title: Queen Letizia of Spain

paragraphs: Queen Letizia of Spain ("Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano", born 15 September 1972), is the wife of Felipe VI of Spain, former Prince of Asturias, the heir apparent to the Spanish throne. Before her marriage to the prince, she worked as a journalist for several mass media companies. These included the Austrian newspaper "La Nueva España", "ABC" and EFE. She also presented the news on television. In 2000, she received the Larra Prize for her work as the best journalist under 30 years of age.

paragraphs: In 1998, she married Alfonso Guerrero. The next year they divorced. Later she met the Prince Felipe at a dinner party. They married on May 22, 2004. Their daughter Leonor was born in October 2005. She is the second in the line of succession for the Spanish Crown. Sofía, her second daughter, was born in April 2007.

paragraphs: Since her second wedding, she has had the title of Princess of Asturias. She accompanies her husband on official travel wherever she can. She very much likes fashion. People and the press are always noticing what she wearing.

paragraphs: Following the abdication of her father-in-law in June 2014, her husband succeeded to the Spanish throne as Felipe VI with Letizia as his queen.


title: Gianfrancesco Straparola

paragraphs: Giovanni Francesco "Gianfrancesco" Straparola (c. 1480 – c. 1557) was a writer from Caravaggio, Italy. His principal work is "Le piacevoli notti", a collection of 75 stories. Modelled on Decamerone, it has participants of a 13-night party in the island of Murano, near Venice, tell each other stories that vary from the bawdy to the fantastic.


title: Oshima Province

paragraphs: The boundaries of this ancient province are generally mirrored in what are today called Oshima Subprefecture and Hiyama Subprefecture.

paragraphs: After 1869, the northern Japanese island was known as Hokkaido. Regional subdivisions were established. Oshima Province was one of the new entities which were created in 1869.

paragraphs: In the Meiji period, the provinces of Japan were converted into prefectures. The maps of Japan including Oshima Province were reformed in the 1870s.

paragraphs: In 1882, Oshima and the other ten provinces of Hokkaido were reorganized as Hakodate Prefecture, Sapporo Prefecture and Nemuro Prefecture.


title: Diamonds and Toads

paragraphs: "Diamonds and Toads" () is a fairy tale by Charles Perrault. It first appeared in a handwritten and illustrated manuscript in 1695 called "Contes de ma mêre l'oye" (). The volume was intended for the king's niece, and included four other tales by Perrault. It was first published in Paris in 1697 by Claude Barbin in "Histoires ou contes du temps passé" (), a collection of eight prose fairy tales by Perrault. "Le Doie Pizzelle" () is a similar tale in Giambattista Basile's "Pentamerone" (1550-53). Other versions of Perrault's tale exist, including one collected in Hesse by the Brothers Grimm. Iona and Peter Opie write, "The theme of this tale is one of the most popular in the world, that of the proud and the privileged being brought low, and the meek and down-trodden being raised above them." Christopher Betts believes the tale was intended for a young audience, "old enough to appreciate that the unkind sister is 'rude' ... but not enough to object to the scarcely disguised nannyish advice."

paragraphs: A widow has two daughters. The elder is ugly and rude. The younger is beautiful and polite. The younger is sent to fetch water from a spring. An old woman dressed in rags (a fairy in disguise) asks for a drink of water. The girl politely gives her one. In thanks, the fairy causes diamonds and roses to drop from the girl's mouth whenever she speaks. At home, her mother is amazed. She sends her elder daughter to the spring. The girl meets a grandly-dressed lady (the fairy) who asks for a drink of water. The girl responds rudely. The fairy causes snakes and toads to drop from her mouth. At home, her mother is furious. She blames the younger sister. The girl runs into the woods. She meets a prince who falls in love and marries her. The elder sister dies after running away from home. A rhyming moral tells the reader that politeness and gentle words are worth more than jewels. They may bring unexpected rewards.

paragraphs: Illustrations of the tale by Laura Vlentine fr "Aunt Louisa's Nursery Favorite" (1870).


title: Shiribeshi Province

paragraphs: The boundaries of this ancient province are generally mirrored in what are today called Shiribeshi Subprefecture and the northern part of Hiyama Subprefecture.

paragraphs: After 1869, the northern Japanese island was known as Hokkaido. Regional subdivisions were established. Shiribeshi Province was one of the new entities which were created in 1869.

paragraphs: In the Meiji period, the provinces of Japan were converted into prefectures. The maps of Japan including Shiribeshi Province were reformed in the 1870s.

paragraphs: In 1882, Shiribeshi and the other ten provinces of Hokkaido were reorganized as Hakodate Prefecture, Sapporo Prefecture and Nemuro Prefecture.


title: About Schmidt

paragraphs: About Schmidt is a 2002 American comedy-drama movie set in Nebraska and Colorado. It was directed by Alexander Payne and starred Jack Nicholson.


title: Teshio Province

paragraphs: The boundaries of this ancient province are generally mirrored in what is today called Rumoi Subprefecture and the northern half of Kamikawa Subprefecture.

paragraphs: After 1869, the northern Japanese island was known as Hokkaido. Regional subdivisions were established. Teshio Province was one of the new entities which were created in 1869.

paragraphs: In the Meiji period, the provinces of Japan were converted into prefectures. The maps of Japan including Teshio Province were reformed in the 1870s.

paragraphs: In 1882, Teshio and the other ten provinces of Hokkaido were reorganized as Hakodate Prefecture, Sapporo Prefecture and Nemuro Prefecture.


title: Hop o' My Thumb

paragraphs: "Hop o' My Thumb" (French: Le petit Poucet) is a fairy tale by Charles Perrault. It was first published in 1697 in Paris by Claude Barbin in "Histoires ou contes du temps passé" (Stories or Tales of Past Times), a collection of eight fairy tales by Perrault. The story tells of several brothers abandoned by their parents. The smallest brother is the same size as a person's thumb. He saves his brothers from an ogre. Perrault's rhyming moral at the end of the story tells readers that sometimes the smallest boy in the family brings good things to all.


title: Tokachi Province

paragraphs: The boundaries of this ancient province are generally mirrored in what is today called Tokachi Subprefecture.

paragraphs: After 1869, the northern Japanese island was known as Hokkaido. Regional subdivisions were established. Tokachi Province was one of the new entities which were created in 1869.

paragraphs: In the Meiji period, the provinces of Japan were converted into prefectures. The maps of Japan including Tokachi Province were reformed in the 1870s.

paragraphs: In 1882, Tokachi and the other ten provinces of Hokkaido were reorganized as Hakodate Prefecture, Sapporo Prefecture and Nemuro Prefecture.


title: Grenade (song)

paragraphs: "Grenade" is a song by the singer and songwriter Bruno Mars. It was released in September 2010. Critical reception was mostly positive. The song reached #1 in many countries. "Grenade" is a heartbreak single about masochism during love relationships.


title: Sleeping Beauty (1959 movie)

paragraphs: Sleeping Beauty (1959) is an American animated movie produced by Walt Disney Productions and released to movie theaters by Buena Vista Distribution. It is based on the 1697 fairy tale "The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood" by Charles Perrault. The movie was directed by Les Clark, Eric Larson, and Wolfgang Reitherman, under the supervision of Clyde Geronimi. Additional story work was provided by Joe Rinaldi, Winston Hibler, Bill Peet, Ted Sears, Ralph Wright, and Milt Banta.

paragraphs: The movie's musical score and songs are arrangements or adaptations of material from the 1890 "Sleeping Beauty" ballet by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Buena Vista Distribution released the movie to theaters on November 11, 1959. It was the first animated movie to be photographed in the Technirama widescreen process. The movie was presented in Super Technirama 70 and 6-channel stereophonic sound in first-run engagements.

paragraphs: The movie generated mixed reviews from critics. They thought the movie was slow-paced and lacked character development. "Sleeping Beauty" earned approximately $7.7 million in box office rentals. Its production costs totaled $6 million, making it the most expensive Disney movie to that date. The high production costs of the movie resulted in the company posting its first annual loss in a decade for fiscal year 1960, and many animators were laid off.


title: Cupid's Chokehold

paragraphs: "Cupid's Chokehold" is a song by the rap group Gym Class Heroes. It was released twice. The first time was in 2005. The second time was in 2007. The single became a hit song around 2007. It contains samples of the song "Breakfast in America" by the group Supertramp. Patrick Stump sings on it. The song reached #4 on US record charts. It reached #3 in the United Kingdom and Canada.


title: Emily Deschanel

paragraphs: Emily Erin Deschanel (born October 11, 1976) is an American actress, movie producer and television producer. She is best known for her role as the main character in the television series "Bones".

paragraphs: Deschanel was born in Los Angeles, California. She is of French, Swiss, Dutch, Irish and English ancestry. She is the elder daughter of Caleb Deschanel and Mary Jo Deschanel (nee Weir). Her sister is actress Zooey Deschanel.

paragraphs: Deschanel married David Hornsby in 2010. The couple's son was born in 2011.


title: Gilles de Rais

paragraphs: Gilles de Rais (1405 ?–26 October 1440) was a Marshal of France, Joan of Arc's comrade in arms, and a murderer. He was the son of Guy de Laval/Rais and Marie de Craon. He became rich when a relative died. He was made a Marshal of France in 1429. He spent much of his money putting on a play that he wrote. He dabbled in alchemy. His criminal career began in 1434. In 1440, he was arrested, tried, and hanged. De Rais may have killed 140 people. Most of his victims were young boys. He may have been the inspiration for the 1697 fairy tale "Bluebeard" by Charles Perrault.


title: Ligeia

paragraphs: "Ligeia" is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe. It was first published in "The American Museum" in 1838. It was revised and reprinted many times during Poe's lifetime.

paragraphs: The story tells of an unnamed narrator's beautiful wife Ligeia. She composes the poem "The Conqueror Worm" before dying. The narrator then marries the Lady Rowena. She shortly sickens and dies. The narrator stays with her body overnight. She comes back from the dead as Ligeia.

paragraphs: Criticism was positive. Charles Eames of "The New World" wrote, "The force and boldness of the conception and the high artistic skill, with which the writer's purpose is wrought out, are equally admirable." Thomas Dunn English wrote in October 1845 that "Ligeia" was "the most extraordinary, of its kind, of his productions".

paragraphs: In 1964, director Roger Corman adapted the story to a movie, "The Tomb of Ligeia", starring Vincent Price.


title: The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar

paragraphs: "The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar" is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe. It was first published in 1845. The tale tells of a dying, mesmerized man whose body disintegrates once the trance is lifted. Poe was inspired to write the tale after reading a description of an operation performed upon a mesmerized patient. The tale has a great deal of gore, leading to the speculation that Poe had studied medical texts. "Valdemar" has been adapted to the movies and to radio drama.

paragraphs: The narrator mesmerizes an ill friend, M. Valdemar. Valdemar reports first that he is dying and then that he is dead. The narrator leaves him in a mesmeric state for seven months. During this time Valdemar is without pulse, heartbeat, or breath. His skin is cold and pale. Finally, the narrator tries to wake him. Valdemar's swollen black tongue begs to be returned to sleep or to be fully wakened. He shouts "dead! dead!" repeatedly. The narrator takes Valdemar out of the trance and his body immediately disintegrates into a "nearly liquid mass of loathsome—of detestable putrescence."

paragraphs: Poe was inspired to write "Valdemar" after reading a letter about an operation on a mesmerized patient. The tale was published in December 1845 in two different New York journals. One used the title "The Facts in M. Valdemar's Case". In England, the tale was published first as "Mesmerism in Articulo Mortis" and later as "The Last Days of M. Valdemar".

paragraphs: Poe employs detailed descriptions and high levels of gore in "Valdemar". He may have studied medical texts. Valdemar's eyes at one point leak a "profuse outflowing of a yellowish ichor", for example. The tale's imagery is summed up in the final lines: "...his whole frame at once — within the space of a single minute, or even less, shrunk—crumbled—absolutely rotted away beneath my hands. Upon the bed, before that whole company, there lay a nearly liquid mass of loathsome—of detestable putrescence." The disgusting imagery probably inspired later fiction including that of H. P. Lovecraft. Those final lines make up one of the most powerfully effective moments in Poe's work, incorporating shock, disgust, and uneasiness into one moment. This ending shows that attempts to appropriate power over death will have hideous results and, therefore, ultimately will be unsuccessful.

paragraphs: Movie adaptations include a segment in Roger Corman's "Tales of Terror" (1962) and George A. Romero's "Two Evil Eyes" (1990). "Edgar Allan Poe's Valdemar" (2000) was a dramatic adaptation for National Public Radio.


title: Yayoi period

paragraphs: The is a time in the history of Japan which is traditionally dated 300 BC to 300 AD.

paragraphs: Early evidence of Yayoi culture is found on the island of Kyūshū. Over time, it spread to the island of Honshū.

paragraphs: Iron and bronze were first used in Japan at about the same time. Iron was used for tools and weapons. Bronze was used for ritual objects such as mirrors, daggers and spears.

paragraphs: The Yayoi tools included as axes and hoes for agriculture etc., but also weapons such as arrowheads and swords.

paragraphs: The Yayoi people (弥生人 "Yayoi jin") were ancient people that migrated to the Japanese archipelago from southeastern China during the Yayoi period (300 BCE–300 CE). Modern Japanese people are direct descedants of the Yayoi and have about 97% Yayoi DNA.

paragraphs: The Yayoi and the modern Japanese people are closely related to other East Asian (or Mongoloid) people, such as Chinese or Vietnamese people. They belonged to the haplogroup O and spoke the proto-Japonic languages. Most scientists and linguists suggest that they originated somewhere in southeastern China and migrated from their into Japan.


title: Pepin the Hunchback

paragraphs: Pepin the Hunchback (, , c. 767 - 811) was a prince of Frankish Empire. He was the first son of Charlemagne and grandson of Pepin the Short.


title: Party of Five

paragraphs: Party of Five is an American drama television series. It was broadcast on the FOX network from September 12, 1994 until May 3, 2000. The series is set in San Francisco, California. It was well liked by the critics but the series had very low ratings. The network wanted to stop broadcasting it after the 1994-1995 season but chose not to do this. The main stars of the series included Jennifer Love Hewitt, Scott Wolf, Matthew Fox, Lacey Chabert, David Collins, Paula Devicq, Scott Grimes, Michael A. Goorjian, Jeremy London and Neve Campbell. The series was given a "Best Drama" Golden Globe Award in 1996.


title: Pepin I of Aquitaine

paragraphs: Pepin I of Aquitaine, (or Pepin V of Aquitaine, ca. 797 - 838) was the Carolingian dynasty king of Aquitaine from 814 to 838. He was the second son of emperor Louis the Pius.


title: Louis the Pious

paragraphs: Louis the Pious, also called Louis I, (778 - 840) was the third Carolingian King of Franks and 2nd Holy Roman Emperor (814 - 840), King of Aquitaine 781 to 814. He was Charlemagne's sixth son.


paragraphs: Institut supérieur européen de gestion group (ISEG group) is a group of two French higher education schools (ISG Programme Business & Management, ISEG Marketing and Communication school) created in 1980.. The group is in seven places, in Paris, Bordeaux, Nantes, Lille, Lyon, Strasbourg and Toulouse (France). ISEG group delivers Bachelor's degree and Master's degree.

paragraphs: ISEG group's main area is entrepreneurship.


title: Greek chorus

paragraphs: A chorus in a classical Greek play typically serving to formulate, express, and comment on the moral issue that is raised by the dramatic action or to express an emotion appropriate to each stage of the dramatic conflict.


title: Éric Boullier

paragraphs: Éric Boullier (born 9 November 1973) is the team principal of the McLaren Formula One team and vice-president of Formula One Team Association.

paragraphs: He graduated from Institut polytechnique des sciences avancées.


title: Rickey with the Tuft

paragraphs: "Rickey with the Tuft" or "Riquet with the Tuft" () is a fairy tale by Charles Perrault. It was first published in Paris in 1697 by Claude Barbin in "Histoires ou contes du temps passé", a collection of eight fairy tales by Perrault. The story is about an ugly but intelligent gnome prince who bestows wit on a beautiful but stupid princess in return for marriage. She renders Rickey handsome. The tale is not of folk otigins, but is a literary fairy tale. It has Cupid and Psyche and Beauty and the Beast elements. Similar tales include Catherine Bernard's version of the tale in her 1695 novel "Inès du Cordoue", and Marie-Jeanne Lhéritier's "Ricdin-Ricdon". Another similar tale is Giambattista Basile's "Lo Cattenaccio" (The Padlock) from "Pentamerone".

paragraphs: A fairy gives an ugly prince named Rickey the gift of conferring wit upon the one he loves the best. He comes to a kingdom with two princesses. The elder one is beautiful but unintelligent. The younger one is intelligent but ugly. The elder princess is saddened that her ugly but smart sister receives more attention than her. One day as the elder princess is walking in the forest to ease her sorrow, she is approached by Rickey who has fallen in love with her. Rickey asks how a person so beautiful can be so sad. She tells him she is sad because she is beautiful but stupid. Rickey bestows intelligence on her for a promise of marriage. A year later, Rickey returns to marry her. She refuses on grounds that he cannot hold her to a promise made before she gained her wisdom. The princess then tells him that she was gifted at birth with the power to transform her lover into a handsome man by the same fairy who helped him. The princess thinks of all Rickey's good qualities and at once he is transformed. The king has his daughter married to Rickey who has already made preparations for the wedding.


title: Stadium MK

paragraphs: Stadium:MK is a football stadium in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire. The Milton Keynes Dons F.C. football club has played there since it opened in July 2007. Queen Elizabeth II officially opened the stadium on 3rd December 2007.

paragraphs: As of 2018, there were about 31,000 seats in the stadium.

paragraphs: The stadium is beside the junction of the A5 road with the A421 road.


title: Voice of Russia

paragraphs: Voice of Russia () was the Russian government's international radio station. The station before it, Radio Moscow was the official radio station of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. It closed in 2014.


title: Messier 15

paragraphs: Messier 15 is a globular cluster in the constellation of Pegasus. This globular cluster was discovered by "Jean-Dominique Maraldi" in 1746. M15 is about 33,600 lightyears from Earth, and 175 lightyears in diameter. It has more than 100,000 stars, 112 variable stars and 8 pulsars. M15 also contains "Pease 1", the first planetary nebula discovered in a globular cluster.


title: Volvo Ocean Race

paragraphs: The Volvo Ocean Race (known also as the Whitbread Round the World Race) is a yacht race around the world. It happens every three years. It is named after its current sponsor, Volvo. At this moment the Netherlands holds the record of most wins with the Dutch captain Conny van Rietschoten being the only skipper to win the race twice.

paragraphs: The race leaves Europe in October. The race started in Alicante, Spain, on October 11, 2008. The route for the 2008-2009 race was altered from previous years to include stopovers in India and Asia for the first time. The 2008-09 race covered nearly , took over nine months to finish, and reached an audience of 2 billion people worldwide.

paragraphs: During the nine months of the 2011–12 Volvo Ocean Race, which started in Alicante, Spain in October 2011 and finishes in Galway, Ireland, in July 2012, the teams are scheduled to sail over of the world’s most treacherous seas, and include locations such as Cape Town, Abu Dhabi, Sanya, Auckland, around Cape Horn to Itajaí, Miami, Lisbon, and Lorient.


title: Vale of Rheidol Railway

paragraphs: The Vale of Rheidol Railway () is a railway that runs for between Aberystwyth and Devil's Bridge in the county of Ceredigion, Wales. The Vale of Rheidol Railway has never closed except during wars. The railway celebrated its 100 year anniversary in 2002.


title: Chinese cobra

paragraphs: The Chinese cobra ("Naja atra"), also called Taiwan cobra, is a species of cobra in the Elapidae family, found mostly in southern China and a couple of neighboring nations and islands. It is one of the most prevalent venomous snakes in Taiwan, which has caused snakebite incidents to humans.

paragraphs: "Naja atra" was first described by Danish physician, zoologist, and botanist Theodore Edward Cantor in 1842. The generic name "naja" is a Latinisation of the Sanskrit word () meaning "cobra". The specific epithet "atra" comes from the Latin term ater, which means "dark", "black", or "gloomy".

paragraphs: In Mandarin Chinese, the snake is known as "Zhōnghuá yǎnjìngshé" (中華眼鏡蛇, lit. "Chinese spectacled snake", i.e. Chinese cobra), "Zhōushān yǎnjìngshé" (舟山眼鏡蛇, lit. "Zhoushan spectacled snake", i.e. Zhoushan cobra) or, in Guangdong and Hong Kong, "fànchǎntóu" (飯鏟頭, lit. "rice paddle head"). "Spectacled snake" refers to the markings which the snake may at times have on the back of the hood that resemble eyeglasses. In Taiwanese, the snake is known as "pn̄g-sî-chhèng" (飯匙倩/銃, lit. "rice paddle ?"), "ba̍k-kiàⁿ-chôa" (目鏡蛇, lit. "spectacled snake", i.e. cobra), or "tn̂g-ām-chôa" (長頷蛇, lit. "long-chinned snake").

paragraphs: "Naja atra" is iridescent black with a number of distant transversal double lines of a yellow colour. The abdominal surface is pearl or slaty coloured.

paragraphs: This medium-sized snake is usually long, but they can grow to a maximum length of though this is rare. The dorsal color of the Chinese cobra is usually brown, grey or black, with or without narrow, light transverse lines at irregular intervals which are especially prominent in juveniles. The head on this species is broad, slightly triangular in shape and is slightly distinct from the neck. The dorsal scales are smooth and glossy, while the dorsolateral scales are strongly oblique. This is a heavy bodied snake, the body is slightly flattened, and may be significantly flattened when threatened, and it has a short tail. The nostrils of this species are large and prominent. The eyes are medium-sized and the iris is a dark dirty yellow dappled with gray-black or blue-black and the pupil is round and jet black. Like other elapids, this is a proteroglyphous snake with fangs that are permanently erect and are located at the anterior of the upper jaw. The upper head is usually the same color as the tail and dorsal part of the body, while the sides of the head are lighter in colour. Specimens with other colors on their dorsal surface, such as white, yellow or brown do occur. There may be irregular or scattered crosslines of white to light gray along the upper body and a spectacle marking on the hood, however, the hood markings may vary from partial figures to asymmetrical patterns. The ventral head and neck are white to light gray or light orange in colour. The ventral face of the hood may have a pair of small dark spots followed by a dark transverse band.

paragraphs: There is some variation in the colour of the ventral body and tail: it may be white to gray, dark gray mottled with white, or blackish. The populations in different geographic regions of Taiwan reveal a unique composition of ventral colouration: the eastern population is exclusively blackish (100%), the central and southern populations are mainly white to gray (both 80%), and the proportions of blackish and white-gray morphs in the northern population are 60% and 30%, respectively.

paragraphs: This species is found in southeastern China (including the provinces of Sichuan, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan, Hubei, Zhejiang, and the Island province of Hainan), Hong Kong, northern Laos, northern Vietnam, and Taiwan, where it is much more common in the south.

paragraphs: Its typical habitat is woodlands, shrublands, grasslands, and mangroves. This species is adaptable to a wide range of terrain including grassland plains, jungle, open fields and even heavily populated regions. As an adaptable species, it occurs in a wide variety of habitats across its range. It can be found in rice paddy fields in maritime lowlands to various types of montaine forests, though it avoids dark forest with closed canopy. In primary monsoon season and rain forests, "Naja atra" inhabits clearings and riverbanks. Higher population density is observed in the vicinity of human settlements, in secondary forests, and in rice paddy fields which are adjacent to forests. The species can be found anywhere from sea level all the way up to elevations of more than above sea level. It usually hides under leaves, sticks, and rocks.

paragraphs: The Chinese cobra is a very alert, seldom cornered, but if confronted will raise its forebody and spread its hood and strike readily if necessary. Adults can be very aggressive, but the younger tend to be more aggressive. The Chinese cobra usually escapes to avoid confrontation with humans, but strikes readily if provoked. The snake is terrestrial, diurnal and crepuscular which means it is active by day and twilight. This species has been observed hunting during all daylight periods and as late as 2–3 hours after sunset from March to October, with ambient temperatures of 20–32°C (68–90°F).

paragraphs: The Chinese Cobra has a widely varied diet and it mainly preys on rodents such as mice and rats, frogs, toads and even other snakes. It is active during both the day and night. The diet of this snake is highly variable. It preys on any vertebrates from fish to mammals. Juveniles eat mosly amphibians, whereas adults usually prefer reptiles and mammals - during amphibian breeding periods, however, adult cobras eat mostly frogs or toads: the Cricket frog ("Fejervarya limnocharis"), the Common tree frog ("Polypedates leucomystax"), and the Asian common toad ("Duttaphrynus melanostictus").

paragraphs: It is oviparous. Mating and egg-laying periods are very extended. The species has been observed mating in the mountains of the western Tonkin region, at elevations of in the months of March through May. As recorded, gravid females will lay between 6 and 23 eggs sometime between May through to the end of July.

paragraphs: The Chinese cobra is a highly venomous member of the true cobras (genus "Naja"). Its venom consists mainly of postsynaptic neurotoxins and cardiotoxins. Four cardiotoxin-analogues I, II, III, and IV, account for about 54% of the dry weight of the crude venom and have cytotoxic properties. The LD values of its venom in mice are 0.29 mg/kg IV, and a range of 0.53 mg/kg - 0.67 mg/kg SC. The average venom yield from a snake of this species kept at a snake farm was about 250.8 mg (80 mg dry weight). Although this is not a spitting cobra, some rare individuals (mostly specimens from Guizhou Province) are capable of ejecting venom towards a threat within a distance of .

paragraphs: Local symptoms in victims caused by Chinese cobra are wound darkening, localized redness and swelling, pain, insensibility, and invariably blisters and necrosis. Necrosis is a serious problem in cases of cobra bite as it may persist for many years after the general recovery of the victim. The following systemic symptoms may also occur: chest discomfort, fever, sore throat, difficulty in swallowing, loss of voice, weak feeling in limbs, walking haltingly, general ache, lockjaw, and difficulty in breathing. Fatality occasionally occurs. The antivenom is widely available and deaths are much rarer than they used to be.


title: Robots exclusion standard

paragraphs: The robots exclusion standard (also called the robots exclusion protocol or robots.txt protocol) is a way of telling Web crawlers and other Web robots which parts of a Web site they can see.

paragraphs: To give robots instructions about which pages of a Web site they can access, site owners put a text file called robots.txt in the main directory of their Web site, e.g. <nowiki>http://www.example.com/robots.txt</nowiki>. This text file tells robots which parts of the site they can and cannot access. However, robots can ignore robots.txt files, especially malicious (bad) robots. If the robots.txt file does not exist, Web robots assume that they can see all parts of the site.


title: VHF omnidirectional range

paragraphs: VOR, short for VHF omnidirectional radio range, is a type of radio navigation system for aircraft, enabling them to find their position and stay on course by receiving radio signals emitted by a network of radio beacons. It uses frequencies in very high frequency (VHF) from 108 to 117.95 MHz. Developed in the USA in 1937, VOR is the standard air navigational system in the world, used by both commercial and general aviation. There are about 3000 VOR stations around the world.

paragraphs: A VOR station broadcasts a VHF radio signal including the identifier, voice, and navigation signal. The identifier is in Morse Code. The voice will have information from the station. The navigation signal allows the equipment to find a magnetic bearing from the station to the aircraft. VOR stations in areas of magnetic unreliability are oriented to True North. A line of position is called the "radial" from the VOR. The crossing of two radials from different VOR stations provides the position of the aircraft. VOR signals have a range of about 200 miles.


title: Vertigo (movie)

paragraphs: Vertigo is a movie from 1958 American psychological thriller mystery movie directed by Alfred Hitchcock. It starred James Stewart and Kim Novak.

paragraphs: This movie is considered the best movie of the "master of suspense" Alfred Hitchcock. It was included on the following American Film Institute lists:


title: The Conqueror Worm

paragraphs: "The Conqueror Worm" is a poem by Edgar Allan Poe. It is about human mortality and the fact that death cannot be stopped. It was first published in "Graham's Magazine" in 1843. It was incorporated into Poe's short story "Ligeia" in 1845. In the revised story, the poem is composed by Ligeia. She teaches it to the narrator during her death throes.

paragraphs: Weeping angels watch a play performed by "mimes, in the form of God on high", and controlled by vast formless shapes looming behind the scenes. The mimes chase a "Phantom" which they can never capture. Finally, a monstrous "crawling shape" emerges, and eats the mimes. The final curtain comes down, "a funeral pall," signaling an end to the "tragedy, 'Man'" whose only hero is "The Conqueror Worm".

paragraphs: Though Poe was referring to an ancient connection between worms and death, he may have been inspired by "The Proud Ladye", a poem by Spencer Wallis Cone which was reviewed in an 1840 issue of "Burton's Gentleman's Magazine". That poem contained the lines "Let him meet the conqueror worm / With his good sword by his side".

paragraphs: The poem plays an important symbolic role as part "Ligeia." The poem is written by Ligeia as she is dying, though it is actually recited by the narrator, her husband.

paragraphs: Because it emphasizes the finality of death, it calls to question Ligeia's resurrection in the story. Also, the inclusion of the bitter poem may have been meant to be ironic or a parody of the convention at the time, both in literature and in life. In the mid-19th century it was common to emphasize the sacredness of death and the beauty of dying (consider Charles Dickens's Little Johnny character in "Our Mutual Friend" and the death of Helen Burns in Charlotte Brontë's "Jane Eyre"). Instead, Ligeia speaks of fear personified in the "blood-red thing."

paragraphs: "The Conqueror Worm" also uses the word "evermore", which would later evolve into "nevermore" in Poe's famous poem "The Raven" in 1845.

paragraphs: "The Conqueror Worm" was first published as a stand-alone poem in the January 1843 issue of "Graham's Magazine". Shortly after, it was included among several other poems by Poe in the February 25 issue of the "Saturday Museum" in a feature called "The Poets & Poetry of Philadelphia: Edgar Allan Poe". It was later included in Poe's poetry collection "The Raven and Other Poems" in 1845. That same year, it was incorporated into "Ligeia" for the first time when the story was reprinted in the February 15, 1845, issue of the "New York World". "Ligeia" was again republished with "The Conqueror Worm" in the September 27, 1845, issue of "The Broadway Journal" while Poe was its editor. This was not unusual for Poe, who had also incorporated poems "The Coliseum" and "To One in Paradise" into tales.

paragraphs: The British horror movie "Witchfinder General" was retitled "The Conqueror Worm" for US release. It was not based on Poe's poem.


title: Tania Khalill

paragraphs: Tania Khalill (stage name Tânia Calil Padis Campos, July 8, 1977 in São Paulo) is a Brazilian actress.

paragraphs: Emiliano is the daughter of a pediatrician and psychologist Terezinha Campos Campos Calil (the Calil's name, she turned into Khalill), São Paulo, created in the neighborhood of Partridges, is the second of three daughters, descendants of Spaniards and Lebanese.

paragraphs: As a teenager he studied Brazilian Baptist College. In 2000, Tania graduated in psychology at the University Mackenzie, because his family was important to go to college, but has never practiced the craft.

paragraphs: Tania practiced ballet for 16 years, between 6 and 22 years, danced professionally for five in the Paulista Dance Company, formed by the classical ballet dancer Paula Castro, lived for five months in Cuba to study at the National School Ballet of Cuba, one of the most respected in the world. He also starred in advertising campaigns, although part of the casting of the Elite modeling agency, has never walked the catwalks.

paragraphs: To improve as a dancer, sought inspiration in the theater and found a new vocation, was increasingly embarking on the path of dramatic art, leaving the dance side. Stepped in the first seven years, representing a play Juliet in the school, decided to invest in the career of actress, studied drama for seven years, graduated from Carmina Actors School and passed the courses Beto Silveira, Theatre-Macunaíma school, also attended the course in television and theater professionals in the studio for Wolf Maya and the Theatre Workshop of Interpretation for Oswaldo Boaretto for five years. The movie made the course of the Great Azevedo and Márcio Mehiel. Tania also studied speech and presentation by SENAC TV.

paragraphs: In 2002 premiered on television in the supporting cast of the soap opera, "Sabor da Paixão". In 2004 he participated in the show "Galera", TV Cultura, a history teacher making and interprets it the first character of their prominence, the samba Nalva Ferrari in the novel "Senhora do Destino", of Aguinaldo Silva, a role that was rumored to Scheila Carvalho and Luma de Oliveira. In 2006, Nikki Ortega lived, a heel in "Cobras & Lagartos". In 2008, participated in serious "Casos e Acasos" and "Guerra e Paz". In 2009, around the novels, playing the passionate Duda in "Caminho das Índias".

paragraphs: On stage, debuted in 1995 with a piece of Naum Alves. Since then he has staged works by Nelson Rodrigues, Short Comedy by Luís Fernando Veríssimo and directed by Wolf Maya, The Suitcase, by Larry Shue and directed by Isser Koriki, along with José Rubens Chachá. In 2002, he participated in SCYSD short film, a film course design at Fundação Armando Álvares Penteado (FAAP) in 2005 joined the cast of another short, The Opposite Sex, under the direction of Hudson Glauber Finally in 2009, participates in the short Innocent directed by Thiago Luciano and Bob Shultz, who was at the 13th International Film Festival Latino in Los Angeles, United States.

paragraphs: It was the cover of magazines: Boa Forma, Claudia, Manequim, Corpo a Corpo, among others. Sensual held for VIP magazine, with cover of the publication in September 2004, was still present in the list of one hundred sexiest women in the world in the same magazine that year was also considered one of the 25 sexiest women in the annual ranking of the journal This is People in 2004 and 2009. She refused the invitation of men's magazine Playboy to pose nude.

paragraphs: In 2010 Great Little attended the show, the children's musical based on the book was titled CD released by Jair Oliveira in 2009 and was nominated for a Grammy Latino in the same year. We recently debuted the piece ?, with text by Mario Viana and opposite Dalton Vigh.

paragraphs: In 2010 the actress involved with a children's project, launched in October, "Acampamento de Férias 2 - A Arvore da Vida", where he plays Debora. In the movie, the actress will work with Murilo Rosa and Isaiah Washington in the sci-fi "Area Q", a co-production between Brazil and the United States, which deals with the appearance of aliens in Quixadá and Quixeramobim, Ceará cities. She will live Valkyrie, a reporter at the service of self-interested superpower. The movie is directed by Gerson Sanginitto Halder Gomes and production of the recordings take place in Ceará and Los Angeles.

paragraphs: In 2011 was in the telenovela "Fina Estampa", playing the teacher Letícia. In 2012 interpreted the turquoise Ayla in the telenovela "Salve Jorge" of Glória Perez.

paragraphs: On December 10, 2005, married the singer Jair Oliveira, who in childhood was part of the group Turma do Balão Mágico, known then as Jairzinho in the church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in São Paulo, officiating a marriage that lasted four years, she met her husband when he sang in a bar in São Paulo. Jair Before, she had three boyfriends long. The couple have two daughters, Isabella, born July 10, 2007 in São Luiz hospital, and Laura born March 5, 2011 in São Luiz hospital, as well as his sister.


title: Hafiz Barkhurdar

paragraphs: Hazrat Hafiz Barkhurdar (1658–1707), was a Punjabi Sufi Jatt poet from the village of Takhat Hazara in Sargodha District in modern-day Pakistan. His shrine where he was buried stands in the village of Chitti Sheikhan in Sialkot District.


title: Mindless Behavior

paragraphs: Mindless Behavior is an American boy band. They are best known for the singles "My Girl" and "Mrs. Right", which were produced by Walter Millsap. The band was put together in Los Angeles in 2008, by Keisha Gamble, Walter Millsap (who has previously worked with Beyoncé and Timbaland) and Vincent Herbert (Lady Gaga, Toni Braxton). The band trained in dance and singing for two years before releasing anything. The members are all in their early teens. They performed "My Girl" on "The Today Show" in November 2010. Their first album, "#1 Girl", was released on September 20, 2011. It appeared on the "Billboard" 200 album chart at number 7.

paragraphs: Mindless Behavior toured with the Backstreet Boys, Justin Bieber and Jason Derülo. They were the opening act for Janet Jackson's 2011 tour.

paragraphs: This Must Be Pop says that it thinks Mindless Behavior will be future stars.


title: Rufous treepie

paragraphs: The rufous treepie ("Dendrocitta vagabunda") is a species of bird in the Corvidae (crow) family. The rufous treepie is native to the Indian Subcontinent and adjoining parts of Southeast Asia from Pakistan to Vietnam. Woodland, forest edges and gardens are the habitat of this species. It feeds on various fruits, insects and carrion.

paragraphs: The rufous treepie builds its nest 6−8 meters above the ground in trees. Both male and female take turns breeding and feeding the young. There are usually 3-5 eggs laid. After the young have hatched, the remain with their parents for several months. Rufous treepies form pair bonds for life.

paragraphs: The species was first described in 1790 by John Latham. A previous description as "Dendrocitta rufa" is not valid. It belongs to the Treepie genus "Dendrocitta" which is Southeast Asian in distribution. According to ornithologist Derek Goodwin, the rufous treepie may be closely allied to the hooded treepie ("D. frontalis"). There are eight recognized subspecies.

paragraphs: There are no estimates for the population of this species. It is common throughout its range, but rare in Vietnam.

paragraphs: The Rufous Treepie is shorter and smaller than the European magpie. The head, neck and breast are grey, although sometimes they are slightly brown. The underparts and lower back are orange-brown. The tail is a light blue color with a black tip. The bill, legs and feet are black.


title: RecordTV

paragraphs: RecordTV, formerly Rede Record, or simply Record, is a Brazilian television network, launched by Paulo Machado de Carvalho on 1953, and bought by bishop and entrepreneur Edir Macedo on 1989.


title: Greater Los Angeles Area

paragraphs: The Greater Los Angeles Area, or the Southland, is a term used for the group of metropolitan areas over five counties in the southern part of California. It includes Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Bernardino County, Riverside County and Ventura County. It has been one of the fastest growing regions in the United States for decades. The growth started in Los Angeles County, then Orange County, and now in the Inland Empire. As of 2005, the population of the Los Angeles metropolitan area was more than 12.9 million people. In 2009 the larger five-county region had a population of over 17.6 million. It the second-largest statistical area in the country. Only the New York metropolitan area is larger.

paragraphs: The Greater Los Angeles area is centered on the county of Los Angeles, California. The term is defined to refer to the area from Ventura to the southern border of Orange County, and from the Pacific Ocean to the Inland Empire. The Greater Los Angeles area includes the Los Angeles metropolitan area, the Inland Empire, and Ventura County. The term "Greater Los Angeles" does not include San Diego and Imperial counties.

paragraphs: The United States Census Bureau has named the five county region as the "Los Angeles-Long Beach-Riverside, CA" combined statistical area. Their January 1, 2009 population estimate was 17,786,419 people. The Los Angeles metropolitan area has a total area of . The wider combined statistical area covers . More than half of this is the thinly populated eastern areas of Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

paragraphs: The following is a list of main cities in the Greater Los Angeles Area with estimates of their population:


title: Walter Camp

paragraphs: Walter Chauncey Camp (April 17, 1859 – March 14, 1925) was an American football player, coach, and sports writer. He is known as the "Father of American Football".

paragraphs: Camp was born in New Haven, Connecticut on April 17, 1859. His parents were Leverett and Ellen Camp. He attended Hopkins Grammar School in New Haven. He went to Yale in 1876. He graduated in 1880.

paragraphs: Camp played college football at Yale from 1876 to 1882. He was head football coach at Yale from 1888 to 1892. He was in the first class to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951.

paragraphs: Camp's football inventions include the eleven-man team and the gridiron marking of the field. He also invented the line of scrimmage and the modern point system. He invented the "All-American team" of college players. "All-American" has since become a part of American-English. In time, he began to think of American football as his private property. He did not want new additions to the game, like the forward pass.

paragraphs: He stayed at Yale for two more years to study medicine. He started working for a watch company in 1882. In 1888, he married Alice Graham Sumner. They had two children. In 1903, he became president of the watch company. Camp died of a heart attack on March 15, 1925 in New York City, New York, aged 65.


title: Jessie J

paragraphs: Jessica Ellen Cornish (born 27 March 1988), better known by her stage name Jessie J, is an English singer and songwriter. She was born and raised in London where she studied at the BRIT School before signing with Gut Records.

paragraphs: Jessie J became better known after the release of her debut single "Do It Like a Dude" which peaked at number two in the UK. She achieved her first number one in the UK, France, Ireland and New Zealand with the song "Price Tag". After those two singles, she released her debut album "Who You Are" in 2011. The album charted at number two in the UK. Other singles from the album included "Nobody's Perfect", "Who's Laughing Now" and "Who You Are" which charted within the top 20 in the UK but the release of fifth single "Domino" became international chart success, peaking at number 6 on the "Billboard" Hot 100 and becoming her second UK number one. She is the first British female artist to have six top ten singles on one album.

paragraphs: Jessie J has written songs for other singers such as Chris Brown and Miley Cyrus.

paragraphs: Jessie J is recognized for an unconventional musical and performing style. It mixes her soul voice with contemporary R&B, pop music and hip-hop influences. She has several awards and nominations. These include the 2011 Critics' Choice BRIT Award and the BBC's Sound of 2011. As of April 2012, Jessie has sold over 11 million singles and 2.5 million albums worldwide.

paragraphs: On 4 October 2011, Jessie said that she will be one of four coaches for new BBC program, "The Voice UK". The other coaches are will.i.am (of The Black Eyed Peas), Tom Jones and Danny O'Donoghue (of The Script).

paragraphs: Asked about her bisexuality in an interview on the "In Demand" radio show on 3 March 2011, Jessie J stated, "I've never denied it. Whoopie doo guys, yes, I've dated girls and I've dated boys – get over it." According to "The Guardian", Jessie J's sexuality is valuable to young teens, especially for young girls unsure of themselves because of their sexuality and identity, to feel "that this does happen and this is normal." In April 2014, Jessie J renounced her bisexuality in an interview with "Daily Mirror"'s "3am" celebrity tabloid; "For me, it was a phase. But I'm not saying bisexuality is a phase for everybody", she said.

paragraphs: On 12 June 2011, at the Capital Radio Summertime Ball, Jessie ruptured several tendons in her foot during rehearsals. She performed for several weeks while sitting on a gilded throne.


title: Pentamerone

paragraphs: The Pentamerone or Lo cunto de li cunti overo lo trattenemiento de peccerille ("The Tale of Tales, or Entertainment for Little Ones") is a seventeenth-century collection of fairy tales by Giambattista Basile. The collection consists of a frame story and 49 fairy tales. Ten old women tell the tales over five days. The collection contains many famous fairy tale types such as "Cinderella" and "Puss in Boots".


title: Curling

paragraphs: Curling is a sport played on ice. Players slide "curling stones" on the ice towards a target, called the "house". There are two teams with four players on each team. Each team slides eight stones, this is called an "end". After an end the team with the stone closest to the centre of the house (target) scores points. The game is over after eight or ten ends. The team with the most points is the winner.

paragraphs: The player sliding the stone can make it turn or "curl" slowly. Two other players on the team sweep the ice in front of the stone with brooms. This is to make the stone stop in the right place.

paragraphs: Curling is played at the Winter Olympics.

paragraphs: Curling was invented in Scotland in medieval times. It was played outside in the winter because there was lots of ice. Today curling is played all over Europe and in many other countries such as Canada, the United States, Japan and South Korea.

paragraphs: Curling was played at the Winter Olympics for the first time in 1998.

paragraphs: The ice is called a "curling sheet". It is a rectangular sheet of flat ice, between 146 and 150 feet (45-46 metres) long and 14.5 to 15.5 feet (4.4-5.0 metres) wide. The house, or target, is marked at the end of the sheet by coloured rings. The rings help players to aim for the centre of the house. They are also useful to decide which stone is closest to the centre when scoring. There is also a "hack" at the end of the sheet which players push against when sliding a stone.

paragraphs: Curling stones are made of granite. They are heavy, weighing 38-40 pounds (17-20kg). There is a handle on the top of each stone to help slide and turn the stone. The handles are different colours for each team. The stones are usually red for one team and yellow for the other team.

paragraphs: Curling brooms or brushes are used to sweep the ice in front of the stone when it is sliding.

paragraphs: Players wear special shoes for curling. One shoe has a smooth surface for sliding on the ice and the other rough.

paragraphs: The purpose of the game is to score points by getting stones close to the centre of the house. Players from each team take turns to slide a stone towards the house. This is called "delivering" or "throwing" a stone. An end is completed when all stones have been delivered. There are eight stones for each team. The winner is the team with the most points after all ends have been played. There are usually eight or ten ends.

paragraphs: The captain of the team is called the "skip". The skip chooses how hard the stone should be delivered, the direction of delivery, and the amount of turn (curl) that the stone should be given. The skip can choose to aim the stone for the house, hit one of the other team's stones out of play, or make a stone stop before the house as a guard if their team has a stone in a good position.

paragraphs: The player delivering the stone starts at the hack. The skip stands at the other end of the curling sheet behind the house. The skip shows where to aim the stone. The other two players sweep the ice in front of the stone as it slides. The players take turns to deliver stones. When the skip is delivering a stone another player stands behind the house instead.

paragraphs: To deliver a stone the player puts one foot on the hack. The player lines up towards the skip. The stone is on the ice in front of the foot in the hack. The player then slides the stone back before sliding forwards on their other foot. The player lets go of the stone, gently turning the handle just before letting go to give the stone curl.

paragraphs: Then the other players can sweep the stone. Sweeping helps the stone to travel faster, and makes it curl less. The aim of sweeping is to help the stone stop in the right place.

paragraphs: Points are scored at when an end has finished. The team with the stone closest to the centre of the house wins the end. The team scores one point for every stone that is closer to the centre than the other team's closest stone.

paragraphs: Only stones that are in the house count for scoring. If it is difficult to see which stone is closest to the centre of the house there are special measuring devices to help.

paragraphs: Sometimes neither team scores any points, this is called a "blank end".


title: Drive-Thru (movie)

paragraphs: Drive-Thru is a 2007 horror movie, directed by Brendan Cowles and Shane Kuhn, starring Leighton Meester and Nick D'Agosto. It is set in Orange County, California and involves a serial killing clown mascot Horny the Clown. The movie was released on May 29, 2007.


title: The Muppets (movie)

paragraphs: The Muppets is a 2011 American musical comedy movie. It starred Jason Segel and Amy Adams. The movie was directed by James Bobin. It was made by Walt Disney Pictures. It involves The Muppets reuniting to put on a show in order to save their theater from a businessman who wants to tear it down to drill for oil.


title: Bret McKenzie

paragraphs: Bret Peter Tarrant McKenzie (born 26 June 1976) is a New Zealand comedian, actor, musician and producer. He is best known as one half of the Grammy Award-winning comedy duo Flight of the Conchords with Jemaine Clement. For "The Muppets" (2011), he won an Academy Award for Best Original Song. He also played Lindir in Peter Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit" movie trilogy.

paragraphs: McKenzie was born in Wellington. He has two children with his wife, publicist Hannah Clarke.


title: Peter Serafinowicz

paragraphs: Peter Szymon Serafinowicz ( /sɛrəˈfɪnəwɪtʃ/; born 10 July 1972) is an English actor, comedian, writer, composer, voice artist, television producer and writer. He was born in Liverpool. He is married to Sarah Alexander; the couple have a son and daughter together.


title: Pease 1

paragraphs: Pease 1 is a planetary nebula. It is in the globular cluster Messier 15 in the constellation of Pegasus. It is the first planetary nebula discovered within a globular cluster. Three more have been discovered in other clusters.


title: Roller skating

paragraphs: Roller skating is a physical activity on roller skates. Roller skating is also a sport when the skaters form a team and compete in events such as roller hockey or roller derby. Roller skating is also performed with certain styles of music and dance steps such as Jam Skating.

paragraphs: The wheels on roller skates are laid out similar to a skateboard, containing a set of trucks and cushions to allow for turning.


title: Nutcracker Suite

paragraphs: The Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a is a selection of 8 musical numbers Tchaikovsky made from "The Nutcracker" ballet for a concert performance before the St. Petersburg branch of the Musical Society on March 19, 1892. Every number was acclaimed and repeated, and the suite became an instant hit. The complete ballet was first performed on December 17, 1892. It was not a success. It did not gain any popularity until George Balanchine staged a production in New York City. The suite however was very popular in concert. It was featured in Disney's "Fantasia." "The Nutcracker Suite" should not be mistaken for the complete ballet.

paragraphs: The numbers chosen by Tchaikovsky for "The Nutcracker Suite" and their sequence within the suite are as follows:


title: Oops!... I Did It Again

paragraphs: Oops!... I Did It Again! is the second album released by American pop music singer Britney Spears on Jive Records.

paragraphs: Four singles were released from the album, the title track, "Lucky", "Stronger", and "Don't Let Me Be The Last To Know".

paragraphs: It also features the first song Britney had a hand in writing, titled "Dear Diary".


title: Jive Records

paragraphs: Jive Records was an American recording imprint known for rap and pop music artists and albums.


title: The Million Pound Drop Live

paragraphs: The Million Pound Drop Live is a British quiz show. It began on 24 May 2010 and is shown on Channel 4. It is presented by Davina McCall.


title: Touch My Body

paragraphs: "Touch My Body" is a song co-written by American singer Mariah Carey, Christopher "Tricky" Stewart, Crystal "Cri$tyle" Johnson and Terius "The-Dream" Nash for Carey's 11th studio album, "E=MC²". It is the first single off "E=MC²". The single was produced by Carey and Stewart.

paragraphs: Mariah talking about why she chose "Touch My Body" as the first single of the album:

paragraphs: The song was chosen as the lead single of the album during a vote with producer L.A. Reid and staff in Island Records. Carey stated that the group "decided to just go with the mid-tempo and everybody kinda liked the song 'cause it's just fun and cute and sexy and sweet".

paragraphs: The song was transmitted digitally to radio stations on February 12 at 6:30pm ET for immediate airplay via All Access. The single went for adds on radio station playlists on February 19."Touch My Body" premiered on Chicago's hit rhythmic radio station, B96, ahead of schedule at 4:00pm.

paragraphs: Reviews of the song by critics were mostly good. "Blender" said that it was a "pop genius making genius pop". Bill Lamb from About.com gave "Touch My Body" 4 out of 5 stars. Newsday named it as the "Song of the Week", saying that it was her best first single on an album since "Heartbreaker".

paragraphs: Rolling Stone gave it 3.5 stars in its March 6, 2008 issue.

paragraphs: Brett Ratner is the director of the video. Ratner also directed Carey's videos for "I Still Believe", "Heartbreaker", "Thank God I Found You", "It's like That", and "We Belong Together". In an interview with AllHipHop.com, Ratner said, "Mariah is musically at the top of her game and has never looked better... This will be our 6th music video we have collaborated on and definitely the best one yet visually, as well as musically. The video for "Touch My Body" is the perfect combination of fantasy and comedy with Mariah looking more beautiful than she has ever looked, ever.". The video also stars Jack McBrayer from "30 Rock", a show that Carey is a fan of.

paragraphs: Carey appeared on MTV's "TRL" and BET's "106 & Park" on Wednesday, February 27, 2008, to premiere the video for "Touch My Body"; BET also played the video all day, every hour on the hour, until "106 & Park". VH1 posted a 45-second sneak peek on their blog on February 26, and subsequently posted the video in its entirety at midnight on February 27, 2008; the video was also posted on the Island Records website.

paragraphs: On March 5 the "Touch My Body" music video debuted at #1 on MTV's TRL countdown.

paragraphs: Following the song's February 12 digital transmission, after only a day's worth of airplay, "Touch My Body" entered the "Billboard" Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart at #78 the chart week of February 23, 2008. It is currently at #15 in its fourth chart week. It also debuted on airplay alone at #57 on the Billboard Hot 100 as the "Hot Shot" debut of the week, and is currently #24. It also debuted on the Canadian Hot 100 at #97 and has since risen to #59.


title: Ned Beatty

paragraphs: Ned Thomas Beatty (born July 6, 1937) is an American actor. He was born in Louisville, Kentucky. He is known for his movie work including "Nashville" (1975), "All the President's Men" (1976), "Network" (1976), "The Big Easy" (1987) and "Prelude to a Kiss" (1992).


title: Samson and Delilah (opera)

paragraphs: Samson and Delilah (Fr: "Samson et Dalila") is a three-act French opera. It is based on the story of Samson and Delilah in the Old Testament of the Bible. The words and story of the opera (the "libretto") were written by Ferdinand Lemaire. The music was written by Camille Saint-Saëns. The opera was first performed in Weimar, Germany on 2 December 1877. It was sung in German instead of French.

paragraphs: Saint-Saëns thought the Samson story would make a good oratorio. He was persuaded by Lemaire to write an opera on the subject instead. When the opera was completed, Saint-Saëns met some stiff opposition about staging it in France. It was considered sacrilegious to stage a work based on a Bible story. Additionally, Saint-Saëns was considered a "symphonist" rather than an opera composer. People were not interested in "Samson". Liszt staged the work in Germany. It was a hit. It was soon staged in America and in England.

paragraphs: Roles in the opera include Samson (tenor), Delilah (mezzo-soprano), and the High Priest of Dagon (baritone). The story tells of the enslavement of the Hebrews by the Philistines. Samson urges them to resist their masters. The High Priest of Dagon uses Delilah to destroy Samson. Musical highlights include "" and "" The opera finally played the Paris Opéra. It ranked second in popularity to Charles Gounod's "Faust".

paragraphs: Saint-Saëns thought the Samson and Delilah story would make a good oratorio. Oratorios were popular in the late 1860s. The city of Paris was offering a prize for a new one. Saint-Saëns asked a relative, Ferdinand Lemaire, to write the libretto. Lemaire thought the story of Samson and Delilah was better suited to an opera. He persuaded Saint-Saëns to write an opera instead of an oratorio.

paragraphs: Saint-Saëns was drawn to the story because it gave him the opportunity to compose a grand duet against a rising storm. He knew Rameau's take on the story from Voltaire's libretto for an opera on the subject (now lost), but Rameau's storm was a metaphor for the wrath of God. Rossini's "Otello" was nearer to what Saint-Saëns had in mind. He wrote, "I imagined a storm that would no longer be an hors-d'œuvre (a tidbit eaten before a meal) but adhere to the action and become one with it."

paragraphs: Saint-Saëns set to work in 1868. He wrote an aria for Delilah, a duet for Samson and Delilah, and the Prelude. He tried them out at home. Friends were not very interested. The composer put the work aside for a time. He met Liszt in Weimar, Germany about 1870. Liszt encouraged him to take up the project again. He promised Saint-Saëns he would stage the opera.

paragraphs: In 1873 Saint-Saëns finished the score. Pauline Viardot staged Act 2 in a garden at Croissy. The director of the Paris Opera was present. He found the opera too Wagnerian. He also thought it neglected French opera tradition. Biblical stories were not staged in France. It was considered sacrilegious. Act 1 was performed "concert style" in 1875. This means it was performed without costumes, scenery, or "acting". It was a failure.

paragraphs: Saint-Saëns kept working. He published the score. He wrote a dedication to Viardot. In 1877 Liszt staged the work at the Weimar Court Theatre in Germany. It was sung in German instead of French. The opera was well received. People liked it. Paris wasn't very interested, though. In 1890 the opera was staged in Rouen at composer Gabriel Faure's urging. It was staged the same year in Paris. Two years later it was finally staged at the Paris Opéra. The opera ranked second in popularity to Gounod's "Faust".

paragraphs: Once the opera gained favor with audiences it quickly spread outside France. The first production in America was at New Orleans in 1893. In 1894 it was staged at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City. In these early days, productions were mounted in Milan, St Petersburg, and Moscow. French singers walked out on a concert performance in London in 1893. They were expected to sing in English instead of French. Biblical stories were banned from the stage in Britain. The first full production of "Samson" took place in 1909. King Edward VII of England was said to have helped get the opera staged.

paragraphs: Goodwin writes that Saint-Saëns's pupil and friend Gabriel Faure always said that the reason "Samson and Delilah" met with disinterest in France was the fact that the composer was viewed as a symphonistnot because the opera was based on a Biblical text. "Symphonist" was a pejorative term at the time. It was tossed about by opera and ballet fans. "Samson and Delilah" was also a departure from 19th century opera traditions. This was another reason for some to ignore it. It was a three-act opera rather than a standard five-act opera as laid down by Meyerbeer. The opera featured only three principal charactersSamson, Delilah, and the High Priestthus creating another departure from the norm.

paragraphs: Saint-Saëns was almost an atheist. He did not point out a moral in this opera but let the work speak for itself. He admired the operas of Verdi. He liked the oratorios of Handel and Mendelssohntwo composers whose influence is felt in the choruses of "Samson". He framed the central seduction scene with the two outer acts. In contrast with Samson (strength) and the High Priest (power), Delilah is a character of "seductive" strength and power. She wants Samson on her sidenot for lovebut for her own vanity and sexual gratification. She puts everything she has into successfully seducing him because, if she fails, her head will be on the chopping block.

paragraphs: In a square in Gaza, the Hebrews pray for release from slavery to the Philistines. Samson tries to lift their spirits. Abimelech taunts the Hebrews. He says his god Dagon is greater than the Hebrew god. Samson defies him. Abimelech attacks Samson with a sword. Samson disarms and kills him. The Hebrews flee. The High Priest of Dagon makes plans to use Delilah to trap Samson.

paragraphs: Delilah enters with the priestesses of Dagon. She flirts with Samson. She invites him to her home in Sorek. An old Hebrew warns Samson about loving Delilah. Samson prays for God's protection. Delilah and the priestesses begin to dance. Samson fights his desire for Delilah. The old Hebrew repeats his warning. As the curtain closes, Samson meets Delilah's gaze. It is clear he will join her in Sorek.

paragraphs: In Sorek Delilah sings about her power over Samson. The High Priest arrives. He reports that Samson and the Hebrews have destroyed the harvest. He offers gold to Delilah to trap Samson. She refuses to take the money. She wants only revenge. Delilah vows to find the secret of Samson's strength. The High Priest leaves.

paragraphs: Delilah considers her chances of success. Samson arrives to say farewell. He plans to lead the Hebrew revolt. Delilah tells Samson that she loves him. He admits that he loves her. They sing rapturously. Delilah wants to know the secret of his strength. Samson will not tell her. She weeps and runs into her house. Samson follows. She learns the secret of his strength. She calls to Philistine soldiers hiding nearby. They capture Samson and blind him.

paragraphs: Samson is chained to a mill-wheel in a dungeon. He prays for his people. They will suffer for his sin. Samson offers his life as a sacrifice. The Hebrews are heard in the distance singing sorrowfully.

paragraphs: The Philistines are preparing a victory celebration in the temple of Dagon. The priests and priestesses sing softly. The priests dance a wild Bacchanale. Samson enters led by a boy. He is mocked by the High Priest. Delilah taunts him. The priests try to force him to kneel before a statue of Dagon. The boy leads him to the two main pillars in the temple. Samson prays for strength. He pulls down the pillars. The temple collapses. Samson is crushed with his enemies beneath the stones.

paragraphs: "from Encyclopedia Americana, 2002; volume 24, pages 185-86"


title: Chūgoku region

paragraphs: The , also known as the , is one of Japan's traditional regions. The Japanese conventions of geography and history divide the nation into eight regions, including the Chūgoku region. These have been used since 1905 as basic units for description and comparison and as cultural markers.

paragraphs: The regions of Japan are a fusion of historical divisions and modern administrative needs". The significance of the region in Japan is geographical, cultural and administrative.

paragraphs: In the late 7th century, the "San'indō" and "San'yōdō" were identified as two of the eight largest administrative areas of the Imperial system ("ritsuryo seido").

paragraphs: "Gokishichidō" is an ancient system of names for parts of the country, including "San'indō" and "San'yōdō". Chūgoku covers a western part of the island of Honshū in roughly the same area as the traditional "San'indō" and "San'yōdō".

paragraphs: In the Meiji period, the modern regional system was made by Imperial decree. Japan was divided into regions ("chihō"), including the Chūgoku region. A regional council ("chihō gyōsei kyōgisai") was headed by the governor of the most powerful prefecture in the regional grouping. The council also included regional chiefs of central government ministries.

paragraphs: Over time, Chūgoku has developed its own regional dialects, customs and unique traditional culture.


title: We Belong Together

paragraphs: "We Belong Together" is a 2005 hit song by Mariah Carey off of her album "The Emancipation of Mimi". The song is available in several versions. It reached #1 on the "Billboard" Hot 100 and stayed there for 14 weeks. With the song, Carey holds the record for having the longest-running and second-longest running songs at #1 in the US (her song "One Sweet Day" with Boyz II Men stayed on top for 16 weeks).

paragraphs: It was also No.1 in Australia and the Netherlands. It was the best-selling song in the US of 2005 and later became "Billboard"'s Song of the Decade for the 2000s (2000–09). It won two Grammy Awards.


title: Vision of Love

paragraphs: "Vision of Love" is a song recorded by American singer and songwriter Mariah Carey. It was Carey's debut single and the first from her self-titled debut album. Written by Carey and Ben Margulies, "Vision of Love" was released on May 15, 1990, by Columbia Records. After being featured on Carey's demo tape for Columbia, the song was re-recorded and produced by Rhett Lawrence and Narada Michael Walden. It was Carey's first Billboard Hot 100 number one.

paragraphs: Credits adapted from the "Mariah Carey" linear notes.


title: Kansai region

paragraphs: The is one of Japan's traditional regions The area is also known as the or as the . The Japanese conventions of geography and history divide the nation into eight regions, including the Kansai region. These have been used since 1905 as basic units for description and comparison. and as cultural markers.

paragraphs: In the late 7th century, the "Kinki" region were identified as one of the eight largest administrative areas of the Imperial system ("ritsuryo seido").

paragraphs: "Gokishichidō" is an ancient system of names for parts of the country, including "Kinki" or "Kansai". "Kansai" covers the area around the capital city of Kyoto on the island of Honshū in roughly the same area as the traditional "Kinki".

paragraphs: In the Meiji period, the modern regional system was made by Imperial decree. Japan was divided into regions ("chihō"), including the Kinki region. A regional council ("chihō gyōsei kyōgisai") was headed by the governor of the most powerful prefecture in the regional grouping. The council also included regional chiefs of central government ministries.

paragraphs: Over time, Kansai has developed its own regional dialects, customs and unique traditional culture.


title: Mon cœur s'ouvre à ta voix

paragraphs: "Mon cœur s'ouvre à ta voix" is a mezzo-soprano aria from Camille Saint-Saëns's opera "Samson and Delilah". It is known in English as "Softly awakes my heart", or "My heart opens itself to your voice". It is sung by Delilah in act 2 as she tries to get Samson to reveal the secret of his great strength.

paragraphs: In the opera, Delilah is responding to Samson's words ""Dalila! Dalila! Je t'aime!"" (Delilah! Delilah! I love you!) which he repeats between the first and second verses of her aria. These interjections are omitted in recital performances or sometimes sung to the changed words ""Samson! Samson! Je t'aime!"". Samson's part in the final 22 bars of the stage aria where he joins Delilah in a duet is also omitted in a recital, although some performers, notably Marilyn Horne, have sung Samson's final words – changed as above, rising to a high B-flat. A performance takes between 5 1/2 and 6 1/2 minutes.

paragraphs: The aria is written in D-flat major. The verse has a time signatures of 3/4 but the refrain (""Ah! réponds"") has a time signature of 4/4. The tempo indication is "andantino" (=66) for the verse and "un poco più lento" (a little slower) for the refrain. The vocal range extends from B-flat to G-flat, with a tessitura from E-flat to E-flat.

paragraphs: The instrumentation calls for flute, oboe, clarinet, horns, harp and strings. All instrument lines, except the harp, make intensive use of divisi (cellos play in four divisi). The orchestral accompaniment consists mainly of reiterated notes for the first verse and of falling chromatic lines for the second verse. The refrain is accompanied by ascending broken chords.

paragraphs: The melismatic setting of the lyrics present a particular challenge for the performance of this aria as it requires legato singing over a wide range.


title: Kantō region

paragraphs: The is one of Japan's regions. The Japanese conventions of geography and history divide the nation into eight regions, including the Kantō region. These have been used since 1905 as basic units for description and comparison and as cultural markers.

paragraphs: The regions of Japan are a fusion of historical divisions and modern administrative needs". The significance of the region in Japan is geographical, cultural and administrative.

paragraphs: In the late 7th century, the "Tōkaidō" region were identified as one of the eight largest administrative areas of the Imperial system ("ritsuryo seido").

paragraphs: "Gokishichidō" is an ancient system of names for parts of the country, including "Tōkaidō". "Kantō" covers an east-central area of the island of Honshū in roughly the same area as the traditional "Tōkaidō".

paragraphs: The region of Kantō covers the east-central part of the island of Honshū.

paragraphs: In the Meiji period, the modern regional system was made by Imperial decree. Japan was divided into regions ("chihō"), including the Kantō region. A regional council ("chihō gyōsei kyōgisai") was headed by the governor of the most powerful prefecture in the regional grouping. The council also included regional chiefs of central government ministries.

paragraphs: Over time, Kantō developed its own regional dialects, customs and unique traditional culture.

paragraphs: The region includes the Greater Tokyo Area. The Kantō covers seven prefectures: Gunma, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Saitama, Tokyo, Chiba, and Kanagawa.

paragraphs: North and South subdivisions are sometimes used:

paragraphs: East and West subdivisions are sometimes used:

paragraphs: Inland and Coastal subdivisions are sometimes used:

paragraphs: The Japanese national government defines the as the Kantō region plus Yamanashi Prefecture.

paragraphs: Japan's national public broadcaster NHK defines the which includes Yamanashi, Nagano and Niigata Prefectures for regional programming.


title: Der Hölle Rache

paragraphs: "Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen" () is an aria for the Queen of the Night in Mozart's opera "The Magic Flute" (). Mozart's friend Emanuel Schikaneder wrote the words. The aria is written in D minor. The voice ranges over two octaves. It is known for being difficult to perform well. Mozart's sister-in-law Josepha Hofer was the first to sing the aria on stage.

paragraphs: The Queen of the Night is a role for a coloratura soprano. She has two arias in the opera. The other is "Oh, tremble not, my beloved son" ("). Both arias are famous. "Hell's vengeance" is highly memorable, fast paced and menacingly grandiose.

paragraphs: The aria is written in D minor. It is scored for pairs of flutes, oboes, bassoons, horns, trumpets, timpani, and the string section. It is a larger orchestra than that for """. It comprises all the players from the opera as a whole, except the clarinets and trombones.

paragraphs: The aria is sung in act 2. It is famous for being difficult to perform well. The Queen of the Night is in a fit of rage. She gives a knife to her daughter Pamina. She tells her to kill the priest Sarastro. If she refuses, the Queen will curse her. The aria's range is two octaves, from F to F and requires a very high tessitura.

paragraphs: The first singer to perform the aria onstage was Mozart's sister-in-law Josepha Hofer. She was 33. Mozart wrote the two "Magic Flute" arias to showcase her voice. He was very impressed with Hofer's performance. In the fifth week of the opera's run, Mozart lay dying. He whispered to his wife Constanze on December 4, 1791: "Quiet, quiet! Hofer is just taking her top F; – now my sister-in-law is singing her second aria, "Der Hölle Rache"; how strongly she strikes and holds the B-flat: ""

paragraphs: The words were written (in German) by Mozart's friend Emanuel Schikaneder, who also played Papageno in the first performances.


title: Se vuol ballare

paragraphs: The cavatina "Se vuol ballare" is an aria from "The Marriage of Figaro" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The lyrics are by Lorenzo Da Ponte. It portrays Figaro's intent to foil Count Almaviva's womanizing, but can also be read as a political attack on the power-wielding nobility of the time.

paragraphs: The song is sung in act 1. Figaro discovers Count Almaviva intends to exercise his feudal right to sleep with Figaro's wife Susanna before they consummate their marriage. Figaro sings of how he will unravel the Count's schemes and thwart him.

paragraphs: Beethoven wrote a series of 12 variations on the theme of "Se vuol ballare". It bears the Number WoO 40 (=Werk ohne Opuszahl, work without opus number)


title: Lorenzo da Ponte

paragraphs: Lorenzo da Ponte (10 March 1749 – 17 August 1838) was an opera librettist and poet. He is best known for having written the libretti for three of Mozart's operas, "The Marriage of Figaro", "Don Giovanni", and "Così fan tutte".

paragraphs: Da Ponte was born Emanuele Conegliano to Jewish parents near Venice, Italy. He became a Christian, and took the name Lorenzo da Ponte from the bishop who baptized him. He became a priest at the church of San Luca in Venice. He took Anzoletta Bellaudi as his mistress. They ran a brothel. Da Ponte was banished from Venice for 15 years. He went to Austria where he became court librettist to Emperor Joseph II.

paragraphs: About 1792, da Ponte married Ann Celestine Grahl. They had four children. When Joseph II died, da Ponte lost his job. He went to London. He got into debt, and went to the United States. He ran a grocery store in Pennsylvania for a short time. He moved to New York City and opened a bookstore. He became the first professor of Italian literature at Columbia College. He produced "Don Giovanni" in New York in 1826. In 1828, da Ponte became a naturalized US citizen.

paragraphs: Da Ponte died in 1838 in New York. His funeral was held in New York's old St. Patrick's Cathedral. His final resting place is uncertain. All of da Ponte's libretti were adaptations of pre-existing plots, except "L'arbore di Diana" and "Così fan tutte". His adaptations are of the highest order. The Don Giovanni character was given new life in da Ponte's hands. The character is now considered the archetypical libertine.


title: Magnetic pendulum

paragraphs: A magnetic pendulum is an experiment where a metal ball on a thread (a pendulum) can be influenced by a number of magnets on the ground. The length of the rope is such that the ball cannot touch the magnets, but is still influenced by them. If the ball is moved, its movement will be influenced by both gravitation and the fields the magnets generate. If the movement is so large that the ball can get outside the influence of the magnets, the resulting movement will look irregular. While it is deterministic, it will depend on the starting conditions—that is the position of the ball at the start. This has been called deterministic chaos.


title: Amahl and the Night Visitors

paragraphs: Amahl and the Night Visitors is a one-act opera. The words and music were written by Gian Carlo Menotti. Menotti took inspiration from Hieronymus Bosch's "The Adoration of the Magi", a painting in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

paragraphs: It was the first opera written for television. Its first performance was on Christmas Eve 1951 on NBC. It was the first show in the famous "Hallmark Hall of Fame" series. About five million people watched the program. It was the largest audience to ever see an opera on television. "Amahl" was shown every year until 1966.

paragraphs: Menotti wanted Amahl to always be performed by a boy. He wrote, "It is the express wish of the composer that the role of Amahl should always be performed by a boy. Neither the musical nor the dramatic concept of the opera permits the substitution of a woman costumed as a child."

paragraphs: Amahl is a crippled shepherd boy who uses a crutch. He sees a huge star in the night sky. His mother thinks he is lying and sends him to bed. She worries that they will become beggars.

paragraphs: There is a knock at the door. Three kings ask for a place to rest. They are on their way to Bethlehem to find a newborn child. Amahl pesters them with many questions. Shepherds arrive to dance for the kings. The kings grow sleepy and the shepherds go home.

paragraphs: The room is dark and everyone is asleep. The mother tries to steal a piece of gold from the kings. She is caught by their servant. Amahl wakes and beats the servant. He falls exhausted. The kings tell the mother to keep the gold. They tell her the wonderful baby they are seeking has no need for gold because his kingdom is Heaven.

paragraphs: Amahl offers his crutch to this wonderful baby. He takes a few stumbling steps. A miracle has occurred. He can walk. He leaves with the kings to give his crutch to the baby himself. His mother waves good-bye.


title: The Medium

paragraphs: The Medium is a two-act opera with words and music by Gian Carlo Menotti. It was commissioned by Columbia University. Its first performance was there on May 8, 1946. The opera's first professional production was presented on a double bill with Menotti's "The Telephone". This occurred at the Heckscher Theater, New York City, on February 18-20, 1947 by the Ballet Society. The Broadway production took place on May 1, 1947, at the Ethel Barrymore Theater with the same cast. In 1951, Menotti directed, with the help of filmmaker Alexander Hammid, a movie version made to resemble film noir. It starred Anna Maria Alberghetti. A live television production starring Marie Powers took place on December 12, 1948 on the TV series "Studio One".

paragraphs: Monica, Madame Flora's daughter, and Toby, a mute servant boy rescued from "the streets of Budapest" play dress-up. When Madame Flora, or "Baba" as they call her, arrives home drunk, she violently chastises them for not preparing for that night's seance. Soon the guests arrive, Mr. and Mrs. Gobineau, regulars, and the widow Mrs. Nolan who is attending for the first time. With Madame Flora in a trance in her chair, a fake seance is held where Mrs. Nolan speaks with what she thinks is her deceased sixteen-year-old daughter but is really Monica behind a screen. As Monica disappears, Mrs. Nolan rushes toward the figure and is restrained by the Gobineaus. When order is restored, Mr. and Mrs. Gobineau "communicate" with their deceased two-year-old son Mickey who does nothing but laugh. After they say goodbye to him, Madame Flora "suddenly, with a loud gasp... clutches at her throat with both hands." She feels a phantom hand clutching her throat and is "terror-stricken." After demanding that the guests leave, she calls for Monica and tells her what she felt, eventually blaming Toby who was in the other room the whole time. In an effort to calm Baba's drunken rage toward Toby, Monica sings her the dark lullaby "The Black Swan" which is interrupted by a voice that Baba hears causing her to fly into a terrified rage at Toby for not telling her where the voice is coming from. The act ends with Monica again singing the lullaby while Baba recites her Hail Marys.

paragraphs: Toby is giving a puppet show for Monica, their mutual love becomes more obvious. When Baba comes home, she resumes her accusations on Toby, sure that he knows what went on that night. The guests again arrive, expecting another seance but are driven away by Madame Flora who tries to convince them that the whole thing was a sham by revealing all the tricks that she and Monica used. But the guests are not convinced and leave claiming that while she might have thought she was cheating them, she in fact was not. Once the guests are gone, she drives Toby out despite Monica's pleas on his behalf. With everyone gone, and Monica in her room, Baba pours herself another drink and questions her own sanity, becoming wild with drink and eventually passing out. Once she has fallen asleep, Toby sneaks back in and tries to get into Monica's room, but finds it locked and eventually goes to the trunk to find his tambourine. While searching, he knocks the lid of the trunk down waking Baba. Toby quickly hides in the puppet theater. As Baba tries to see where the noise came from and fetches a revolver from a drawer in the table. "Hysterically" she shouts out "Who is it? Speak or I'll Shoot!" and the puppet theater curtain moves. "Baba screams and fires at it several times." As Toby's bloody body collapses grasping the curtain, Baba says "I've killed the ghost! I've killed the ghost!" Monica, hearing the gunshots, enters, sees Toby's lifeless body and runs for help. As the final curtain falls "very slowly" Baba asks "in a hoarse whisper," "Was it you?"


title: Negro

paragraphs: The word “Negro” is used in the English-speaking world to refer to a person of black ancestry or appearance. It has been used for people of African ancestry as well as people from other places. The word "negro" means 'black' in Spanish and Portuguese. It comes from the Latin word ""niger"" which means 'black'.

paragraphs: "Negro" replaced the term "colored" as the most polite term. This was done when the term "black" was more offensive. This use of the word was accepted as normal during the Civil Rights Movement during the late 1960s. It was accepted even by the people it was used to describe. One example of this is Martin Luther King, Jr. using the term "negro" when talking about his own race in his 1963 speech "I Have a Dream."

paragraphs: During the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 1960s, some African-American leaders in the United States did not like this word. People like Malcolm X wanted the word ""Black"" to be used. This was because they saw a connection between the term "Negro" and slavery, segregation, and discrimination.

paragraphs: Since the late 1960s, many other terms have been more commonly used. These include "Black", "Black African", "Afro-American" and "African American". The words "African American" have been used in the United States to refer to Black Americans. These people were often called American Negroes in the past.

paragraphs: The term "Negro" is still used in some ways. It is used by the United Negro College Fund and the Negro league in sports.

paragraphs: The United States Census Bureau said that "Negro" would be used on the 2010 United States Census, with "Black" and "African-American". This was because some older Black Americans still feel this is the word that describes them.

paragraphs: Around 1442 the Portuguese first went to sub-Saharan Africa. They were trying to find a way to get to India by boat. The term ""negro"" was used by the Spanish and Portuguese as a simple description of people. It means "black". From the 18th century to the late 1960s, "negro" was the proper English-language term for most people of sub-Saharan African origin.

paragraphs: Most people stopped using the word "Negro" by the early 1970s in the United States. Many older African Americans grew up when "Negro" was "widely" said to be the correct term. They thought the term "Black" was more offensive than "Negro." This can be seen by the use the word by historical African-American organizations and institutions. Currently, "Negro" is "generally" thought to be not offensive when used in a historical way. For example, baseball's Negro Leagues of the early and mid-20th century. It is also used in the name of older organizations. These include Negro spirituals, the United Negro College Fund or the Journal of Negro Education. The U.S. Census now uses "Black, African-American or Negro." The term "Negro" is used to try to include older African Americans who think it is a better term.

paragraphs: The word "Negroid" was used by 19th and 20th century racial anthropologists. The suffix -oid means "similar to". "Negroid" as a noun was used to name a larger category of people than the word "Negro".


title: Serenade for Strings

paragraphs: Serenade for Strings in C major, Op. 48 is a work for string orchestra by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. It premiered in 1880. The serenade consists of four movements:

paragraphs: Tchaikovsky intended the first movement to be an imitation of Mozart's style. It was based on the form of the classical sonatina, with a slow introduction. The 36-bar "Andante" introduction is marked "sempre marcatissimo". It is littered with double-stopping in the violins and violas. This introduction returns at the end of the movement. It reappears, transformed, in the coda of the fourth movement. Tchaikovsky intended the work for a large string orchestra. On the second page of the score, he wrote, "The larger the string orchestra, the better will the composer's desires be fulfilled." George Balanchine used the work for his ballet "Serenade" in 1934Excerpts from the score were used in the 2005 ballet "Anna Karenina", choreographed by Boris Eifman. The waltz was arranged for soprano and full orchestra for the 1945 MGM movie "Anchors Aweigh". It was performed by Kathryn Grayson with José Iturbi conducting the MGM studio orchestra.


title: Ancient philosophy

paragraphs: Ancient philosophy refers to the philosophies of Ancient China, Greece, Rome, India, Iran, etc. These places had large empires before 200 BC. This time is sometimes called the Axial Age of thought.

paragraphs: Ancient philosophy in Europe refers mainly to that of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. Diogenes Laërtius, a 3rd-century scholar wrote Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers, which summarized the position of many Ancient Greek philosophers. This work was translated into Latin and meant that Ancient Greek philosophy remained known even after Library of Alexandria lost its influence. Most of Ancient philosophy was forgotten after the 6th century. After this, it was mainly through Islamic thinkers such as Avicenna (11th century), Averroës (12th century), or the Jewish philosopher Maimonides (12th century) that Ancient philosophy became known again. Medieval philosophy, such as that of Albertus Magnus (13th century) or Thomas Aquinas meant that the works of thinkers such as Aristotle were well known.


title: The River (American TV series)

paragraphs: The River is an American television series. The series uses many different genres. These include paranormal, action/adventure, mystery and horror. The series was first broadcast during the 2011–12 winter season on ABC. Eight episodes will be made for the first season. The series was first shown on Tuesday February 7, 2012 at 9pm EST.

paragraphs: Explorer Dr. Emmet Cole (Bruce Greenwood) went looking for magic in the Amazon. He never came back. To the millions of kids who grew up watching his nature show, Dr. Cole was a hero. To his son, Lincoln (Joe Anderson), he was more of mystery. Six months after Cole was lost, Lincoln was ready to accept that his father was dead. This changes when Dr. Cole's emergency beacon goes off. Lincoln and his mother, Tess (Leslie Hope), begin a search for his father. To pay for the rescue, they let Dr. Cole's ex-producer, Clark (Paul Blackthorne), film the mission as a documentary. They and a group of others go to the Amazon to try and find Dr. Cole.

paragraphs: Oren Peli and Michael R. Perry created this series about a documentary crew searching the Amazon for a scientist-explorer-television host.

paragraphs: In September, 2010, ABC bought the rights to make the series. NBC also wanted to make it, but ABC offered more money. The show will broadcast on CTV in Canada.

paragraphs: The show has been well liked by the critics. It has a score of 65/100 from Metacritic.

paragraphs: "The River" was first broadcast in the United States and Canada on February 7, 2012. It is not being broadcast the United Kingdom but was on iTunes on February 8, 2012.


title: Shin Don

paragraphs: Shin Don (Korean:신돈, hanja:辛旽, 1322~July 1371) was a Korean Goryeo Dynasty scholar, politician, and Buddhist monk. His first name was Pyeonjo (편조, 遍照). a penname was Chunghangeosa (청한거사, 淸閑居士). His Chinese style name was Yogong (요공, 耀空). He was a teacher and advisor of king Gongmin of Goryeo.


title: Subtitle (captioning)

paragraphs: Subtitles are text-like versions of the dialog in movies. Subtitles are also used in television programmes and video games. The text is usually displayed at the bottom of the screen. Subtitles can also be a form of written translation of a dialog in an unfamiliar language, or a written text version of the spoken words in the same language, with or without added information to help watchers who are not able to hear or people who cannot understand the spoken dialogue.


title: W (magazine)

paragraphs: W is a monthly American fashion magazine published by Condé Nast Publications. It was started in 1972 by the publisher of sister magazine Woman's Wear Daily, James Brady. The magazine is an oversize set – ten inches wide and thirteen inches tall. W magazine has nearly half a million, 469,000 subscribers. 80 percent of the magazine's readers are girls and women.


title: Iraj Eskandari

paragraphs: Iraj Eskandari (1908 – 1985) was an Persian Qajar politician. He was active in the Persian Revolution. He was killed in prison during the reign of Mohammad Ali Shah Qajar.


title: Béatrice Vialle

paragraphs: Béatrice Vialle (born 4 August 1961 at Bourges) is a French pilot. She is one of the two female Concorde pilots. She was the first French female pilot on a supersonic airliner.

paragraphs: She graduated from École nationale de l'aviation civile (promotion 1981).


title: Sandal Bar

paragraphs: Sandal Bar (), is a large and ancient region of Punjab. It is between the river Ravi and river Chenab. It spreads over almost 80 km from east to west and 40 km north to south. "Bar", in the local language, means a forested area where there are no resources for cultivation, like water.

paragraphs: Punjabi is the main language of the region. Many people also speak Urdu. Some who came from Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh States of India during the Partition of India of 1947 speak Haryanvi or Mewati.


title: Nankana Sahib

paragraphs: Nankana Sahib, (Shahmukhi: ; Gurmukhi: ) is a city in the Nankana Sahib District. This new district formed in 2005. The city used to be called Rai-Bhoi-Di-Talwandi and was part of the old Sheikhupura District. Nankana Sahib is in the region of Punjab. It is about 75 kilometres west of Lahore and about 55 kilometres east of Faisalabad.

paragraphs: The village of Nankana Sahib was founded by Rai Boi. He was a Muslim Rajput of Bhatti Clan, and a retainer of the Delhi Sultanate rulers of the early 15th Century. His descendants were Chaudhary Rai Bular (died 1515), who was a devotee of Guru Nanak Dev (1469-1539), the founder of the Sikh religion. Guru Nanak's parents were from Amritsar District area, as his father Mehta Kalu got a new job as a patwari of the village of Rai Bhoi Di Talwandi (now Nankana Sahib), in the Sandal Bar region of Punjab.


title: Detour (1945 movie)

paragraphs: Detour (1945) is a crime movie. It was directed by Edgar G. Ulmer. Critics liked the movie. It has received a lot of praise over the years. The movie is regarded as a good example of film noir.

paragraphs: "Detour" was chosen for preservation in the United States National Film Registry. The movie was remade in 1992 with Tom Neal's son Tom Neal Jr. in his father's role.

paragraphs: Al is hitchhiking to Hollywood. A man named Haskell picks him up. Haskell accidentally dies on the road that night. Al believes the police will think he killed Haskell. He dumps Haskell's body on the side of the road. He runs away with Haskell's money and car.

paragraphs: The next day Al picks up Vera at a gas station. She is a drifter. She knows Al is not Haskell. She threatens to turn him over to the police if he does not obey her orders. She reads in a newspaper that Haskell's rich father wants to find his son.

paragraphs: Vera orders Al to pretend to be Haskell. She wants to get the man's money. Al refuses. Vera gets drunk. They argue. Al accidentally kills her. He hits the road again, but the police nab him.


title: Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit

paragraphs: Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit (1686-1736) was a German physicist. He became known for the precise instruments he made. The degree Fahrenheit is named after him. He was the first to be able to determine the temperature with precision. His thermometers used Ethyl alcohol at first, but he later switched to using mercury. When he read an article by Guillaume Amontons about using mercury in barometers, he got the idea of using that substance for his thermometers. He calinbrated them to a temperature he could produce easily, -17.8 C.

paragraphs: In the year 1721 he discovered that water can be cooled below its freezing point without actually turning into ice.

paragraphs: Fahrenheit also developed a hydrometer, a pycnometer and a hypsobarometer


title: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians

paragraphs: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (1964) is a science fiction children's movie. The movie is about Martians kidnapping Santa Claus so their children (who watch too much television) will have some fun. It was directed by Nicholas Webster and stars John Call as Santa Claus. Pia Zadora plays a Martian child. The movie is considered one of the worst ever made.


title: Brian Williams

paragraphs: Brian Douglas Williams (born May 5, 1959) is the anchor of NBC Nightly News, the evening newscast of NBC. He used to anchor the NBC News broadcast "The News with Brian Williams" on NBC's sister networks CNBC and MSNBC.

paragraphs: On February 10, 2015, Williams was suspended for six months without pay. That was done because he reported false stories regarding his trips to Iraq in 2003 and to New Orleans during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.