'Neal.

paragraphs: In early 1960, Ray Milland started much to play evil characters, in horror and sci-fi movies such as "Panic in Year Zero!" (1962), he also directed. "Premature Burial" (1962) and "" (1963), by Roger Corman, in "Frogs" (1972), he played a man who is attacked by a plague of mutant frogs, "The Thing with Two Heads" (1972), he played a doctor who had a head transplant, "Terror in the Wax Museum" (1973).

paragraphs: He had a long career in television, including his TV series "Meet Mr. McNutley" (1953–54), as Ray McNulty, and the Crime TV series "Markham" (1959–60), as Roy Markham a former lawyer, who works as a detective.

paragraphs: He was a special guest star in "General Electric Theater", "Night Gallery", "Columbo", "Battlestar Galactica", "Fantasy Island", "The Love Boat", "Hart to Hart", and many more.


title: Canine tooth

paragraphs: Canine teeth are found in mammals. They are the eye teeth, fangs or dogteeth. They are on either side of the incisors. Their main function is to hold food firmly in order to tear it apart, and also attack and defence.

paragraphs: In some mammals they are weapons of attack and defence. Examples are: wolves and dogs; the cat family; walrus. Baboons and the great apes have large canines, especially the adult males. In humans they are much reduced, and sit in line with the other teeth.


title: Premolar

paragraphs: The premolar teeth of mammals are the teeth between the canines and the molars. There are at most a total of eight of them. The number is reduced in the dental formula of many species.

paragraphs: As the name suggests, they are like smaller molars, and their function is to crush and grind food.


title: Water park

paragraphs: A water park (occasionally written as "waterpark") is an theme park that features water play areas, such as water slides, splash pads, spraygrounds (water playgrounds), lazy rivers, or other recreational bathing, swimming, and barefooting environments. Water parks in more current states of development may also have some type of artificial surfing or bodyboarding environment such as a wave pool or FlowRider.

paragraphs: Water parks have grown in popularity since their introduction in the late 1940s and early 1950s. The United States has the largest and most concentrated water park market, with over a thousand water parks and dozens of new parks opening each year. Major organizations are IAAPA (International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions) and WWA (World Waterpark Association).

paragraphs: Water parks emerging from spas continue to more closely resemble mountain resorts as they become four-season destinations-for example, Splash Universe Water Park Resort, a member of the World Water Park Association, is themed to match the community in which it is located. The theme is intended to enhance the communities' destination appeal. Therefore, the amusement and leisure time industry is becoming more concentrated as winter sports are becoming commonplace themes in summertime water rides. A process of concentration can be observed in the hybrid segments of theme-, amusement-, and water parks. Some water parks are more spa-oriented; e.g. Schwaben Quellen, a member of European Waterparks Association (EWA) has no water slides, but instead has many saunas, steam rooms, "adventure showers", and relaxation-oriented water play areas.

paragraphs: From 2000's, popular water parks were disclosed by long wait line problems of attractions. To solve this problem, some water parks adapt conveyor belt to lift passengers or use water jets.

paragraphs: A unique feature at a water park is ice skating. Deep River Waterpark in northwestern Indiana features ice skating thanks to cooling pipes that were added under their massive plaza during a recent expansion.

paragraphs: The first ever indoor water park was built in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada in 1985 at the West Edmonton Mall as part of the $1.2 billion dollar Phase III expansion. Called World Waterpark, it is over in size. It also includes one of the world's largest indoor wave pool, waterslides of varying degrees, tube rides, bungee jumping, and hot tubs.

paragraphs: With 5 indoor water parks, Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, is recognized as the "Water Park Capital of the World." It showcases several of America's largest indoor and outdoor water parks (see Noah's Ark Water Park). Indoor water parks in Wisconsin Dells debuted in 1994 after the Polynesian Resort Hotel built the first one in the U.S. The success in extending the tourist season and turning water park resorts into vacation destinations has resulted in tremendous industry growth. Usually resort hotels featuring massive indoor water parks that are often reserved exclusively for overnight guests, companies like Great Wolf Resorts/Great Wolf Lodge and Kalahari Resorts have branched out from their origin in the Dells to open new locations around the country. Mt. Olympus Theme and Water Park (formerly Family Land) is another huge water park in the Dells.

paragraphs: The premier UK indoor water park is the Sandcastle Waterworld at Blackpool, England which has the Master Blaster, the world's longest indoor roller coaster-style ride.

paragraphs: There are many water parks in Southern Europe where the climate suits a long season. For example in Portugal on the Algarve there are three main parks - Aqualand, Aquashow and Slide and Splash.

paragraphs: Water play areas are similar to water parks and include urban beaches, splash pads, and smaller collections of waterslides in many hotels and public pools. For example, the Delta Chelsea hotel in Toronto features a four story waterslide called the "corkscrew".

paragraphs: Another unique waterpark feature is ice skating. Deep River Waterpark in Indiana has ice skating thanks to cooling pipes that were added under their plaza.


title: January 31 – February 2, 2011 North American winter storm

paragraphs: The Groundhog Day blizzard of 2011 was a large blizzard that struck parts of Canada, Mexico, and the United States between 31 January 2011 and 2 February 2011. The blizzard was also called the 2011 Groundhog Day Blizzard because it happened close to Groundhog Day. The storm dumped over of snow from Oklahoma City to Chicago and Boston. An ice storm south of the blizzard affected many areas from Dallas to Indianapolis to just north of New York City. The ice storm caused over 1 inch of ice on most of these areas. Heavy rain fell from Little Rock to New York City. At the same time, severe thunderstorms and tornadoes were seen across Texas and Alabama. A tornado watch was issued for Alabama, where an EF1 tornado dropped down.

paragraphs: The storm started as severe thunderstorms and tornadoes happened in Texas. It grew larger and turned into a mix of blizzard, ice storm, heavy rain, and severe weather. On 1 February, the blizzard reached from Oklahoma City up to Chicago. Heavy snow and strong winds were seen with the storm. Over night, the storm moved through Chicago to Boston. The blizzard caused more than 14 inches of snow on Oklahoma City, Chicago, and Boston. The ice storm produced up to 1 inch of ice. On February 2nd, the storm moved out to sea. This storm has impacted more than 10 states.

paragraphs: Texas had severe weather from the storm with tornadoes, hail, and severe thunderstorms.

paragraphs: Oklahoma was hit by a blizzard and icestorm on the south part of the storm on 1 February. The blizzard caused more than 14 inches of snow in Tulsa and Oklahoma City as well as strong winds. The blizzard ended by the night of 1 February.

paragraphs: Kansas got over 14 inches of snow in Kansas City and Topeka.

paragraphs: Nebraska got more than 14 inches of snow in Omaha. There was less than 1 inch in North Platte. There was extreme cold west of the blizzard.

paragraphs: Iowa got more than 14 inches of snow in Des Moines.

paragraphs: The blizzard caused over 14 inches of snow in Chicago. The ice storm caused about 1/2 inch of ice in the Southeast. There was about 1/2 inch of rain there.

paragraphs: Most of Indiana saw an ice storm. There was heavy rain in the Southeast and a blizzard in the Northwest. The blizzard dumped several inches of heavy snow on the Northwest part of Indiana. The ice storm dumped 1 inch of ice on Indianapolis.

paragraphs: Half of Ohio saw an ice storm and half saw heavy rain. The ice storm caused 1 inch of ice in Cleveland. The heavy rain produced 1 inch of rain on Columbus.

paragraphs: Most of Pennsylvania saw heavy rain. Much of the northwest part had an ice storm. Only the most Northwest part of the state saw a blizzard.

paragraphs: The heavy rain caused 1 inch of rain on Philadelphia, and Harrisburg. The ice storm dumped 1 inch of ice north of Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh also had 1 inch of heavy rain. The blizzard caused several inches of heavy snow on the far Northwest.

paragraphs: New York state saw heavy rain, the ice storm and the blizzard. The heavy rain caused 1 inch of rain on New York City. The ice storm caused 1 inch of ice on Albany. There were also several inches of snow in Albany. The blizzard dumped over 14 inches of snow in Buffalo.


title: Adam West

paragraphs: Adam West (William West Anderson; September 19, 1928 – June 9, 2017) was an American actor, director and voice artist. He is known for his role as Batman in the 1960s "Batman" television series and as Mayor Adam West in "Family Guy". West has also acted in movies and on stage.

paragraphs: West was born on September 19, 1928 in Walla Walla, Washington to Otto West Anderson and Audrey V. Speer and studied at Walla Walla High School, Lakeside School, and Whitman College. West was raised in Walla Walla. West has been married to Billie Lou Yeager from 1950 until they divorced in 1965. He later married Frisbie Dawson from 1957 until they divorced in 1962. West married to Marcelle Tagand Lear in 1970. West has six children. He lived in Ketchum, Idaho.

paragraphs: On June 9, 2017, West died in Los Angeles after a battle with leukemia. He was 88.

paragraphs: His early works include the movie "Robinson Crusoe on Mars" (1964), as Col. Dan McCready, an astronaut who is sent on a journey to the Red Planet. He was also in "Mara of the Wilderness" (1965), and the spaghetti western "I quattro inesorabili" (1965), where he played the role of gunslinger Sam Garrett. He played the role of Lt. John Delahay, in the western "Geronimo" (1962) with Chuck Connors.

paragraphs: He worked with The Three Stooges in the movie "The Outlaws Is Coming" (1965). He played inexperienced gunman Kenneth Cabot, who is helped by The Three Stooges.

paragraphs: In the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, he worked in the movies "Curse of the Moon Child" (1972); "Partizani" (1974), a war movie with Rod Taylor; "The Specialist" (1975); "The Happy Hooker Goes Hollywood" (1980); "One Dark Night" (1983); "Young Lady Chatterley II" (1985); "Zombie Nightmare" (1986); "Night of the Kickfighters" (1988); "Omega Cop" (1990); "Maxim Xul" (1991); "An American Vampire Story" (1997); and "Joyride" (1997).

paragraphs: His last appearances in movies were "Buckaroo: The Movie" (2005) as the Judge, and "Ratko: The Dictator's Son" (2009), as Kostka Volvic.

paragraphs: In 1966, Adam West was chosen to play the role of Batman in the Batman TV series. This show started West to fame. The series was well liked and a movie of the same name was made of it. He put his voice to the animated series "The New Adventures of Batman" (1977), "SuperFriends: The Legendary Super Powers Show" (1985) and "The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians" (1985). His best known voice acting is his work on the animated series "Family Guy", as Mayor West.

paragraphs: Adam starred in a comedy television movie about detectives, "Ace Diamond Private Eye" (1983). The actor also had guest star appearances in many series as "Cheyenne", "Colt 45", "77 Sunset Strip", "Goodyear Theatre", "Bonanza", "The Rifleman", "Mannix", "Police Woman", "Murder, She Wrote", and "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman".

paragraphs: According to the comic books, Batman/Bruce Wayne is 6'2". Of all the actors to play Batman, Adam West is the only actor who stood the same height.


title: Crash Holly

paragraphs: Michael John "Mike" Lockwood (August 25, 1971 – November 6, 2003) was an American professional wrestler who was best known for wrestling with World Wrestling Federation (WWF) under the ring name, Crash Holly. He was a member of the Holly cousins along with Hardcore Holly. He died on November 6, 2003, after committing suicide from mixing prescription medication and alcohol at wrestler Stevie Richards' house.

paragraphs: Lockwood held many championships during his professional wrestling career:


title: Bo Derek

paragraphs: Bo Derek (born Mary Cathleen Collins, November 20, 1956 in Long Beach, California), is an American actress. She was coordinated by spouse John Derek in Fantasies, Tarzan, the Ape Man (both 1981), Bolero (1984) and Ghosts Can't Do It (1989), all of which got negative surveys. A widow since 1998, she lives with entertainer John Corbett. Presently in semi-retirement, she makes periodic film, TV, and narrative appearances.

paragraphs: Derek began her acting career with movies such as "Orca" (1977), and "10" (1979). After the success of "10", she starred in the movies "Fantasies" (1981), "Tarzan, the Ape Man" (1981), "Bolero" (1984), and "Ghosts Can't Do It" (1989). These movies were directed by her husband John Derek.

paragraphs: In the early 1990s, she worked in comedies and low-budget movies such as "Amour et chocolat" (1992) and "Woman of Desire" (1994, with Robert Mitchum).

paragraphs: Derek reappeared in 1995 in the comedy "Tommy Boy" (1995), as Beverly. After "Tommy Boy", she worked on several films: "Sunstorm" (2001), "Frozen with Fear" (2001), "Malibu's Most Wanted" (2003), and "Life in the Balance" (2004).

paragraphs: In the late 1990s, Derek began making appearances on television show "The Drew Carey Show", "Wind on Water", "Family Law", "Queen of Swords".

paragraphs: In the year 2006 she obtained the role of Maria Gianni, in the drama TV series "Fashion House".


title: Spike Dudley

paragraphs: Matthew "Matt" Hyson (born August 13, 1970 in Providence, Rhode Island) is a semi-retired American professional wrestler. He was best known for wrestling with Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) under the ring name, Spike Dudley. He also wrestled for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the ring name, Brother Runt. He was known for being a member of the tag team, "The Dudley Boyz".

paragraphs: Before he started his professional wrestling career, he worked as a third grade teacher’s aide. He is married to his wife Vikki Hyson and they have a daughter named Meadow. He currently works as a financial planner.

paragraphs: Hyson held many championships during his professional wrestling career:


title: Jessica Lange

paragraphs: Jessica Lange (born April 20, 1949) is an American television, movie and stage actress. She was born in Cloquet, Minnesota. Her most notable performances happened in the movies "The Postman Always Rings Twice", "Tootsie" and "Frances" (a movie about Frances Farmer). She starred in many other movies. During her career, she has gotten several awards.


title: Lumbricus terrestris

paragraphs: Lumbricus terrestris is a large reddish worm native to Europe, but now also widely distributed elsewhere around the world (along with several other lumbricids), due to human introductions. In some areas where it has been introduced, some people consider it to be a serious pest species, since it is out-competing locally native worms.

paragraphs: Through much of Europe it is the largest naturally occurring species of earthworm, typically reaching 20 – 25 cm in length when extended (though in parts of southern Europe there are native species which are much larger). It has an unusual habit of copulating on the surface at night, which makes it more visible than most other earthworms.


title: Davey Boy Smith

paragraphs: David Smith (27 November 1962 – 18 May 2002) was an English professional wrestler who was best known for wrestling with World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and World Championship Wrestling (WCW) under the ring names, (The) British Bulldog and Davey Boy Smith. He had a close relationship with the Hart family and was trained in The Hart Dugeon by Stu Hart. Smith died of a heart attack.

paragraphs: Smith held many championships during his professional wrestling career:


title: Glenn Ruth

paragraphs: Glenn Ruth (born June 13, 1969 in Camden, New Jersey) is a retired American professional wrestler who was best known for wrestling with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) under the ring name Thrasher. Ruth was best known as one half of the tag team The Headbangers, along with Mosh.

paragraphs: Ruth held many championships during his professional wrestling career:


title: Charles Warrington

paragraphs: Glenn Ruth (born May 28, 1971 in Cherry Hill, New Jersey) is a retired American professional wrestler who was best known for wrestling with World Wrestling Federation (WWF) under the ring names, Chaz and Mosh. Warringon was also one half of the tag team, The Headbangers, along with Thrasher.

paragraphs: He is currently a Sales Director for DEX Imaging in Tampa, Florida. He also plays outfield for the nationally-ranked Fort Lauderdale professional kickball team "The Meatballs".

paragraphs: Warrington held many championships during his professional wrestling career:


title: Joel McCrea

paragraphs: Joel McCrea (November 12, 1905 – October 10, 1990) was an American actor.

paragraphs: His career began in the late 1920s in movies such as The Fair Co-Ed (1927) and The Five O'Clock Girl (1928).

paragraphs: He had a starring role in the Western movie Wells Fargo (1937) and Union Pacific (1939). Those movies turned McCrea, into a prominent actor in westerns, from that moment he would never stop starring in Westerns. In another of his classics, Buffalo Bill (1944), he plays the legendary buffalo hunter. His other successful role was of "The Virginian" in The Virginian (1946). He was directed by renowned director Raoul Walsh in Colorado Territory (1949), he plays an outlaw who plans to rob the railroad.

paragraphs: In the 1950's, he starred in some interesting western movie as The San Francisco Story (1952), Border River (1954), and the Classic Wichita (1955), by Jacques Tourneur, The Gunfight at Dodge City (1959), as Bat Masterson.

paragraphs: One of his best movies, was with the actor Randolph Scott in Ride the High Country (1962) by Sam Peckinpah. His last movies were The Young Rounders (1966) - Sioux Nation (1970) - Cry Blood, Apache (1970) and Mustang Country (1976).

paragraphs: In 1960 Joel McCrea, was hired by NBC Television, for the role of Marshal Mike Dunbar, in the series Wichita Town for 26 episodes. Marshal Mike Dunbar, is tough, imposing law and order in the wild town of Wichita. Joel McCrea was one of the few stars in Hollywood, starring in a television series.


title: Oliver Hardy

paragraphs: Oliver Hardy (January 18, 1892 - August 7, 1957) was an American comedian, actor and director.

paragraphs: Born in Harlem, Georgia, U.S.. His solo career includes the short films Outwitting Dad (1914), Cupid's Target (1915), A Maid to Order (1916), The Fly Cop (1917), The Midnight Cabaret (1923), They All Fall (1925). He leaps to fame when he formed a duo with Stan Laurel, they formed the most successful comedy groups of all time. Laurel and Hardy shot many short films and feature much success Hats Off (1927), They Go Boom! (1929). One of his best films was The Midnight Patrol (1934), where two police officers. And the classics of comedy as Sons of the Desert (1933), Way Out West (1937), The Flying Deuces (1939), Saps at Sea (1940), are of the best comedy of all time.

paragraphs: Oliver Hardy also worked with John Wayne in western, The Fighting Kentuckian (1949), and Bing Crosby in Frank Capra film Riding High (1950).


title: Loni Anderson

paragraphs: Loni Kaye Anderson (born August 5, 1946, St. Paul, Minnesota) is an American actress. She is best known for playing Jennifer Marlowe in the sitcom "WKRP in Cincinnati". She was married to Burt Reynolds from 1988 to 1993.


title: Vampiro

paragraphs: Ian Richard Hodgkinson (born May 31, 1967 in Thunder Bay, Ontario) is a semi-retired Canadian professional wrestler that currently wrestles for Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (AAA).

paragraphs: He is probably best known for wrestling with Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre in the early 1990s and with World Championship Wrestling (WCW) under the ring name, Vampiro.

paragraphs: He currently serves as the head of the Guardian Angels' chapter in Mexico City.

paragraphs: On April 12, 2019, Hodgkinson was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

paragraphs: Vampiro has held many championships during his professional wrestling career:


title: Eartha Kitt

paragraphs: Eartha Kitt (January 17, 1927 – December 25, 2008) was an American singer and songwriter who had many hit songs. She was also an actress. Kitt died of colorectal cancer in Weston, Connecticut. She was the first musician to record the song "Santa Baby".

paragraphs: Kitt was born on a cotton plantation in North, South Carolina. She lived there for the first 7 years of her life, but when she turned 8 years old her family moved to the Harlem neighborhood of New York City. While she lived in New York she attended the High School of Performing Arts. In 1943, while she was in New York, she started her career as part of the Katherine Dunham Company, a dance group founded by famous singer/dancer named Katherine Dunham. Along with Dunham, Eartha performed in Egypt, France, Greece, Turkey, New York, Las Vegas and Hollywood. She acted in the movie "Casbah" in 1948. It was her first role in a movie. In 1960 a star was put for her in the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2000 she did the voice of Yzma in "The Emperor's New Groove".

paragraphs: Eartha Kitt was on Broadway a couple of times in plays like "New Faces" and "Timbuktu". She was also in many different movies, some of which are Synanon, The Mark of the Hawk, All by Myself and Accused. She made many different appearances on shows such as Colgate Comedy Hour, Batman, The Ed Sullivan Show, I Spy and Police Woman.

paragraphs: In her later years Eartha Kitt wrote four different memoirs. The first was called "Thursday's Child", The second was called "Tart is Not a Sweet", the third was called "Alone With Me", The last one was called "I’m Still Here; Confessions of a Sex Kitten". Eartha Kitt died on Christmas Day, 2008 in Weston, Connecticut.


title: Morganucodon

paragraphs: Morganucodon is an early mammaliaform genus. It lived during the latest Upper Triassic or earliest Jurassic.

paragraphs: Unlike many other early mammals, "Morganucodon" is known from abundant and well preserved material. Most of this comes from Glamorgan in Wales ("Morganucodon watsoni").

paragraphs: According to Kemp, it is impossible to say whether the rock fissures (cracks), where the remains were found, are latest Triassic or earliest Jurassic.

paragraphs: "Morganucodon" first appeared about 205 million years ago. "It was a small animal with a skull 2-3 cm in length and a body length of about 10 cm [4 inches]. In general appearance it would have looked like a shrew or mouse".

paragraphs: Fossils have also been found in the Yunnan Province in China ("Morganucodon oehleri"), in various parts of Europe and North America and some at least closely related animals ("Megazostrodon") are known from exquisite fossils from South Africa.

paragraphs: From their size and teeth, they may have been insectivores.

paragraphs: The small size suggests some kind of temperature regulation, which in turn suggests insulation in the form of fur. Nocturnal activity in an animal of this size virtually requires an increased internal production of heat.

paragraphs: Brain size is another factor. It is certain that early mammals did have enlarged brains relative to their size. Reconstructions of the brain size has shown this. Apparently, brain size in Mesozoic mammals lay within the lower range of brain size for living mammals. This is an overall increase of four or more times the volume of basal amniote brains. Very likely this involved the development of the neocortex, "one of the most striking of all mammalian characteristics".

paragraphs: There has been a long controversy about whether or not to classify it as a mammal. Some prefer to include it in a broader clade called Mammaliaformes.

paragraphs: "Morganucodon" is regarded as very basal (= primitive). Its lower jaw has some of the bones found in its synapsid ancestors in a very reduced form. Mammals have a jawbone composed solely of the dentary.

paragraphs: The primitive jaw joint between the articular and quadrate bones is still found in "Morganucodon". In modern mammals these bones moved into the middle ear and become part of the ear ossicles as malleus and incus, "Morganucodon" is unusual because, apart from still having the primitive hinge, it has also evolved the derived mammalian one and so has a double jaw joint.

paragraphs: Its tooth replacement and determinate growth, are mammalian features. Earlier synapsids replace their teeth throughout life, as sauropsids also do. This is known as "polyphyodonty", while mammals grow only two sets of teeth, in "diphyodonty".


title: Castle Vale Estate

paragraphs: Castle Vale is a housing estate near Erdington, northeast of Birmingham city centre, in England. The area has about 10,000 people. It has modern homes because a lot of new houses were built after World War II. It is known as a postwar overspill estate.

paragraphs: The area was originally known as Berwood, from the Saxon 'Bearu' meaning 'the woods'. Historically the area was a boggy and wooded area, and development only started when Edward Darcy began cutting down the trees in the 17th century and the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal was built in the 18th century. In the 20th century, the land became the site for the first aeroplane take-off in Birmingham which led to a long aviation history being associated with the area. Castle Bromwich Aerodrome was established on the site and operated from 1914 to 1960, being a major airfield in both World Wars and also having industrial importance as the testing facility for locally manufactured airplanes and the location for the British Industries Fair.

paragraphs: Castle Vale became infamous from the 1970s onwards as a large scale example of a failed postwar overspill estate, which suffered from poor construction and maintenance, social deprivation and high levels of crime. The area became the focus of a targeted regeneration initiative, led by the Castle Vale Housing Action Trust (CVHAT) from 1993 to 2005, where the estate witnessed the demolition of many of its houses and facilities, the repair of remaining properties, and the construction of new housing and facilities along with the remodelling of the estate, funded both privately and publicly. It is now hailed as an example of a successful community-led regeneration scheme.


title: Mahayana

paragraphs: Mahayana (, "mahāyāna", literally the "Great Vehicle") is one of the two main branches of Buddhism. Mahayana Buddhism is from India. Zen is a kind of Mahayana that is influenced by Confucianism.


title: Tritylodont

paragraphs: Tritylodonts were small to medium-sized mammal-like cynodonts. They varied in size from a rabbit to a beaver.

paragraphs: They were the last family of the non-mammalian synapsids. One of the last cynodont lines to appear, the family Tritylodontidae descended from a "Cynognathus"-like cynodont. Their teeth had three cusps (bumps) which gave them their name.

paragraphs: The tritylodonts were herbivorous, chewing through vegetation, such as stems, leaves, and roots. Tritylodonts have no canine teeth, just incisors and cheek teeth. The jaw worked by grinding forward and backwards, shredding the food between the ridges of the teeth.

paragraphs: They were the longest surviving of all the non-mammalian therapsids. They appeared in the latest Triassic period, and persisted through the Jurassic until the middle of the Cretaceous. This shows that the tritylodonts were a successful group of therapsids, even though they lived right beneath the ruling dinosaurs' feet, so to speak.

paragraphs: It is very clear that the tritylodonts were warm-blooded. The tritylodont fossils were found in the Americas, South Africa, and Eurasia. They may have managed to live worldwide, including Antarctica.

paragraphs: There are quite a few parallels between these tritylodonts (which are outside the mammal line) and multituberculates, which are mammals. The tritylodonts had no competition in the Jurassic, because all the other mammal-like types were either carnivores or insectivores. Kermack's conclusion is that when the multituberculates appeared (middle Jurssic) they were in direct competition, and eventually they out-competed the earlier group, and replaced it.


title: August Belmont

paragraphs: August Belmont, Sr. (8 December 1813–24 November 1890) was born in Alzey, Hesse, to a Jewish family. He emigrated to New York City in 1837 when he became the American representative of the Rothschild family's banking house in Frankfurt. Later he became an American citizen, and married Caroline Slidell Perry, daughter of Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry.

paragraphs: August Belmont was born on December 8, 1813—some sources say 1816—to Simon and Frederika Elsass Schönberg. His mother died when he was seven, and he went live with his uncle and grandmother in Frankfurt. He attended the Jewish Junior and Senior High School until he began his first job as an apprentice to the Rothschilds. He would sweep floors, polish furniture, and run errands while studying English, arithmetic, and writing. He was then given a confidential clerkship in 1832 and promoted to private secretary before travelling to Naples, Paris, and Rome. In 1837, Belmont travelled to Havana to manage the Rothschild's Cuban interests. On his way to Havana, however, Belmont stopped in New York. He arrived there during the Panic of 1837 and stayed to look afte Rothschild's interests there instead of continuing on to Havana. After he emigrated to the United States, he changed his surname, Schönberg (German for "beautiful mountain"), to Belmont (French for "beautiful mountain").

paragraphs: In the Panic of 1837, hundreds of American businesses, including the Rothschild's American agents, went bankrupt. As a result, Belmont postponed his departure to Havana and began August Belmont & Company, believing that he could supplant the recently bankrupt firm, the American Agency. August Belmont and Company was an instant success, and Belmont restored health to the Rothschild's US interests over the next five years. In 1844, Belmont was named the Consul-General of Austria at New York City. He resigned in 1850 because he thought Austria was cruel in the way it treated Hungary.

paragraphs: Belmont married Caroline Slidell Perry, the daughter of Matthew Calbraith Perry, on 7 November 1849. Soon, John Slidell, his wife's uncle, starting helping Belmont. Belmont's first task was to campaign for James Buchanan in New York. In June, 1851, Belmont wrote letters to the "New York Herald" and the "New York National-Democrat", insisting that they do justice to Buchanan's presidential run. But Franklin Pierce won the nomination instead, and Belmont made large contributions to the Democratic Party. After his victory, Pierce in 1853 appointed Belmont "chargé d'affaires" and minister to The Hague. While in Holland, Belmont urged American annexation of Cuba as a new slave state in what became known as the Ostend Manifesto.

paragraphs: Though Belmont lobbied hard for it, Buchanan denied him the ambassadorship to Spain after his election in 1856, thanks to the Ostend Manifesto. As a delegate to the 1860 Democratic National Convention, Belmont supported Stephen A. Douglas, who subsequently named Belmont chairman of the Democratic National Committee. Belmont energetically supported the Union cause during the Civil War as a War Democrat, helping Missouri congressman Francis P. Blair raise and equip the Union army's first mainly German-American regiment. Belmont also used his influence with European business and political leaders to support the Union cause in the American civil war, stopping the Rothschilds and other bankers from lending to the Confederacy and meeting personally with the British prime minister, Lord Palmerston, and members of Napoleon III’s government.

paragraphs: Belmont stayed as chairman of the Democratic National Committee after the war, but he thought it was the worst ever time for the party. As early as 1862, Belmont and Samuel Tilden bought stock in the "New York World" in order to make it publish stories supporting the Democrats, with the help of Manton M. Marble, its editor-in-chief.

paragraphs: The Republican party was divided at the war’s end, so Belmont organized new party gatherings and tried to get Salmon Chase elected president in 1868. He thought Chase was least vulnerable to charges of disloyalty to the party during the Republican Lincoln-Johnson administrations.

paragraphs: Horatio Seymour’s became the democratic candidate instead, and lost to Ulysses S. Grant by a lot of Electoral College votes, although the popular vote was much closer. In 1872 the Democrats supported liberal Republican Horace Greeley's disastrous presidential campaign. The election of 1872 prompted Belmont to resign as chairman of the Democratic National Committee, but he stayed interested in politics as a champion of US Senator Thomas F. Bayard of Delaware for the presidency, and as a fierce critic of the process granting Rutherford B. Hayes the presidency in 1877, and as an advocate of “hard money.”

paragraphs: Belmont died in New York in 1890. The "Letters, Speeches and Addresses of August Belmont" was published at New York in 1890. Belmont left an estate valued at more than ten million dollars. He is buried in Newport, Rhode Island.

paragraphs: Belmont's sons were Oliver Hazard Perry Belmont, Perry Belmont, and August Belmont, Jr..

paragraphs: August Belmont threw lavish balls and dinner parties, receiving from New York's high society mixed reviews.

paragraphs: He was an avid sportsman, and the famed Belmont Stakes thoroughbred horse race is named in his honour. It debuted at Jerome Park Racetrack, owned by Belmont's friend, Leonard Jerome. Today The Belmont Stakes is part of thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown and takes place at Belmont Racetrack in New York.

paragraphs: Also named in Belmont's honor is the town of Belmont, New Hampshire, an honor Mr. Belmont never acknowledged. Edith Wharton reputedly modeled the character of Julius Beaufort in "The Age of Innocence" on Belmont.

paragraphs: Ham mousseline à la Belmont was created in his honour by Charles Ranhofer at Delmonico's.


title: Parmigiana

paragraphs: Parmigiana is a Southern Italian dish made with a shallow-fried sliced filling, with cheese and tomato sauce on top, then baked. Eggplant parmigiana is the earliest version. Other kinds made with breaded meat cutlets, such as veal and chicken parmigiana, are popular in other countries, usually in areas with a lot of Italian immigrants.

paragraphs: The dish is claimed by both Campania and Sicily. While "parmigiana" means "from Parma" (in Northern Italy), the dish is not part of Parma food. It is based on melanzane alla parmigiana (alt. parmigiana di melanzane) or eggplant parmigiana (or eggplant Parmesan), a classic Southern Italian dish.

paragraphs: Along with the many Italian versions, different kinds of Parmigiana have been developed across the world, most often in countries where large numbers of Italians immigrated. Examples of dishes developed outside of Italy from the early parmigianas include veal (Veal Parmigiana) or chicken breast (Chicken Parmigiana) dipped in beaten eggs, breaded, shallow-fried and topped with a marinara sauce (red Sicilian tomato sauce) and mozzarella. It is then usually baked until the cheese is bubbly and brown. The veal dish is known in Italian as "Cotolette alla Bolognese".

paragraphs: "Parmigiana" is also used as an adjective in the names of other unrelated dishes from Parma food, such as "Trippa alla Parmigiana" (Parma-style tripe).

paragraphs: The dish consists of a sliced filling pan fried in oil, layered with tomato sauce and cheese, and baked in an oven. In some kinds, the sliced filling is first dipped in beaten eggs and covered in flour or breadcrumbs before frying. Some recipes use hard grated cheeses such as Parmesan or Pecorino Romano, while others use softer melting cheeses like Mozzarella or Caciocavallo, or a combination of these.

paragraphs: In the United States and Canada, veal parmigiana or chicken parmigiana is commonly served as a grinder or a submarine sandwich. It is also popular with a side of or on top of pasta. Diced onions or green bell peppers, sautéed or raw, are sometimes added.

paragraphs: Chicken or veal parmigiana has become very popular in Australia as a pub dish, often served with chips and salad. It may also contain a lot of toppings, including sliced ham or fried eggplant slices. This dish is often referred to as a "parma" or "parmi", a simple shortening of the name.

paragraphs: A similar dish, the Parmo, which uses either pork or chicken, has been made within the country of England.

paragraphs: There are several theories for the origin of the name "parmigiana".

paragraphs: One common theory says the name is from Parmigiano-Reggiano (Parmesan cheese).

paragraphs: Another theory says the name is an alteration of the Sicilian word "parmiciana":

paragraphs: This is an ancient Sicilian dish which, in all cookbooks, is erroneously stated as obtaining its name from Parmesan cheese, which is one of the ingredients. Nothing could be further from the truth. The name "parmigiana" does not derive from that of the cheese but is the Italianization of the Sicilian dialectal word "parmiciana", which refers to the slats of wood which compose the central part of a shutter and overlap in the same manner as the slices of eggplant in the dish."

paragraphs: As with Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, the word "Parmigiana" is often rendered as "Parmesan" in English-speaking countries, from the French word for "from Parma."


title: Veal

paragraphs: Veal is the meat of young cattle (calves), as opposed to beef from older cattle. Though veal can be made from a calf of either sex and any breed, most veal comes from male calves of dairy cattle breeds. Veal has a tender texture.

paragraphs: Veal has been an important ingredient in Italian and French cuisine since ancient times. The veal is often in the form of cutlets, such as the Italian cotoletta or the famous Austrian dish Wiener Schnitzel. Some classic French veal dishes include: fried escalopes, fried veal Grenadines (small thick fillet steaks), stuffed paupiettes, roast joints and blanquettes. As veal is lower in fat than many meats, care must be taken in preparation to ensure that it does not become tough. Veal is often coated in preparation for frying or eaten with a sauce. Veal Parmigiana is a common Italian-American dish consisting of breaded veal cutlets.

paragraphs: Veal is a controversial issue in terms of animal welfare.

paragraphs: Many animal welfare groups, who strongly focus on factory farming, try to educate consumers about several veal production procedures that they consider to be inhumane. This education has been successful in creating pressure on the industry, resulting in recently announced changes in the methods used by the veal industry.

paragraphs: A strong animal welfare movement about veal started in the 1980s with the release of photographs of veal calves tied up in crates where they could barely move. After people saw these photographs, people started buying less veal. They have not started buying more again.

paragraphs: Many veal farmers listened to the concern of their customers and have started improving conditions in their veal farms.

paragraphs: The American Veal Association has announced they plan to stop the use of crates by 2017, which is often the main focus of controversy in veal farming. Strauss Brands is the first veal packer in the US to raise veal calves completely tether free and group raised since December 31, 2008.

paragraphs: Though a lot of people think the crates are bad because the calves can't move much and get sick, the Veal Quality Assurance Program & Veal Issues Management Program industry fact sheet, and the Ontario Veal Association say the crates are important for keeping out diseases and keeping the calves from getting hurt. They also state that it lets veal farmers provide more personal attention to veal calves.

paragraphs: Other uses for male dairy calves include raising bob veal (slaughter at 2 or 3 days old), raising calves as "red veal" without the harsh food restrictions needed to create pale meat (resulting in fewer antibiotic treatments and fewer slaughtered calves), and as dairy beef.

paragraphs: When it comes to the centuries-old method of free raised veal, calves never experience the stress of confinement, separation from their mothers and herd-mates, or an unnatural diet. Many veal producers are realizing this, and the demand for free raised veal is rapidly increasing.

paragraphs: In 2007, less than 5% of veal calves were raised in a group environment. In 2009, this had increased to 35%.

paragraphs: The following shows where veal crates have been banned, or are currently in the process of being banned:

paragraphs: Veal crates became illegal in the UK in 1990, and a full ban has been placed for the entire European Union, as of 2007. Switzerland, with its substantial dairy industry, continues to use crates.

paragraphs: Veal calf production as such is not allowed in many Northern European countries, such as in Finland. In Finland it is illegal to give an animal food the caretaker knows is bad for it, and it is also illegal to not give the animal enough food.

paragraphs: Crates are slowly being banned in the United States. As stated above, several large veal producers are working on getting rid of veal crates, as well as the American Veal Association.

paragraphs: State-by-state veal crate bans are as follows:


title: Hyssop

paragraphs: Hyssop ("Hyssopus") is a genus of about 10-12 species of herbaceous or semi-woody plants in the family Lamiaceae, native from the east Mediterranean to central Asia. They are aromatic, with upright branched stems up to 60 cm long covered with fine hairs at the tips. The leaves are narrow ovals, 2–5 cm long. The small blue flowers are on the upper part of the branches during summer. By far the best-known species is the Herb Hyssop ("H. officinalis"), widely grown outside its native area in the Mediterranean.

paragraphs: Note that anise hyssop, "Agastache foeniculum" (also called blue giant hyssop) is a very different plant and not a close relation although both are in the mint family. Anise hyssop is native to much of north-central and northern North America.

paragraphs: The name 'hyssop' can be traced back almost unchanged through the Greek word ("hyssopos") and Hebrew word ("ezov"). The Book of Exodus in the Bible records that the blood of the sacrifices was applied to the doorposts using hyssop on the night of Passover. Its vomit-inducing properties are also mentioned in the Book of Psalms. In the New Testament, a sponge soaked in sour wine or vinegar was stuck on a branch of hyssop and offered to Jesus of Nazareth on the cross just before he died. Both Matthew and Mark mention this but refer to the plant using the general term ("kalamos"), which is translated as "reed" or "stick."

paragraphs: The seeds are planted in spring and the seedlings planted out 40–50 cm apart. Hyssop can also be propagated from cuttings or root division in spring or autumn. Hyssop should be grown in full sun on well-drained soil, and will benefit from occasional clipping. It does not live long, and the plants need to be replaced every few years. It is good for use as a low hedge or border within an herb garden.

paragraphs: Hyssop also has uses in the garden. It is said to be a good companion plant to cabbage because it will deter the Cabbage White butterfly. It has also "been found to improve the yield from grapevines if planted along the rows, particularly if the terrain is rocky or sandy, and the soil is not as easy to work as it might be." Hyssop is said to be bad for radishes, and they should not be grown nearby. Hyssop also attracts bees, hoverflies and butterflies, and so has a place in the wild garden as well as being useful in controlling pests and encouraging pollination without the use of unnatural methods.

paragraphs: Hyssop leaves can be preserved by drying. They should be picked on a dry day at the peak of their maturity and the amount of active ingredients is highest. They should be dried quickly, away from bright sunlight in order to keep their aromatic ingredients and prevent oxidation of other chemicals. Good air circulation is required, such as an airing cupboard with the door left open, or a sunny room, aiming for a temperature of 20-32°C. Hyssop leaves should dry out in about six days, any longer and they will begin to discolor and lose their flavor. The dried leaves are stored in clean, dry, airtight containers, and will keep for 12–18 months.

paragraphs: Hyssop is used as a food plant by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Cabbage Moth.

paragraphs: Hyssop is used as an ingredient in eau de Cologne and the liqueur Chartreuse. It is also used to color the alcohol Absinthe, along with the Melissa plant and Roman wormwood. Hyssop is also used, usually in combination with other herbs such as liquorice, in herbal remedies, especially for lung conditions. Hyssop also kills bacteria, makes capillaries stronger, and reduces inflammation. It can help with about 81 different illnesses including cancer, bronchitis, insomnia, edema, colds, etc. When eaten in extract or tea form it gets rid of mucus in the respiratory tract, which relieves congestion, can regulate blood pressure, and can dispel gas. It also helps with circulatory problems, epilepsy, fever, gout, and weight problems. Poultices can be made from fresh hyssop to help heal wounds. It should not be used during pregnancy.

paragraphs: Hyssop is a sacred plant used in Judaism. It appears a lot in the Hebrew Bible as Ezov. In Exodus 12:22 the Jews in Egypt are instructed to ""Take a bunch of hyssop, dip it into the blood in the basin and put some of the blood on the top and on both sides of the doorframe. Not one of you shall go out the door of his house until morning."" It is used by the priests in the Temple of Solomon for purification rites of various kinds in Leviticus 14:4-7, 14:49-52, 19:6, 18. Hyssop is also often used to fill the Catholic ceremonial Aspergillum, which the priest dips into a bowl of holy water, and sprinkles onto the congregation to bless them. However, researchers say that the Biblical accounts refer not to the plant currently known as hyssop. It might actually be one of a number of different herbs.

paragraphs: The Talmud calls the hyssop אברתא and considers it to be an herbal remedy for indigestion.

paragraphs: Hyssop leaves have a slightly bitter minty flavor and can be added to soups, salads or meats, but it should be used sparingly as the flavour is very strong.