The Royal Canadian Air Force Women's Division was a non-combatant element of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) which was active during the Second World War. The Women's Division's original role was to replace male air force personnel so that they would be available for combat-related duties. First called the Canadian Women's Auxiliary Air Force (CWAAF), the name changed to Royal Canadian Air Force Women's Division  in February 1942. Women's Division personnel were commonly known as WDs.

The RCAF was the first branch of the Canadian armed services to actively recruit women.

History

At the beginning of the war, Canadian women began pressing for the right to be allowed to join the war effort. This, along with manpower shortages, led to the air force conceding that women could help the war effort by taking over many men's duties with the aim of freeing up men for work that was directly related to combat. The Royal Air Force suggested that the RCAF form its own women's unit much like the RAF Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF). In June 1941, the government formally decided to allow the enlistment of women in the armed services. The order-in-council, issued on 2 July 1941, authorized "the formation of a component of the Royal Canadian Air Force to be known as the Canadian Women's Auxiliary Air Force, its function being to release to heavier duties those members of the RCAF employed in administrative, clerical and other comparable types of service employment."

The CWAAF was modelled on and structured like the Royal Air Force Women's Auxiliary Air Force. To assist with the organizing of the new RCAF women's unit, several WAAF officers were temporarily loaned by the RAF. Since the CWAAF became an integral part of the RCAF, another order-in-council changed the CWAAF to the RCAF Women's Division (WD) on 3 February 1942.

Originally, only nine trades were open to women; however, duties expanded as the war progressed and 69 trades became available. Among the many jobs carried out by WD personnel, they became clerks, telephone operators, drivers, fabric workers, hairdressers, hospital assistants, instrument mechanics, parachute riggers, photographers, air photo interpreters, intelligence officers, instructors, weather observers, pharmacists, wireless operators, and Service Police. RCAF regulations at the time precluded women who possessed flying licences from flight instructing or front-line duty.
Most WDs were located at British Commonwealth Air Training Plan and RAF training stations across Canada and Newfoundland, many served in Canadian operational stations, some served in the United States and many were posted overseas with RCAF Overseas Headquarters and No. 6 (bomber) Group.

Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, wife of Governor General the Earl of Athlone, was Honorary Air Commandant of the Women's Division.

A total of 17,038 women served with the Women's Division before it was discontinued in December 1946. Twenty WDs received the BEM, 12 officers received the MBE, and one officer, Dr. Jean Davey, was awarded the OBE. Twenty-eight WDs died during the war from various causes.

A memorial dedicated to the Women's Division was placed at CFB Trenton in 2009. The inscription reads: "We Serve
That Men May Fly" "Dedicated to more than 17,000 women who served in the Royal Canadian Air Force Women's Division 1941–1946"

Women were again permitted to enter the RCAF in 1951 when the air force was expanding to cover Canada's NATO commitments. Women were accepted as military pilots in 1980, and Canada became the first Western country to allow women to be fighter pilots in 1988.

Recruitment
Newspapers and radio were used for publicity. Many recruits were attracted by recruiting posters and pamphlets, and many were influenced by a WD precision squad that travelled across Canada. Officers also travelled across Canada to encourage recruitment. Tours of WD facilities were arranged. Films such as Proudly She Marches publicized the Women's Division, and photographs of WDs in uniform taken by Ottawa photographer Yousuf Karsh attracted interest.

At first, 150 women, slated to be officers and NCOs, were specially selected for having the necessary qualifications judged on character, intelligence, leadership potential, and ability to take responsibility. They were expected to have experience in business or social work and with working with people, and have organizing ability. The women chosen were the  very best of applicants; 70% of them had some high school education and 7% had been to university. The criteria were more demanding since they were going to be the leaders of the Women's Division.

For general recruitment, women had to be between 21 and 41 years old, had to pass medical tests, be at least five feet tall, have a normal weight, must have been accepted to high school, be able to pass a trade aptitude test, be of good character, not be married with children under her care, and not hold a permanent civil service appointment.

Training
Selected recruits were sent to manning depot where they learned "drill, deportment, discipline, service customs, etiquette [and the] king's regulations". Selection for trade training was also handled at the manning depot. Some of the trades that were taught at various locations across Canada included meteorology, food preparation, air traffic control, parachute rigging, photo interpretation, photography, typing, administration, wireless operation, and police work.

Living conditions
Most WDs lived in barracks, each wing of which typically accommodated approximately 68 women. WDs who worked at Air Force Headquarters in Ottawa lived in a barrack block that housed up to 800 airwomen. The barracks weren't well insulated. During winter some had to sleep with their uniforms to keep warm while some found unusual ways to insulate their mattresses such as using newspapers. In locations such as cities where government housing was not available, personnel would live in private accommodations and receive an allowance to pay for room, board, and transportation.

Baseball, basketball, and hockey were popular. Women had their own team when there was enough of them on a base, otherwise, they would join the men's team. Depending on station facilities, other activities included golfing, horseback riding, track and field, skiing, swimming, tennis, and skating. Annual summer sports days were arranged to promote "healthy minds in healthy bodies".  Bases often organized dances, musical concerts, talent shows and showed films.

Uniform
The Women's Division uniform was based on the British WAAF uniform. The kit consisted of a blue-grey ("air force blue") tunic and skirt, blue shirt, black necktie, greatcoat, rain coat, black shoes, navy blue cardigan, blue smock, overshoes, lisle grey stockings, gloves, khaki coveralls, grey shorts, tee shirt, summer dress, rank badges and a cap with a pleated crown. A battle dress uniform was issued to those who would be exposed to bad weather. In some instances, lined ski pants, parka, and winter cap with ear flaps were issued. Airwomen who served outside Canada wore a "Canada" flash on the shoulders.

The uniform changed somewhat in 1943.  The new uniform, which was meant to be primarily worn off the stations, added a pleat to the greatcoat and the skirt was changed to a six-gore pattern. The pleated tunic pockets were replaced with flat patch pockets below and false pockets above, and the belt became detachable. A blue leatherette shoulder bag was added. The cap was replaced with one with a kepi-style with a deep visor and higher stiffened front.

The summer uniform consisted of a blue short-sleeved cotton dress with brass buttons. This was eventually replaced with a light khaki uniform based on the new blue (winter) uniform.

Ranks
The Royal Canadian Air Force Women's Division's rank structure was modelled on that of the Royal Air Force's WAAF. Ranks are listed with the most senior rank at the top and are compared with regular RCAF ranks.

See also

Canadian Women's Army Corps
Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service
Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force (Royal Australian Air Force)
New Zealand Women's Auxiliary Air Force
Jean Lee (aircraftwoman) - the only Chinese Canadian woman to serve (as a WD) during the Second World War.

References
Notes

Bibliography

 Barris, Ted. Behind The Glory: The Plan that Won the Allied Air War. Markham, Ontario: Thomas Allen & Son Publishers, 2005. .
 Chartrand, René. Canadian Forces in World War II. Osprey Publishing, 2001. . Retrieved 16 February 2015
 Gossage, Carolyn. Greatcoats and Glamour Boots - Canadian women at war (1939-1945). Toronto: Dundurn Press, 2001. No ISBN
 Manning, Bill. Research Reports / Rapports de recherches Showcasing the Military Aviation Uniform Collection at the Canada Aviation Museum. Canada Science and Technology Museum Corporation. Retrieved 16 February 2015
 Pierson, Ruth Roach. Canadian Women and the Second World War. Ottawa: Canadian Historical Association, 1983. No ISBN
 Whitton, Charlotte. Canadian Women in the War Effort. Toronto: The Macmillan company of Canada limited, 1942. No ISBN
 Wadge, D. Collett, Ed. Women in Uniform. Imperial War Museum, 2003. . pp. 269, 271. Retrieved 14 February 2015
 Ziegler, Mary. We Serve That Men May Fly - The Story of the Women's Division of the Royal Canadian Air Force. Hamilton: RCAF (WD) Association, 1973. No ISBN.

External links
 RCAF Women's Division - Description from Juno Beach Centre
 RCAF Service Police Women
 Watch the 1943 National Film Board of Canada documentary, Wings on Her Shoulder
 Watch Proudly She Marches at NFB.ca
 CBC Digital Archives (audio) - Women of WWII: The women who serve that men may fly

History of the Royal Canadian Air Force
Military units and formations established in 1941
Canadian women in World War II
Military units and formations disestablished in 1946
All-female military units and formations
Women in the Canadian armed services


Olympic Park is the name shared by two former baseball grounds located in Buffalo, New York, United States.

Prelude

From 1878 through 1883, Buffalo's baseball teams had played at an initially unnamed ballpark at Fargo Avenue and Rhode Island Street. The club's owners named it "Riverside Park" in 1882, although it was actually over  from the Niagara River. The owner of the site, Alexander Culbert, decided to develop the property and the team left the site for Olympic Park (I).

First Olympic Park

Olympic Park (I) was home to the Buffalo Bisons baseball club of the National League for two seasons, 1884 and 1885. It was located on the block bounded by Richmond Avenue (west); Summer Street (south); and Norwood Avenue (east). After the National League dropped the Bisons franchise, professional baseball continued to be played there by the Buffalo Bisons of the International League, until the lease expired following the 1888 season. The last professional game in Olympic Park (I) was played on September 28, 1888, when the Buffalo Bisons played the Cuban Giants.

The site of Olympic Park (I) is currently occupied by a residential neighborhood, including the Richmond-Summer Recreation Center.

Second Olympic Park

The Bisons found a new location at a block bounded by East Ferry Street (north, third base); Masten Avenue (east, left field); Woodlawn Avenue (south, right field); and Michigan Avenue (west, first base). This site would remain the primary location of Buffalo professional baseball through the 1960 season. In the late winter and early spring of 1889, the club's owner had the existing (wooden) stands disassembled at the old location, and moved section by section to the new location. The club decided to continue the name because of its familiarity to the public, so it became the new Olympic Park (II).

The club held the grounds for the 1889 season, but in 1890 the Players' League version of the Bisons secured a lease on it. The minor league club had to find another location, and they played the season at grounds in the eastern part of the city, near Genesee Street and the Belt Line Railroad, which was primarily the home field of the amateur Buffalo Baseball League organization.

The Players' League folded after the 1890 season, enabling the minor league Bisons to move back to Olympic Park (II). This would be the Bisons' home stadium through the early part of the 1923 season. During the summer, they demolished the old wooden stands and began building a new set of stands in steel and concrete. It was originally named Bison Stadium, and in 1935 was renamed Offermann Stadium in memory of the club's owner.

In addition to baseball, Olympic Park (II) was also used for football, serving as the home of the Buffalo All-Americans of the National Football League, and several iterations of the New York Pro Football League Championship. The UB Bisons college football squad played its games at the stadium until 1919, after which they moved to Rotary Field on-campus.

The site of Olympic Park (II) / Offermann Stadium is currently occupied by the Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts and a church. In August 2012, a historical plaque was dedicated at the site in remembrance of over 72 years of baseball played on the grounds. Local Buffalo sports historian John Boutet spearheaded the project and raised the funds through the Facebook group Buffalo Sports Museum, the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame and the Buffalo Bisons.

"Buffalo Baseball Park"

In July 1907, Bisons' owner Alexander Potter announced that the ballpark was to be renamed, from Olympic Park to Buffalo Baseball Park. This decision was not binding on news writers, and the Olympic Park name was kept alive for years, by referring to "Buffalo Baseball Park" and "Olympic Park" interchangeably, or by saying "Buffalo Baseball Park (formerly Olympic Park)". By the early 1920s, the name "Olympic Park" was fading from use. During the 1923 season, with construction on the new steel-and-concrete stadium under way, papers continuing calling it "Buffalo Baseball Park" and also "new Bison stadium", unwittingly anticipating its new name. Meanwhile, the name "Buffalo Baseball Park" continued to be used, posted on the signs above the gates, even after Bison Stadium had been renamed Offermann Stadium in 1935. "Buffalo Baseball Park" continued to appear under that name in Buffalo city directories as late as 1957.

References

Sports venues in Buffalo, New York
Buildings and structures in Buffalo, New York
Defunct baseball venues in the United States
Players' League venues
Baseball venues in New York (state)
Defunct sports venues in New York (state)
Minor league baseball venues
Defunct National Football League venues
Buffalo (1920s NFL teams)
1889 establishments in New York (state)
1923 disestablishments in New York (state)
Sports venues completed in 1889
Sports venues demolished in 1923
American football venues in New York (state)

Olympic Park (Buffalo)


ISRO Satellite Integration and Testing Establishment (ISITE) () is an integrated satellite testing facility established under the aegis of ISRO Satellite Center by Indian Space Research Organisation in 2006. Started with an area of 1000 sq ft. at the time when the Aryabhatta satellite was launched, the testing facility is spread over 100-acre and can integrate and test six satellites of the INSAT class at different stages simultaneously: 2 communications, 2 remote sensing and 2 foreign satellites. The investment on the facility is so far about Rs 220 crore and ISRO plans to make a further investment of Rs 100 crore. The facility has also carried out vibration and acoustic tests of Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) spacecraft.

Facilities
The establishment houses four state-of-art facilities:
Assembly, integration & test (AIT) clean room -  A clean room is of the size of 55x34 metre and with a height of 60 metre, has the capacity to build satellites of 6.5 metre height integrating at least 800 elements. The complete airlock chamber will have temperatures ranging from 1 degree C to 22 degree C and the cleanliness level is 1 lakh class (1 lakh particles permissible per cubic metre).The AIT has an Electro static discharge (ESD) floor to drive away static charges from human body.
Comprehensive assembly & test vacuum chamber (CATVAC) - It can simulate conditions in space. CATVAC will test the working performance and the balance testing
Comprehensive assembly and test vibration facility (CATVIB) - A vibration facility which can produce vibrations similar to those that occur during actual launch of spacecraft. The capacity of vibration facility is 29 tons.
Compact antenna test facility (CATF) - It is a fully automated chamber for spacecraft and antenna testing that will ensure the increasingly travelled path of the radio frequency (RF) energy to find out if the antenna is going to cover the geographical location or not.
ISITE Acoustic Test Facility - This facility was designed and commissioned by CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories, Bangalore, for ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC), Bangalore, on 7 April 2011. A 1500 Cu.m. Isolated Reverberation Chamber, which can qualify satellites up to 156 dB in Nitrogen atmosphere, is the largest and one-of-its kind in India.  This facility will be used to perform qualification and acceptance acoustic tests of ISRO's satellites. Prior to this, acoustic tests on satellites were conducted at the ISRO-NAL Acoustic Test Facility located at CSIR-NAL campus. It has its own control room, data room, ground checkout room, air-lock area and air handling units.
Space Science Instrumentation Facility (SSIF) - It is involved in scientific research and instrumentation, in the areas of astronomy and astrophysics, solar physics, planetary science, and space weather. In addition to this, SSIF is set up to assist external colleges, universities and institutions in the design, development and realization of space-worthy science payloads.

The facility tests on ground all payload packages for such launch-exposed energy fields for their mechanical effects under simulated conditions. The acoustic tests are designed to induce dynamic responses in the test specimen similar to those experienced in flight to qualify them under flight conditions to ensure trouble-free operation. The acoustic shielding efficiency of heat shields is also tested in this facility.
Salient Features of the Acoustic Test Facility:
 The 1500 Cu. m Reverberation Chamber (RC) is made of 500mm thick concrete wall with very close dimensional tolerances
 A Helical spring system to carry out modal tests and to minimize vibration transmission to nearby integration area;
 A 175 sq meter air-lock area with 20 ton EOT
 Oxygen sensors with interlocks and alarms
 Adequate clean atmosphere of 100,000 class with AC

Projects
ISITE has been involved in design and development of more than 50 satellites so far of various types namely:scientific, communication and remote sensing. The center is involved in testing of various types of communications and meteorological satellites which are tested after getting fabricated at Space Applications Centre. The Mars Orbiter Mission was also tested here. Some of the other satellites that have undergone testing at the facility are:GSAT-6, GSAT-7 and GSAT-14.

Collaboration
ISRO has planned to support small and mid-sized industries at its 10-year-old second spacecraft complex, the 100-acre ISITE, at Marathahalli in Bengaluru. The facility is already open to suppliers who assemble and test their spacecraft systems for the ISRO. ISRO is hinging on public-private partnership to increase the frequency of satellite launches.

References

External links
 ISITE website

Space programme of India
2006 establishments in Karnataka
Research institutes established in 2006
Research institutes in Bangalore


Demophilus (Δημόφιλος; died 386) was a bishop of Berea and an archbishop of Constantinople from 370 until he was expelled in 380.

Biography
Born of good family in Thessalonica, he was  elected by the Arians to the bishopric of Constantinople. The opinion of the populace, however, were much divided. The orthodox party chose Evagrius for their bishop, and he was ordained by Eustathius, the deposed bishop of Antioch. This was the signal for a furious outburst from the Arians. Both Eustathius and Evagrius were banished by the emperor Valens, and their followers bitterly persecuted.

Soon after his accession, Demophilus went to Cyzicus with Dorotheus, or Theodorus, of Heraclea to procure the election of an Arian bishop, which was left vacant since the banishment of Eunomius. Nevertheless, the people of Cyzicus refused to acknowledge them until they had anathematized Aetius, Eunomius, and their followers. They were then permitted to ordain a bishop chosen by the people. The bishop who was ordained straightway and clearly taught the consubstantial faith.

In 380 emperor Theodosius I made the patriarchate of Demophilus memorable. Theodosius offered to confirm him in his see, if he would accept the Nicene Creed. Demophilus refused, and was immediately ordered to give up his churches. He then called his followers together and retired, with Lucius of Alexandria and others, to a church outside of the city walls. The churches of Constantinople, which had for forty years been in Arian hands, were now restored to the orthodox; and similarly in other cities. It was in fact a re-establishment of Catholicism.

Philostorgius adds that Demophilus went to his own city, Berea; however this must have been some time afterwards, or he must have returned from exile, for he represented the Arian party at the synod in Constantinople in 383. The same writer says that Demophilus was wont to throw everything into confusion, especially the doctrines of the Church, and quotes from a sermon at Constantinople, in which he spoke of the human nature of the Saviour as lost in the divine, as a glass of milk when poured into the sea.

References

Attribution

 Onslow used the following sources:
Philostorgius. H. E. ix. 10, 13, 14, 19;
Philostorgius Patrol. Gk. lxv.;
Socrates Scholasticus H. E. iv. 14, v. 7, 10;
Sozomenus H. E. vi. 13, 14; vii. 12;
 Soz. and Socr. Patrol. Gk. lxvii.

|-

386 deaths
Arian bishops
4th-century Archbishops of Constantinople
Roman-era Thessalonians
Christianity in Roman Macedonia
4th-century Romans
Year of birth unknown
Arian Archbishops of Constantinople

Demophilus of Constantinople


Donald D. Lapre (May 19, 1964 – October 2, 2011) was an American multi-level marketing and infomercial salesman. His work involved product packages such as "The Greatest Vitamin in the World" and "Making Money Secrets".

Lapre was criticized as selling questionable business plans that often did not work for his clients. In June 2011, Lapre was charged with 41 counts of conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud, and promotional money laundering related to his Internet businesses. He was arrested on June 24, 2011, for failing to appear in court to face these charges.

He died on October 2, 2011, while in jail awaiting  trial. The autopsy report stated that he died of blood loss after cutting his throat with a razor blade.

Business ventures
Born in Providence, Rhode Island, Lapre moved to Phoenix, Arizona with his family when he was a child. He married Sally Redondo in 1988. A high-school dropout, Lapre, together with his wife, started a credit repair business called Unknown Concepts in 1990. Lapre then began selling a 36-page booklet explaining how to recover a Federal Housing Administration insurance refund after paying off a home mortgage. He also began offering "900" phone lines. On TV infomercials in the early–mid 1990s, he claimed that by placing "tiny classified ads" in newspapers he was "able to make $50,000 a week from [his] tiny one-bedroom apartment".

In 1992, Lapre began broadcasting The Making Money Show with Don Lapre, which suggested that viewers could make money as easily as he had. For several years the show was ranked among the 10 most frequently broadcast cable television infomercials.  The principal product was Lapre's "Money Making Secrets", a package of booklets, tapes, and common-sense tips for placing ads and operating a 900-number business. The product was sold through New Strategies, whose parent company was Tropical Beaches.

He later began broadcasting infomercials for "The Greatest Vitamin in the World".  In 2005, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned Lapre about claims his vitamins were intended as a drug for diseases such as diabetes, stroke, heart disease, insomnia, cancer, and arthritis. The FDA stated "[his] products [were] not generally recognized as safe and effective for the above referenced conditions." In 2006, the FDA again warned Lapre about untruthful claims.

Charges
According to a June 15, 2011, Associated Press article, Lapre was indicted by a federal grand jury in Phoenix, Arizona, on June 8, 2011, on accusations of running a nationwide scheme to sell worthless Internet businesses. Federal prosecutors accused Lapre of bilking more than 220,000 victims out of nearly $52 million. He was charged with 41 counts of conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud, promotional money laundering, and transactional money laundering. A federal judge issued a bench warrant for Lapre on June 22, 2011, after he failed to appear at his arraignment.

On June 27, 2011, Lapre was arrested in Tempe, Arizona, at a Life Time Fitness center, where he had reportedly lived for two days, with serious self-inflicted knife wounds to his groin.  The wounds led authorities to believe Lapre had attempted suicide while at Life Time Fitness by attempting to sever the femoral artery in his legs.

Death
Lapre died on October 2, 2011, while in jail awaiting his trial, which was scheduled to begin on October 4, 2011. The autopsy report stated that he died of massive blood loss after cutting his throat with a razor blade and had wrapped himself in sheets to conceal the massive blood loss from anyone who might try to save him.

In popular culture

David Spade appeared in two sketches parodying Don Lapre on Saturday Night Live.
John C. McGinley played Dick Dupre, a spoof of Don Lapre and his astrologer Melissa Lipnutz, in the film Puff, Puff, Pass.

References

1964 births
2011 suicides
2011 deaths
American television personalities
Consumer fraud
Infomercial pitchmen
People who died by suicide in prison custody
Businesspeople from Providence, Rhode Island
Television personalities from Phoenix, Arizona
American salespeople
Suicides by sharp instrument in the United States
Suicides in Arizona
American people who died in prison custody
Prisoners who died in United States federal government detention
American confidence tricksters
20th-century American businesspeople
Suicides by sharp instrument

Don Lapre


Zhang Hao () (died June 18, 908) was a guard commander for late Chinese Tang Dynasty warlord Yang Xingmi the Prince of Wu, who was the military governor (Jiedushi) of Huainan Circuit (淮南, headquartered in modern Yangzhou, Jiangsu), and Yang Xingmi's son Yang Wo (Prince Wei of Hongnong) early in the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period.  Along with fellow guard commander Xu Wen, he took over reins of the Hongnong state (which, in later times, would be known as Wu) by effectively putting Yang Wo under physical control.  In 908, fearing that Yang Wo was about to seize power back and kill them, they assassinated him first.  However, they then turned on each other, and Zhang was killed by Xu, who then took sole rein of Hongnong.

Background
It is not known when Zhang Hao was born, but it is known that he was from Cai Prefecture (蔡州, in modern Zhumadian, Henan).  At one point, he served as a soldier under Qin Zongquan, who was at one point a Tang Dynasty-commissioned military governor (Jiedushi) of Fengguo Circuit (奉國, headquartered at Cai Prefecture) but who later declared himself to be emperor of a new state.  Zhang, while serving under Qin, was known for his ferocity in battle, and he was later assigned to serve under Qin's general Sun Ru when Qin sent his brother Qin Zongheng () and Sun to try to capture Huainan Circuit (淮南, headquartered in modern Yangzhou, Jiangsu) in 887, which was then in a state of confusion after battles between Qin Yan and Bi Shiduo on one side and Yang Xingmi and Lü Yongzhi on the other for control of the circuit.  (Sun soon killed Qin Zongheng and took over his army.)  During a battle where Yang's army prevailed over Sun's, Zhang surrendered to Yang.

Service under Yang Xingmi
Yang Xingmi treated Zhang Hao well, and at one point he assigned him to be part of his army protecting Yang's ancestral home Lu Prefecture (廬州, in modern Hefei, Anhui).  In 889, however, when Yang was away attacking Xuan Prefecture (宣州, in modern Xuancheng, Anhui), Sun attacked Lu Prefecture, and Cai Chou () the prefect of Lu Prefecture, whom Yang had left in charge of Lu Prefecture, surrendered.  Sun allowed Cai to retain Lu Prefecture, and Zhang continued to serve under Cai.  After Yang finally defeated and killed Sun in 892, Cai did not resubmit to Yang.  Rather, he allied with Ni Zhang () the prefect of Shu Prefecture (舒州, in modern Anqing, Anhui) to jointly resist Yang.  Yang sent his general Li Shenfu to put Lu Prefecture under siege and later joined the siege himself in early 893.  During the siege, Zhang climbed over the city walls and surrendered to Yang again.  Yang initially assigned him to serve under Yuan Zhen () the commander of Yinqiang Corps ().  Yuan, believing Zhang has shown himself to be unreliable, asked Yang for permission to executed Zhang.  Yang did not want to see that happen, and believing that Yuan would not tolerate Zhang, instead assigned Zhang to his own guard corps.

Zhang Hao's activities over the next 12 years were not recorded in history, but by 905, by which time Yang Xingmi had come to control the territory between Huai River and Lake Tai and carried the Tang-bestowed title of Prince of Wu, Zhang was serving as the commander of the right guard corps (with another officer of Yang's, Xu Wen, serving as the commander of the left guard corps).  In 905, when Yang grew extremely ill, Yang's oldest son Yang Wo, who was not well-respected by his officers, was serving as the governor (觀察使, Guanchashi) of Xuan Prefecture.  Yang Xingmi instructed his secretary Zhou Yin () to summon Yang Wo, preparing to transfer authorities to him; Zhou opposed this, arguing that Yang Wo was frivolous and an alcoholic, instead suggesting that Yang Xingmi entrust his domain to Liu Wei (), who was then serving as the prefect of Lu Prefecture, instead.  Yang Xingmi was shocked by this proposal, and when Xu and Zhang heard of it, they opposed as well on the grounds that Yang Xingmi built his domain and should transfer it to a son; Yang Xingmi agreed.  (Subsequently, when Xu and Yan Keqiu realized that Zhou had not sent the order to summon Yang Wo, they took the order and sent it; Yang Wo then returned to Huainan's capital Yang Prefecture ().  Yang Xingmi transferred his authorities to Yang Wo, and then died.  Yang Wo succeeded him and used the lesser title (bestowed by Emperor Zhaozong's emissary Li Yan) the Prince of Hongnong.

Service under Yang Wo
After Yang Wo annexed Zhennan Circuit (鎮南, headquartered in modern Nanchang, Jiangxi) in 906, he became increasingly arrogant and intolerant.  He executed Zhou Yin, which caused fear to permeate among his staff members.  Despite being still in the mourning period for Yang Xingmi, he spent his time, day and night, in feast and games.  When Zhang Hao and Xu Wen tried to tearfully dissuade him from such behavior, he angrily stated to them, "If you believe that I am not capable enough, why do you not kill me and take over yourselves?"  This caused them to be fearful as well.  They thus planned to act against Yang Wo.  They first sent three officers who commanded Yang Wo's personal army (which he brought back from Xuan Prefecture), Zhu Siqing (), Fan Sicong (), and Chen Fan () to join under the general Qin Pei () in Qin's operations to pacify Zhennan, and then sent an officer, Chen You () to execute them at Qin's camp under false charges of treason.  When Yang Wo heard of this, he prepared to kill Zhang and Xu, but before he could act, they acted first.  In spring 907, they took 200 guards under their command into the mansion, claiming to be carrying out bingjian (兵諫, i.e., "correction by force").  They executed a group of Yang Wo's close associates and then, while not physically acting against Yang Wo himself, effectively took control of the headquarters.  If other officers disagreed with them, they found reasons to execute those officers.

Assassination of Yang Wo and death
Later in 907, the powerful warlord Zhu Quanzhong the military governor of Xuanwu Circuit (宣武, headquartered in modern Kaifeng, Henan) forced Emperor Zhaozong's son and successor Emperor Ai to yield the throne to him, ending Tang and starting a new Later Liang with Zhu as its Emperor Taizu.  Yang Wo, along with Li Keyong the Prince of Jin, Li Maozhen the Prince of Qi, and Wang Jian the Prince of Shu, did not recognize the new Later Liang emperor as emperor, and continued to use the Tang era name of Tianyou.  Without a Tang emperor, however, he was in effect the ruler of a new state of Hongnong.

However, Zhang Hao and Xu Wen remained in effective control of the headquarters, and Yang Wo was hoping to, but unable to, eliminate them.  They considered their own positions precarious, however, and they resolved to kill Yang Wo, divide the domain between themselves, and then submit to Later Liang.  On June 9, 908, Zhang sent his subordinate Ji Xiang () into Yang Wo's mansion with soldiers under Zhang's command and killed him in his bedroom.  (The reason why only Zhang's soldiers were used was that Xu pointed out that if they mixed soldiers, the soldiers may not cooperate with each other, and Zhang did not want to let Xu's soldiers conduct the assassination.)  Zhang and Xu subsequently declared that Yang Wo had died of a sudden illness.  When Zhang postured at taking over command of the domain, however, Yan Keqiu spoke up against it and subsequently produced a document, which he claimed to be from Yang Wo's mother Lady Dowager Shi, pleading for allegiance of the officers behind her younger son Yang Longyan.  Zhang, rebuffed in his attempt to directly take over, acquiesced and allowed Yang Longyan to take the throne as the new Prince of Hongnong.

Subsequently, Zhang tried to send Xu out of the headquarters to be the governor of Zhexi Circuit (浙西, headquartered in modern Zhenjiang, Jiangsu), but Yan persuaded Xu and Li Chengsi () the deputy military governor of Huainan that Zhang was intending to eliminate them and starting by sending Xu out of the capital; Xu thereafter found excuses to stay at Yang Prefecture.  After Zhang then failed in an assassination attempt against Yan, Yan and Xu plotted to overthrow him.  Xu subsequently got the officer Zhong Taizhang () to join the plot.  On the night of June 18, Zhong took his soldiers and entered headquarters, killing Zhang and his close associates.  Xu then blamed the assassination of Yang Wo on Zhang alone, and effectively took over as Yang Longyan's regent.

Notes and references

 Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 259, 265, 266.
 Spring and Autumn Annals of the Ten Kingdoms (), vol. 13.

9th-century births
908 deaths
Politicians from Zhumadian
Qin Zongquan's state
Yang Wu regents
Yang Wu generals
Generals from Henan

Zhang Hao (general)


Call of Duty: Finest Hour is a first-person shooter video game developed by Spark Unlimited and published by Activision for GameCube, PlayStation 2, and Xbox. It is the first console installment of Call of Duty.

Although it is based on the original Call of Duty for Microsoft Windows, it has a different storyline and acts as a side-story of the main game. It features six intertwined stories and battles based on real events from the perspective of soldiers on each side of the allied campaign (U.S., British, and Soviet).

The game's music was composed by Michael Giacchino, who previously worked on the original Call of Duty and the Medal of Honor franchise. AC/DC singer Brian Johnson provides the voice of Sergeant Starkey, one of the British commandos.

Multiplayer
Finest Hour can support both online and local multi-player support, depending on the console. It had no online multi-player support for the GameCube as it does not take advantage of the GameCube broadband or modem adapter. On the Xbox, Finest Hour had Xbox Live support and up to 32 players can play locally through Xbox's System Link feature. The PlayStation 2 port of Finest Hour also had PS2 Online support, with up to 16 players per session.

Plot

Eastern front
In the Soviet campaign, the player first controls Private Aleksandr Sokolov. Sokolov participates in The Battle of Stalingrad following Sergeant Oleg Puskov. The sergeant is eventually killed by a sniper, sacrificing himself to save Sokolov. A female Soviet sniper, named Tanya Pavelovna appears and shoots the German sniper, then sends Sokolov on a mission to liberate Mamayev Kurgan hill. After the mission is completed, Sokolov becomes Pavelovna's spotter as the two work to harass the Germans. Pavelovna and Sokolov navigate through the sewers to help defend a tractor factory to ensure the safety of a T-34, supervised by Major Nikolai Badanov. In the tank, the major fights his way to General Belov's headquarters. Nikolai has orders from Belov to deliver a radio to a spotter team at the train station in order to coordinate a Katyusha rocket barrage on German armor. Afterward, Badanov is involved in the Soviet assault on a German airfield at Tatsinskaya, codenamed Operation Little Saturn. Nikolai and other T-34s proceed to the airstrip to destroy German aircraft. Upon destroying the airfield they meet up with more Soviets to assault the German headquarter's air traffic control.

North Africa
The British campaign follows Edward Carlyle. Carlyle embarks on a night raid in Matmata with a commando team led by Sergant Starkey to storm a German fortress and destroy a fuel depot. After the Matmata raid, Starkey and Carlyle evacuate in a Jeep. By daybreak Starkey drives through German infested roads, while Carlyle mans the 50. Cal Browning machine gun. Eventually Carlyle and Starkey make it to a besieged British fort, where they rescue Sergeant Dehart and a cartographer and ultimately neutralize the German presence in the fort.

Western Front
The American campaign follows Sergeant Chuck Walker. The first three missions concentrate on the capture of Aachen, with Chuck protecting the tank column along the way. After the capture of Aachen, the story shifts focus to M4 Sherman tank commander Sam Rivers, a young African-American who fends off Germans around the town of Tillet. After that, the newly promoted Lieutenant Walker infiltrates the city of Remagen to scout the Ludendorff Bridge and escort Rivers' tank squad to the bridge. Upon reaching the bridge, a huge hole in the ground prevents the tanks from moving on. Chuck eliminates the German garrison, delivering the bridge into Allied hands, so they can push into Germany.

Reception

The PlayStation 2 version received "generally favorable reviews", while the GameCube and Xbox versions received above-average reviews, according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. IGN stated that despite its portrayal of a good shooter, it is still stuck between realism and over-the-top antics; the graphics were criticized as being very ordinary along with the effects being disappointing and the sound was also found to be out of place in some areas of the game. In Japan, where the PS2 and Xbox versions were ported and published by Capcom on October 27, 2005, Famitsu gave it a score of 33 out of 40 for the latter, and 32 out of 40 for the former.

The Times gave the PS2 and Xbox versions all five stars, saying, "What singles out this series from the rest is that it homes in on the sheer intensity and ugliness of war." However, The Sydney Morning Herald gave the latter console version three stars out of five, saying, "Although missions are well-designed and combat can be intense, sequences such as the battle to reclaim Stalingrad lack the scale and cinematic grandeur of the PC version." Detroit Free Press gave it two stars out of four, saying that the game, "while offering a well-scripted narrative, comes up with precious few reasons to play out these battles again. No surprises here -- just solid, albeit predictable, action that could have been better."

By July 2006, the PlayStation 2 version had sold 1.2 million units and earned $45 million in the U.S. NextGen ranked it as the 41st highest-selling game launched for the PlayStation 2, Xbox or GameCube between January 2000 and July 2006 in that country. Combined sales of Call of Duty console games reached 4 million units. The PS2 version also received a "Platinum" sales award from the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA), indicating sales of at least 300,000 units in the UK.

References

External links

2004 video games
Activision games
BAFTA winners (video games)
Finest Hour
Capcom games
GameCube games
Kuju games
Multiplayer and single-player video games
Multiplayer online games
PlayStation 2 games
RenderWare games
Spark Unlimited games
Video games about Nazi Germany
Video games developed in the United States
Video games featuring female protagonists
Video games scored by Michael Giacchino
Video games set in Belgium
Video games set in Germany
Video games set in Russia
Video games set in Tunisia
Video games set in the Soviet Union
World War II first-person shooters
Xbox games
Exakt Entertainment games

Call of Duty: Finest Hour


In the music industry, a release usually is a creative output from an artist available for sale or distribution. It is a broad term covering the many different forms music can be released in. Music can be released as singles, extended plays or as albums. A popular medium for releases is the Compact Disc (CD).

Musical performers often self-release (self-publish) their recordings without the involvement of an established record label. Some artists or groups who enjoy local or small scale popularity have started their own labels in order to release their music. Others simply sell the music directly to customers. One example is when it is sold at their live concerts. With the growth of the Internet, many musical acts have sold their recordings over the Internet without a record label. Unlike self-publishing a novel, which usually means that publishers did not want to publish it, even well-known musicians will choose to self-release recordings. Music managers are increasingly getting involved in music releases.

The word can also mean the event at which an album or single is first offered for sale. A release is sometimes called an album launch, or single launch.

Related pages
 Music recording sales certification
 Movie release

References

Music industry

Release (music)


Couscous is a traditional North African dish of small steamed granules of rolled semolina that is often served with vegetables and a stew spooned on top.
Couscous is not cooked, but rather steamed (over hot water), and is usually served as a main dish. Spices are indispensable, the most commonly used ones are Ras El Hanout, ginger, pepper and turmeric. These spices are added to the broth with chicken or red meat and vegetables. The stew should be plentiful because the couscous grain is dry, therefore absorbant.

Couscous can also be served cold. In this case, may be the base of a salad accompanied with seafood, or it may be used to make Tabouleh. Couscous can also be used for sweets, by adding milk, raisins, or almonds.

Origins
Couscous originated in North Africa also known as the Maghreb. It is now popular in Armenia and the Middle East. Due to the immigration of North Africans to multiple countries around the world, the dish has nowadays gotten increasingly known in other areas like southern France, Sicilia and Brazil.

Different types of Couscous

In Brazil, couscous is a typical dish from the Northeast of the country, which is part of the three meals of the day. Being commonly prepared with starch, wheat flour, corn, rice or cassava. In Southeast, it is consumed with butter, eggs or meat. In North, it is more common for couscous to be eaten for breakfast, made with coconut milk and accompanied by tapioca. In general, all types of side dishes are accepted in the country. Other examples of foods eaten with couscous are fish, shrimp, and chicken.

Couscous is sold in most supermarkets across Europe and the United States and has been pre-steamed and dried; the package instructions usually mention adding 1.5 measures of boiling water or stock and butter to each measure of couscous and to cover tightly for five minutes. The Couscous then swells and within a few minutes it is ready to fluff with a fork and serve. Pre-steamed Couscous takes less time to prepare than regular Couscous.

Other websites

BBC food glossary: Couscous
 Greg Noakes and Laidia Chouat Noakes 1998. Couscous - the measure of the Maghrib. Saudi Aramco World article on Couscous
 Couscous: long-term Maghreb staple still going strong.  Magharebia.com: News and Views of the Maghreb article on Couscous.

Middle Eastern foods
Algeria
Libyan food
Mauritania
Moroccan culture
National symbols of Tunisia

Couscous


The Big One is a phrase describing any crash usually involving five or more cars in NASCAR, ARCA, and IndyCar racing. It is most commonly used at Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway, although occasionally seen at other tracks as well, such as Dover Motor Speedway and Watkins Glen International.

Coining the phrase

Until the 2000s, massive crashes were referred to as "major" or "terrific" crashes.

By the mid-1990s, competitors and media began taking note of the multi-car wrecks at Daytona and Talladega. In 1997, Dale Earnhardt described a final-lap crash at the 1997 Pepsi 400 as "the Big Wreck". News articles began using the term "Big Wreck" to describe such crashes in 1998, and by 1999, its use was widespread. Drivers began to openly admit they were apprehensive of its possibility.

One of the first times the term "The Big One" was used on-air was during the Winston 500 on ESPN October 11, 1998. Commentator Bob Jenkins said during the crash on lap 134 "This is the big one that we had hoped we would not have." One of the first published instances of the term "The Big One," was an April 18, 2000, article on ESPN.com about a crash in the DieHard 500. The term was also being used informally by fans on message boards.

During the 2001 Daytona 500, Fox commentator Darrell Waltrip used the term on-air to describe an 18-car crash in the backstretch on lap 173, as saying "It's the big one, gang, it's the big one. It's what we've all been fearing in this kind of racing is going to happen."

By 2001, the phrase was widely used by competitors, fans, and in print and broadcast media. It soon became standard NASCAR vernacular, and it became a retronym to describe past such accidents as well.

The Big One has been the subject of criticism of NASCAR. Some have complained that the sanctioning body, promoters and media have celebrated the crashes.

By 2009, Talladega Superspeedway marketed itself on the notorious crashes, with hot dogs, and later meatballs billed as "The Big One," with activities on Friday night after on-track action concludes billed as "The Big One on Talladega Boulevard".

Examples

NASCAR Cup Series
2001 Daytona 500:
On the back straightaway on lap 173, fifth-place Robby Gordon got into the back of fourth-place Ward Burton, turning Burton left into third-place Tony Stewart's right rear. Stewart's car went straight into the wall, catching air, landing on its side on top of Gordon's car, and tumbling across the track while getting hit by other cars. The car briefly landed on top of Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Bobby Labonte before falling onto the track and rolling to a stop in the infield grass. Burton's and Stewart's cars blocked the track, starting a chain reaction crash that collected 18 cars in total, including Burton, Stewart, Labonte, Gordon, Rusty Wallace, Steve Park, Terry Labonte, Mark Martin, Jerry Nadeau, Jason Leffler, Elliott Sadler, John Andretti, Jeff Burton, Andy Houston, Jeff Gordon, Kenny Wallace, Buckshot Jones, and Dale Jarrett. This crash, however, was later overshadowed by Dale Earnhardt's fatal crash on the last lap. Incidentally, Earnhardt had narrowly escaped being caught up in the lap 173 crash, nearly being hit by the spinning Ward Burton.
2002 Daytona 500:
Second-place Kevin Harvick attempted to block the advancing Jeff Gordon going into turn one on lap 149, resulting in the two making contact and Harvick being spun down to the apron. Harvick slid up the track, hit the wall, and slid back down the track, collecting an additional 17 cars (18 in total). Matt Kenseth, Ricky Rudd, Ken Schrader, John Andretti, Kenny Wallace, Casey Atwood, Johnny Benson Jr., Bobby Labonte, Jeremy Mayfield, Joe Nemechek, Mike Wallace, Jimmie Johnson, Bobby Hamilton, Todd Bodine, Dave Blaney, Jerry Nadeau, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (his third incident in the race). Eventual race winner Ward Burton barely made it to the inside of the spinning Harvick to avoid the crash.
2002 Aaron's 499:
On lap 164, Jimmie Johnson shuffled Kyle Petty out of line in turn 1. Coming on to the backstretch, Petty found a spot in line, but the whole field stacked up behind him, causing Mike Wallace to force Tony Stewart against the outside wall, causing a crash that collected 23 cars: Wallace, Stewart, Steve Park, Rusty Wallace, Terry Labonte, Mark Martin, Casey Atwood, Bill Elliott, Johnny Benson Jr., Matt Kenseth, Bobby Labonte, Jeremy Mayfield, Elliott Sadler, Kevin Harvick, Robby Gordon, Ricky Craven, Jimmy Spencer, John Andretti, Steve Grissom, Bobby Hamilton, Dave Blaney, Geoff Bodine, and Ricky Rudd. Sadler took the biggest hit in the wreck by slamming the corner of the inside wall on the right side, while Benson had to be pulled out of his car after it caught fire on pit road. However, all of the drivers involved escaped injury.
2003 Aaron's 499:
On lap 4, entering turn one, Ryan Newman blew a tire, bounced off Mark Martin, and smashed hard into the turn one wall, almost turning over. One of Newman's tires came off as he spun back down the track, and the tire bounced off Ricky Rudd's hood, causing it to bounce over the catch fence and land in a restricted access area outside the track. Mayhem ensued as cars checked up behind attempting to avoid Newman, who spun across the middle of the track, resulting the largest recorded wreck in modern Cup Series competition. The crash collected a total of 27 cars, the others being Jack Sprague, Jerry Nadeau, Hermie Sadler, Mike Wallace, Steve Park, Rusty Wallace, Mike Skinner, Mark Martin, Jimmy Spencer, eventual race winner Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Johnny Benson Jr., Greg Biffle, Matt Kenseth, Bobby Labonte, Tony Stewart, Jeff Green, Casey Mears, Jamie McMurray, John Andretti, Kyle Petty, Ken Schrader, Todd Bodine, Dave Blaney, Dale Jarrett, and Jeff Burton.
2005 Aaron's 499:
On lap 132, Mike Wallace, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. got together in the tri-oval near pit road exit, forcing Scott Riggs and Wallace to careen into the wall hard, and collecting 23 other cars (25 in all): Kyle Busch, Dave Blaney, Mark Martin, Ryan Newman, Matt Kenseth, Bobby Labonte, Rusty Wallace, Ricky Rudd, Kasey Kahne, Mike Bliss, Mike Skinner, Brian Vickers, Scott Wimmer, Bobby Hamilton Jr., Kerry Earnhardt, Sterling Marlin, Jeff Green, Jason Leffler, Boris Said, Casey Mears, Joe Nemechek, and Carl Edwards. Fox studio analyst Jeff Hammond estimated the total damage at $8 million. The race was red-flagged for about 43 minutes for extensive cleanup.
2012 Good Sam Roadside Assistance 500:
On lap 189, the last lap of a green-white-checker restart following Jamie McMurray's spin with five laps to go, Tony Stewart tried to block the advancing draft of Michael Waltrip and Casey Mears in turn four. As Stewart moved down to block Waltrip, he was passed on the outside by Matt Kenseth (the only car ahead of the crash; would go on to win the race). Stewart came across the front of Waltrip's car, turned sideways, and spun up into the pack, collecting 24 other cars (25 in all): Waltrip, Mears, Kevin Harvick, Marcos Ambrose, Sam Hornish Jr., Aric Almirola, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Paul Menard, Clint Bowyer, David Ragan, Regan Smith, Dave Blaney, Jeff Burton, Kasey Kahne, Brad Keselowski, Bobby Labonte, Martin Truex Jr., David Gilliland, Terry Labonte, Landon Cassill, Denny Hamlin, Jeff Gordon, and Kyle Busch. Stewart's car went upside down and landed on top of Kahne, Menard, and Bowyer before flipping back over and coming to rest at the exit of turn four. Gordon and Kyle Busch escaped the wreck on the apron with only minor damage to finish in second and third place, respectively. Most of the cars were caught in the initial pileup; however, five cars (Keselowski, Truex, Bobby Labonte, Cassill, and Gilliland) were swept up as the others cars began the spin down into the infield and another (Hamlin) spun out by himself and sustained front-end damage. Travis Kvapil, Greg Biffle, and Ryan Newman avoided the wreck at the back of the pack to take top-ten finishes. Following this crash, Earnhardt Jr., who had taken a few hard hits in the crash, was diagnosed with a concussion, requiring him to sit out the next two races (Charlotte and Kansas). He was replaced by Regan Smith at both of them.
2014 Sprint Unlimited:
On lap 36, going through the tri-oval, Matt Kenseth attempted to move to the inside to carry his momentum around the slightly slower car of Brad Keselowski; however, he didn't have enough room and was turned by Joey Logano. As Kenseth came back up the track, he collected Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, Carl Edwards, Kurt Busch, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Stewart and Gordon ended up pinned against the wall, with Busch's front end under Gordon's car and Stenhouse's front end under Busch's car. Danica Patrick spun out while trying to miss both the larger crash and the spinning car of Edwards, but she did not hit anything. As her car came to a stop, she was t-boned by the accelerating Stenhouse, who couldn't see because of front-end damage and was trying to make it back to the garage. Kevin Harvick was also involved in the crash, but his damage was only from running through debris.
2015 Coke Zero 400:
On lap 3, David Gilliland tried to drop in behind Dale Earnhardt Jr. on the inside line, failing to see Clint Bowyer, and got turned around by Bowyer, and collected an additional ten cars, including Michael Annett, Greg Biffle, Sam Hornish Jr., Bobby Labonte, Joey Logano, and Danica Patrick.
On lap 105, Matt Kenseth got loose in front of Kasey Kahne out of turn 4. Kenseth's car then washed up the track, collecting nine additional cars, including Aric Almirola, Kyle Larson, Martin Truex Jr., Jamie McMurray, Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, Sam Hornish Jr., David Ragan, and Trevor Bayne.
On lap 161, the final lap of a green-white-checker finish, second place Denny Hamlin got tapped by Kevin Harvick, spinning him in front of the 27-car lead pack as they crossed the finish line. Hamlin drifted back up into traffic and was hit by Austin Dillon, causing Dillon's car to fly over two other rows of cars, flip, and hit the catch fence. The crash collected 25 cars: Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Jeff Gordon, Kyle Busch, David Ragan, Matt Kenseth, Matt Dibenedetto, A. J. Allmendinger, Greg Biffle, Brett Moffitt, Landon Cassill, Alex Bowman, Justin Allgaier, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Cole Whitt, Austin Dillon, Jamie McMurray, Ryan Newman, Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, Casey Mears, Paul Menard, Tony Stewart, Trevor Bayne, and Brendan Gaughan, with the only uninvolved cars from the lead pack being race winner Dale Earnhardt Jr., second place Jimmie Johnson, and fifth place Kurt Busch. Twenty-four cars from the lead pack, as well as the trailing car of Brad Keselowski, were swept up in the melee. The crash occurred after the cars crossed the finish line, as Hamlin finished third and Harvick fourth, while Dillon finished seventh.
2016 GEICO 500:
On lap 96, Austin Dillon got turned into the outside wall by the car of David Gilliland, and in the ensuing check-up Jimmie Johnson spun out, and Chris Buescher flipped several times down the backstretch. Also involved were Jamie McMurray, Carl Edwards, and Michael Annett.
On lap 161, Kurt Busch attempted to give Johnson a push going into turn 1, which sent Johnson into the outside wall and back into traffic, collecting an additional twenty cars, including Greg Biffle, Kyle Larson, Dillon (his second crash of the afternoon, as was Johnson's), Ryan Blaney, Denny Hamlin, and Ryan Newman.
On lap 181, Michael McDowell bumped into Danica Patrick, sending her into Matt Kenseth, sending Kenseth into the air and the inside wall before he flipped back over. While this took place, McDowell slid up into the outside, catching Aric Almirola, sending him spinning down into Joey Logano. This crash involved 12 cars, many of whom had already taken damage from the lap 161 crash.
On the last lap, headed through the tri-oval, when Landon Cassill hooked Cole Whitt into Kevin Harvick, sending Harvick into the outside wall and into Ricky Stenhouse Jr., putting Harvick on his side before landing back on four wheels. Also collected were Martin Truex Jr. and A. J. Allmendinger as Brad Keselowski crossed the line to take the win. In total, 35 of the 40 cars received some damage during the race, and the first lapped car at the end of the race was Johnson, who finished six laps behind in 22nd.
2016 AAA 400 Drive for Autism:
On a restart on lap 354, race leader Jimmie Johnson was unable to get his car into third gear and was rear ended by Martin Truex Jr., stacking up the field behind him. A total of 18 cars were collected in the wreck. In addition to Johnson and Truex Jr., Kevin Harvick, Jamie McMurray, Ryan Newman, A. J. Allmendinger, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Kyle Busch, Aric Almirola, Denny Hamlin, Greg Biffle, Casey Mears, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Clint Bowyer, Trevor Bayne, Paul Menard, and Michael McDowell were involved.
2017 Daytona 500:
On lap 129, Jimmie Johnson went from the outside lane to block Trevor Bayne on the inside, as a result, Johnson was spun around, collecting 17 cars including Denny Hamlin, Clint Bowyer, Chris Buescher, Danica Patrick, Parker Kligerman, among many others.
On lap 143, after Chase Elliott almost went around in front of the field, Jamie McMurray was turned around, collecting 11 cars including Brad Keselowski, Jeffrey Earnhardt, Ryan Newman, Daniel Suárez, Landon Cassill and Ty Dillon.
2017 GEICO 500:
On Lap 169, as A. J. Allmendinger tried to bump draft Chase Elliott down the backstretch, Allmendinger inadvertently rammed into Elliott, and both cars went airborne off Turn 2, turning Allmendinger over (after contact from Joey Logano), and collected an additional 15 cars including Erik Jones, Trevor Bayne, Austin Dillon, Matt Kenseth, and Danica Patrick. Others in the wreck, including Brad Keselowski, were able to beat the five-minute crash clock under NASCAR's new damaged vehicle policy to rally and finish 7th in the race. The race was red-flagged while crews extricated Allmendinger from his car.
2017 Alabama 500:
On Lap 171, entering turn 3, Martin Truex Jr. tried to go four wide and clipped David Ragan, causing Ragan to spin into Kurt Busch and Jimmie Johnson and collect an additional 16 cars including Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth, Austin Dillon, Landon Cassill, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Matt DiBenedetto, Danica Patrick, Ty Dillon, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Brendan Gaughan, and Michael McDowell. Denny Hamlin and race winner Brad Keselowski were among a few lucky drivers to drive through the crash unscathed. Earnhardt Jr. spun into the infield grass at the start of the crash, but avoided contact with other cars and was able to recover to finish 7th in his final restrictor plate start. This resulted in a lengthy red flag for cleanup.
2018 Daytona 500:
On Lap 60 coming to the end of stage one, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was clipped by Ryan Blaney, although Stenhouse was able to regain control, Erik Jones got loose behind him and spun around, collecting 9 cars in total including William Byron, Ty Dillon, Jimmie Johnson, Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Larson, and Daniel Suárez.
On lap 103, Brad Keselowski and Chase Elliott made slight contact, sending Elliott into the wall spinning wildly collecting seven cars in total, including Danica Patrick (in her final NASCAR race), Kevin Harvick, Kasey Kahne, David Ragan, and Martin Truex Jr.
On lap 199, Kurt Busch was unable to block Ryan Blaney from passing him, resulting in Busch spinning and collecting 10 additional cars, which included Matt DiBenedetto, Martin Truex Jr., Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Brendan Gaughan, Alex Bowman, Jeffrey Earnhardt, Ryan Newman, A. J. Allmendinger, Darrell Wallace Jr., and Joey Logano.
2018 Coke Zero Sugar 400:
On Lap 54, on the backstretch, William Byron blocked Brad Keselowski, causing him to slow. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., however, failed to do the same, ramming into Keselowski's bumper and sending him into the outside wall and collecting 26 cars. This was one of two big wrecks set off by Stenhouse, who would later have to be escorted by security after the race for protection due to the negative backlash.
On lap 65, following the restart for the previous crash, Stenhouse attempted to side draft Kyle Busch, resulting in Stenhouse Jr. clipping Busch and shooting his car up into the wall, collecting seven cars in total, including William Byron, Trevor Bayne, Jamie McMurray, Erik Jones (who went on to win), and Corey LaJoie.
On lap 163, as Martin Truex Jr. was coming to take the white flag, Clint Bowyer was turned by Darrell "Bubba" Wallace, causing 10 other cars to crash behind him including Kevin Harvick, Matt DiBenedetto, Jimmie Johnson, Ray Black Jr., Ryan Newman, Ross Chastain, Trevor Bayne, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Brendan Gaughan, and Alex Bowman.
2018 Bank of America Roval 400:
On a restart, Brad Keselowski went too hard into Turn 1, collecting William Byron, Paul Menard, Kyle Larson and Kyle Busch. Busch went up the track and Daniel Hemric was hit. Hemric spun and collected Trevor Bayne, Ty Dillon, Aric Almirola, Darrell Wallace Jr., Michael McDowell, eventual race winner Ryan Blaney, Ryan Newman, and Ross Chastain.
2019 Advance Auto Parts Clash:
On lap 55, Jimmie Johnson attempted to pass Paul Menard for the lead entering turn 3. However, the two drivers made contact and Menard spun out across the track, triggering a 16-car wreck that also involved Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr., Brad Keselowski, Kyle Larson, Jamie McMurray, Ryan Newman, Daniel Suarez, Denny Hamlin, Clint Bowyer, Kevin Harvick, Erik Jones, Chase Elliott, Aric Almirola, and Austin Dillon. Shortly after the wreck, the race was called short due to rain, and Johnson was declared the winner.
2019 Daytona 500:
On lap 190, Paul Menard clipped Matt DiBenedetto and caused a 21-car crash which involved the likes of defending Cup Series champion Joey Logano, Martin Truex Jr., Jimmie Johnson, and Chase Elliott, among others.
2020 Daytona 500:
With 17 laps to go, Joey Logano attempted to push Aric Almirola forward down the backstretch into Brad Keselowski. Keselowski lost control of his car upon contact, and a 19-car wreck ensued that also involved Martin Truex Jr., Bubba Wallace, Alex Bowman, Tyler Reddick, Matt DiBenedetto, Ross Chastain, Austin Dillon, Kurt Busch, Justin Haley, Ryan Blaney, Ty Dillon, Chris Buescher, Brendan Gaughan, John Hunter Nemechek, and Jimmie Johnson, who was racing in his last Daytona 500. Kyle Busch also dropped out at that point, but he was not part of the wreck; his engine died. This wreck brought out the first of two red flags not caused by rain and was overshadowed by Ryan Newman's fiery crash on the final lap of the race.
2020 O'Reilly Auto Parts 500:
On lap 219, Ryan Blaney had checked up on turn 3 off of a restart. That incident had bunched up the field and on the frontstretch, Aric Almirola had tapped Martin Truex Jr. and he flung across the track into the inside wall. Behind the spinning Truex, several cars had gotten into the grass kicking up dirt and debris and virtually blocking up the track. There were 12 cars involved in this wreck, the others being Kyle Busch, Chris Buescher, Matt Kenseth, Cole Custer, Kurt Busch, William Byron, Ryan Preece, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Bubba Wallace, and Kevin Harvick.
2021 Daytona 500:
 On lap 13, Christopher Bell bumped Aric Almirola which turned him into Alex Bowman on the backstretch. 14 other cars were collected those being Kurt Busch, Ryan Newman, Tyler Reddick, Ryan Blaney, Chris Buescher, Martin Truex Jr., Matt DiBenedetto, William Byron, David Ragan, Anthony Alfredo, Erik Jones, Jamie McMurray, and Daniel Suarez.
 On the last lap, Brad Keselowski attempted to pass Joey Logano on the backstretch but the two collided, creating a fiery crash sending Keselowski into the catchfence and collecting Kyle Busch, Bubba Wallace, Austin Cindric, Kyle Larson, Ryan Preece, Ross Chastain, and Cole Custer. Michael McDowell, who was third at the time, dodged the final lap crash to win his first career victory under caution as well as earning Front Row Motorsports' third Cup victory.
2021 Coke Zero Sugar 400:
 On lap 145, during a major check up, Martin Truex Jr. turned into the backstretch wall after trying to block Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and made contact with William Byron.  Then Truex Jr turned left and was rear ended by Tyler Reddick.  Other cars involved were Daniel Suarez, Landon Cassill, Chase Briscoe, and Anthony Alfredo.
 On lap 156, entering turn 4, Matt DiBenedetto getting a push from Denny Hamlin, got himself loose and brought him, Hamlin, and Chase Elliott up towards the wall, and collected an additional seven cars including Cole Custer, Brad Keselowski, Christopher Bell, Kyle Busch, Ross Chastain, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and Ryan Preece. This crash sent the race into an overtime.
 After a late race caution forcing an overtime to occur, Kurt Busch hooked Daniel Suarez and Kevin Harvick in turn 3, causing a fiery crash similar to the 2021 Daytona 500 earlier in the year. This crash involved Austin Dillon, Corey Lajoie, Ross Chastain, Erik Jones, Ryan Preece, and Kyle Larson.

Xfinity Series
 1999 Touchstone Energy 300:
On lap 68, a massive melee involving 23 cars erupted in turn one. It started when Kelly Denton rammed into Ken Schrader, spinning Schrader four times before his car burst into flames. The other 22 cars who were trying to evade Schrader got into a huge pile-up when Mike Dillon blew a tire.
2002 Aaron's 312 at Talladega:
On lap 14, the largest crash in modern NASCAR history (1972–present) took place at the exit of turn two, with 31 cars being involved. Three cars (Stacy Compton, Jason Keller, and Kenny Wallace) had cleared pole-sitter Johnny Sauter as the field started down the back-straightaway. Scott Riggs (fourth on the outside) tried to pass Wallace on the outside, but checked up, causing Shane Hmiel to get in the back of him. Subsequently, Kevin Grubb bumped Hmiel, causing both Riggs and Hmiel to turn sideways down the track and hit the right-rear of Sauter and the right-front of Joe Nemechek, respectively. The impact from Riggs' car caused Sauter's car to turn sideways and flip twice in the middle of the track, thus blocking the track and causing a massive pile-up behind. The drivers involved were Riggs, Hmiel, Grubb, Sauter, Nemechek, Todd Bodine, Larry Foyt, Jack Sprague, Jeff Purvis, Jimmy Kitchens, Randy Lajoie, Kerry Earnhardt, Tony Raines, Bobby Hamilton Jr., Ashton Lewis, Mike McLaughlin, Lyndon Amick, Greg Biffle, Jamie McMurray, Scott Wimmer, Ron Hornaday Jr., Shane Hall, Tim Sauter, Jay Sauter, Michael Waltrip, Joe Ruttman, Jimmy Spencer, Mike Wallace, Mike Harmon, Jeff Fuller, and Coy Gibbs. At the time of the crash, 41 of the 43 cars were on the track. Of those, only Compton, Keller, and Wallace (who were in front of the crash) and C.W. Smith, Hank Parker Jr., Casey Mears, Andy Kirby, Tim Fedewa, Larry Gunselman, and Chad Chaffin (all of whom either got slowed down in time to miss the crash or had lost the lead draft altogether and were elsewhere on the track) made it through without damage. This crash brought out a 40-minute red flag and caused one minor injury to Mike Harmon (required stitches for biting through his tongue).
2008 Aaron's 312:
On lap 70, Kevin Lepage had returned to the track following a pit stop and merged onto the track right in front of the field. A few of the lead cars went around Lepage on the outside, but Carl Edwards ran over the back end of Lepage's car, causing Edwards to catch air and set off a 15-car pile up, including Kyle Busch, David Reutimann, Reed Sorenson, Brad Keselowski, Cale Gale, Patrick Carpentier, Mike Wallace, Kenny Wallace, Steve Wallace, Marcos Ambrose, Stephen Leicht, Kyle Krisiloff, and Kelly Bires.
2012 DRIVE4COPD 300:
In turn 4 on the last lap, leader Kurt Busch attempted to block the two two-car drafts of Joey Logano and Trevor Bayne, and Tony Stewart and Elliott Sadler, both of whom had runs on Busch and drafting partner Kyle Busch. They all made contact, with Kurt Busch ending up sideways against the outside wall, Stewart and Sadler being pinned to the wall by Bayne, and Logano being sent spinning across the track as a result of left-rear contact with Kurt Busch's sideways car. Kyle Busch and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. both moved to the bottom of the track, but Stenhouse turned Busch into the outside wall as they tried to miss the spinning Logano. A similar fate befell Kasey Kahne and Cole Whitt (who were just behind Busch and Stenhouse), with Kahne moving down into and spinning Whitt. Brad Keselowski, who was behind Whitt, received contact from Kahne and Whitt, causing his car to become out of control. James Buescher, who was 11th when the crash started, got through the crash on the track apron and slipped around Keselowski (as he was trying to regain control of his car) to win, followed by Sadler and Keselowski.
2013 DRIVE4COPD 300:
In the trioval, coming to the checkered flag on lap 120, leader Regan Smith was turned into the outside wall by second-place Brad Keselowski. Chaos ensued behind as 14 out of the 15 lead cars crashed in total. After hitting Smith, Keselowski himself was turned around by Sam Hornish Jr. and went up the track in front of Kyle Larson, with Larson being turned sideways after he was hit in the back by Dale Earnhardt Jr. Larson pushed Keselowski's car right-side first into the wall just as two cars (Brian Scott and Justin Allgaier) from behind this crash impacted the right side Larson's car after they had hit the spinning Regan Smith, causing Larson's car to go airborne and fly up into the catchfence. The front tires and the engine of his car were torn out and landed on the spectator side of the fence as part the fence was torn down by the impact of Larson's car. Simultaneously, Elliott Sadler impacted Regan Smith's spinning car, almost causing it to go airborne as well. Also, past the start-finish line, Alex Bowman spun through the infield and across the track, making hard contact with the outside wall. After Bowman hit the wall, Earnhardt Jr. drove under him, jacking the rear of Bowman's car up in the air (very similar to Kyle Busch's crash in the 2009 Coke Zero 400 when Kasey Kahne drove under him). The drivers involved were Smith, Keselowski, Earnhardt, Hornish, Larson, Scott, Bowman, Sadler, Allgaier, Travis Pastrana, Parker Kligerman, Eric McClure, Robert Richardson Jr., and Nelson Piquet Jr. Race winner Tony Stewart cut down through the infield and back up on the track to escape the melee. 28 spectators were injured, 14 of whom were treated at the infield care center and 14 of whom were taken to nearby hospitals, including seven taken to Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach, six more being taken to Halifax Health Medical Center in Port Orange, and one being taken to another area hospital. Six of those spectators sustained serious injuries.
 2018 PowerShares QQQ 300:
Lap 122: During a NASCAR overtime, on the back straightaway of one of the five overtimes that occurred during the race, Aric Almirola was turned into the outside wall by second-place Kyle Larson, triggering a massive 18 car melee that collected big names, including Justin Allgaier, Joey Logano, and Brandon Jones. The race was eventually had a photo finish in the fifth overtime, between Elliott Sadler and Tyler Reddick.
2018 Coca-Cola Firecracker 250:
On lap 83, in the middle of three wide racing, Austin Cindric attempted to move down and block Matt Tifft, resulting in Tifft spinning Cindric into the front of the field and soon barrel rolling after making contact with Tyler Reddick, collecting 17 cars in total including Daniel Hemric, Tyler Reddick, Joey Gase, Jeremy Clements, Alex Labbé, David Starr, Chad Finchum, Brandon Jones, Ryan Reed, Ray Black Jr., and Garrett Smithley.
2019 Circle K Firecracker 250:
 On lap 74, amidst a battle going on mid-pack, Scott Lagasse Jr. was turned by Brandon Brown, Lagasse bounced off of the wall and collected 9 other cars, which included Chad Finchum, Shane Lee, Chris Cockrum, David Starr, Sheldon Creed, Christopher Bell, and B. J. McLeod.
 On lap 88, Michael Annett was clipped and turned into the wall by Christopher Bell, this caused the field to stack up and 15 cars were collected in the crash, which included Joe Graf Jr., Josh Williams, Timmy Hill, Noah Gragson, A. J. Allmendinger, Austin Cindric, Cole Custer, Chad Finchum, Caesar Bacarella, and others.
2022 Beef. It's What's For Dinner. 300:
On Lap 120, the final lap, Myatt Snider got turned from behind as the field went down the backstretch of Daytona. The ensuing crash took out eight cars and sent Snider into the catch fence violently. The crash was so extreme, the engine was torn from the car. The crash collected Snider, Matt Mills, Jade Buford, Tommy Joe Martins, Anthony Alfredo, Jeb Burton, Landon Cassill, and Ty Gibbs.

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
2000 Daytona 250
On lap 57, Kurt Busch and Rob Morgan made contact sending Geoff Bodine's No. 15 truck into the catchfence, destroying it in the process. The crash collected 12 other trucks.
2021 Chevy Silverado 250 (Love's RV Stop 250)
With 37 laps to go, Austin Hill received a push from Todd Gilliland which turned Hill into Zane Smith. Both drivers would hit the outside wall and go back into traffic, collecting 20 other trucks.
2022 NextEra Energy 250
Coming to the white flag, Tyler Ankrum was turned after a late block from Christian Eckes, resulting in nearly 20 trucks crashing making it one of the biggest wrecks in the history of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

IndyCar Series
 2011 IZOD IndyCar World Championship:
On lap 11, Wade Cunningham clipped James Hinchcliffe and then made contact with J. R. Hildebrand, initiating a 15-vehicle collision that killed Dan Wheldon and seriously injured Hildebrand, Pippa Mann, and Will Power. Wheldon was racing at  and struck Charlie Kimball while trying to avoid the collision, sending his car airborne. It flew a distance of about  and hit the catch fence cockpit first before landing back on the racing surface and coming to a stop near the SAFER barrier.
 2017 Rainguard Water Sealers 600:
After a series of incidents with both the INDYCAR (part of the race was run on one day, then the other half a few months later, largely due to a combination of rain, weepers, and a day-one crash between Conor Daly and Josef Newgarden that injured the latter) and NASCAR (rain and weepers) in 2016, Texas Motor Speedway officials repaved and reconfigured the circuit to reduce weeper issues.  On lap 152, Tony Kanaan made contact with James Hinchcliffe, triggering a major collision that forced seven other drivers to leave the race. During the ensuing red flag that followed, INDYCAR officials and Bridgestone engineers agreed to use competition cautions and mandatory tire changes for the remainder of the race in response to continuing issues with blistering tires from the repaved circuit. Kanaan was assessed a 20-second hold penalty for his role in the crash.

 2018 ABC Supply 500
 On lap 6, Ryan Hunter-Reay and Robert Wickens made contact, sending Wickens' car spinning violently into the catchfence. James Hinchcliffe spun while trying to miss the accident and was hit by Pietro Fittipaldi, who would also go in the air briefly. Takuma Sato was also involved. Wickens would be paralyzed from the chest down after the accident and would not step back into a racecar until 2022.

See also
 1973 Winston 500#"The Big One"

References

External links
"The Big One"- 10 Notorious Talladega Crashes

NASCAR races at Daytona International Speedway
NASCAR races at Talladega Superspeedway
NASCAR terminology

The Big One (motorsport)


Rachel Berry is a fictional character from the FOX musical comedy-drama series Glee. The character is played by actress Lea Michele. The character first appeared in Glee from its pilot episode. It was first broadcast on May 19, 2009. Rachel was created by Glee creators Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan. She is the glee club captain of the fictional William McKinley High School in Lima, Ohio, where the show is set. Her storylines have seen her suffer feeling alone because of her ambition to win. She has also developed romantic feelings for Jesse St. James (Jonathan Groff), a member of the rival (enemy) glee club Vocal Adrenaline. She also had many dates with quarterback and glee club co-captain Finn Hudson (Cory Monteith). The two eventually become engaged.

Michele has stated that she was just like Rachel when she was younger. She had inspiration to play the role as Rachel.  These include the movie Election and other television roles such as the Gossip Girl character Blair Waldorf. Michele has said that she feels "vulnerable" while playing Rachel. She stated, "Rachel will never be popular because her looks aren't (are not) considered beautiful, and when I was in high school it was the same for me. I didn't get a nose job, and every single girl around me did. Therefore, I was out." Michele added, "What's so great about Glee is that it shows you how that kind of stuff hurts, but it doesn't matter: You can still be who you want to be."

Rachel is a "strong, driven girl" but somewhat nervous about herself. Glee follows Rachel's journey to become more of a team player. She does this to fulfill her own dreams. Michele was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for "Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series" in 2010. She was also nominated for a Golden Globe Award for "Best Actress - Television Series Musical or Comedy" in 2010 and 2011. Rachel has received mostly positive reviews from critics. Maureen Ryan of The Chicago Tribune thanked Michele for making the character "more than a humorless (not funny) stereotype". However, The Wall Street Journals Raymund Flandez has described Rachel as "insufferable" (annoying). Several songs performed by Michele as Rachel have been released as digital download singles. They have also been included on the series' soundtrack albums.

Storylines

Season 1
Rachel is the daughter of an interracial same-sex couple. She is Jewish and was named after Rachel Green from Friends. She joins the glee club. She hopes that fame will increase her popularity and to find a boyfriend. She is bullied by members of the school cheerleading and football teams. She is, however, excited that quarterback Finn Hudson joins the club. She then develops a crush on him. The two kisses in the episode "Showmance". However, Finn tells her to forget that it happened and continues dating his girlfriend, cheerleader Quinn Fabray (Dianna Agron). Rachel quits the glee club. She does this because she is not given a solo she wanted. She is then given the lead role in the school musical, Cabaret. However, she later quits the musical and rejoins the glee club. She returns because she rather have friends then be alone. She has a short relationship with another glee club member, Puck (Mark Salling). He is also Jewish, and is a football player who used to bully her. Rachel later breaks up with him because she still has feelings for Finn. She later learns that Quinn's pregnancy was not caused by him but by Puck. She then tells Finn the truth who then attacks Puck. Finn then breaks up with Quinn and drops out of glee club. He returns on the day of the group's first major competition, the Sectionals. He does this to undo damage by cheerleading couch Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch). The group makes up a completely new set list. Rachel starts the show with a solo of "Don't Rain on My Parade". They win by an agreement decision.

For a short time Rachel believes that she is dating Finn. However, he tells her that he needs to take time out for himself. He changes his mind soon after. By that time, Rachel has already begun dating Jesse St. James (Jonathan Groff). He is the lead singer of the enemy glee club Vocal Adrenaline. The rest of the glee club tries to convince Rachel to break up with Jesse. However, he transfers (moved) to William McKinley. He then joins New Directions. Rachel tells Jesse that her dream is to find her birth mother. He offers to help her do so. However, he already knows who it is: Vocal Adrenaline coach Shelby Corcoran (Idina Menzel). Shelby asked Jesse to befriend Rachel. She hopes that it might reconnect with her daughter. Shelby cannot directly contact Rachel until she is eighteen. When Rachel discovers that Shelby is her mother they begin to talk. They both confess to not feel an anything. They eventually decide to not develop a relationship. Jesse betrays Rachel and returns to Vocal Adrenaline. In the episode "Journey to Regionals", Finn tells Rachel that he loves her. Although they lose the competition to Vocal Adrenaline, they become a couple.

Season 2
Sue Sylvester tells glee club director Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison) about a rule. The rule is that there has to be a minimum of twelve students when competing. Will tells the glee club that they have to find new members. At first Rachel encourages Sunshine Corazon (Charice) to try out. However, when she realizes that she is a good singer, she gives her wrong directions to the auditions. She gives Sunshine directions to an inactive (no longer in service) crack house. Sunshine then transfers (moves to) Carmel High School and joins Vocal Adrenaline. Puck and Finn's friendship becomes stronger again. They work together and sing horribly at the duets competition. They do this so new club member Sam Evans (Chord Overstreet) wins instead. They want him to feel welcomed and appreciated by the club. Rachel later finds out that Finn slept with cheerleader Santana Lopez (Naya Rivera) the previous year. At the time, Rachel was dating Jesse. Finn lied to Rachel, though Rachel herself had lied. She said she slept with Jesse which she had not. Feeling hurt, she makes out with Puck to hurt Finn back. This causes Finn to break up with her. Rachel later tries get back with Finn. However, he begins to dating Quinn again. Feeling hurt, Rachel writes an original song for Regionals, "Get It Right". They win Regionals and Rachel is named MVP.

Just before junior prom, Jesse returns. Rachel invites him to the prom with her, Sam and Mercedes (Amber Riley). Finn and Jesse begins arguing at prom. They then begin to fight and are asked to leave prom. This hurts Finn and Quinn's campaign for prom king and queen. Finn breaks up with Quinn after he realizes he really loves Rachel. At Nationals in New York City, Finn begs Rachel to be his girlfriend again. She says no. She does this because she wants to stay focus on becoming a Broadway star. At the end of their duet—"Pretending", Rachel and Finn kiss. The audience become silent. The glee club comes in twelfth and did not make the top 10. Back in Ohio, Finn reminds Rachel that she has a year until graduation. They then kiss and restart their relationship.

Season 3
Rachel and Kurt plan to go to a performing arts school in New York City after graduation. School counselor Emma Pillsbury (Jayma Mays) suggests they think about going to The York Academy of the Dramatic Arts (NYADA). The two go to an Ohio "mixer". They attend in hopes to get potential applicants. Rachel proposes McKinley do West Side Story as the school musical. She believes she can get the lead role Maria. She also needs the experience for her NYADA application. However, Mercedes also auditions for Maria. The directors were not able to choose between the two. After their callbacks, the casting directors decides to "double-cast" the role. Mercedes begins believing that she did better in the callbacks. She refuses to accept the double-casting. She then quit the show and gives Rachel the part. She and Finn decide to have sex in the episode "The First Time". In the episode "Mash Off", Rachel decides to run for class president. She takes herself off when she realizes Kurt will not go to NYADA if he does not win. In the episode "I Kissed a Girl", she starts an election ballot box. She does this because to keep Kurt from losing. He loses anyway and she tells Kurt what she had done. Rachel is then suspended from school for a week. She is also not allowed to compete in Sectionals with New Directions. While at Sectionals, glee club wins without her. At the end of the episode "Yes/No", Finn asks her to marry him. After taking time to think about it, she accepts. Their parents find out in "Heart". They try everything they could to break them up. However, their plans only made it worse. Finn and Rachel announced their plan to get married in May. When the date seems to be too far away, they decide to get marry sooner. They decide to get marry after Regionals in "On My Way". New Directions wins at Regionals. Hours later, the ceremony begins at City Hall. Their parents arrive to New York. They try to end the wedding. Rachel is waiting for Quinn to arrive. She had to go home to get her bridesmaid dress. While Quinn is driving back to New York City, her car is hit by a truck.

Development

Casting and creation
Rachel is portrayed by Lea Michele. Younger Rachel has been played by Lauren Boles. When Ryan Murphy was casting for Glee, he wanted actors who could take on theatrical roles. Murphy did not want to do network casting calls. He instead, spent three months on Broadway. He found Michele, who was starring in Spring Awakening. The role of Rachel was written just for Michele. In an interview with The Washington Post, Michele commented on her casting, saying: "I was kind of just thrown into this—this is one of the first television jobs I've ever had. Of course being able to sing helps bring a sense of comfort. The character I'm playing is really outgoing—she performs in her everyday life as though she's performing in front of a huge audience."

In December 2010, Murphy announced that the cast of Glee would be replaced. He stated that the replacements would happen at the end of the third season. Which would be around the time when they graduate. Murphy said: "Every year we're going to add a new group [of people]. There's nothing more sad than a high schooler with a bald spot." He also revealed that some of the original cast will leave as early as 2012: "I think you have to be true to the fact that here is a group of people who come and go in these teachers' lives." Murphy said in July 2011 that Michele would be one of the actors leaving. Michele commented on this, saying: "We always knew we'd graduate in real time. It's all part of the plan and it's all good! It's going to make Season 3 amazing! This is just the beginning!" However, Falchuk later stated that Michele, along with Chris Colfer and Cory Monteith will graduate at the end of the third season. He also said: "because they're (they are) graduating doesn't mean they're (they are) leaving the show." Falchuk also said: "it was never our plan or our intention to let them go…. They are not done with the show after this season."

Sandra Gonzalez of Entertainment Weekly commented on the news about the cast leaving. She said: "Indeed, a rolling cast list has done some shows good in the past. I'll admit that it took me some time to warm up to the 'new kids' on Friday Night Lights, which ends its run tomorrow on NBC, but it was a well-done transition. What I loved most was that the new blood (group) didn't (did not) try to be the new versions of the old characters. They were new characters with completely different outlooks and goals. Glee could learn a lot from what Friday Night Lights accomplished (have done successfully): a seamless, realistic (real) transition (change). The problem? 'Seamless' and 'realistic' have never been Glees strong points, which is not to say they couldn't (could not) be. But the question is: Is Glee looking to be the less-attractive comedy cousin of Friday Night Lights… or Saved By the Bell: The New Class?"

Characterization
Michele took the role as Rachel because of her characterization. Michele explained: "Not only is she a singer, but she has so much heart—I think it's what we need on TV. A show that is filled with heart and love that is funny. It sends an amazing message to kids about the arts and being who you are." Michele described the first thirteen episodes of Glee. She described it as: "Rachel's journey of finding herself within the glee club". She also said that "she's learning how to be a team player and work within this group. She's a very strong, driven girl, who's (who is) sometimes a little misunderstood."

Glees costume designer Lou Eyrich described Rachel's costumes. Eyrich told Entertainment Weekly: "Originally (at first), the inspiration for her look was Tracy Flick from Election—very buttoned-down (someone who is serious in the job they are doing), preppy (someone who looks like a high school student), obnoxious (not very well liked by people), squeaky clean, nerdy. But she's got at least 12 costume changes each episode. That same look all the time just gets boring for the screen (television) and for the actress to wear, so we spread it out a lot. We try to have her buttoned-up or wearing a nerdy sweater over a cute dress, like she doesn't quite get it right. Or she takes that sweater and tucks it into the skirt and pairs it with knee highs and flats. She makes it her way, which is more quirky. The popular girls find a way to make it look cool, but Rachel makes it look nerdy. But it's not old-school nerdy with thick glasses and pocket protectors. She thinks she's taking a trend and making it cool, but she wears it wrong."

Michele have stated that she was just like Rachel when she was younger. She also gets inspiration from the movie Election, and Gossip Girl character Blair Waldorf. She has explained: "[Blair] is shady (a mean person), but you still love her. She's still vulnerable (easy to get hurt). That's what I try to do with Rachel. Rachel will never be popular because her looks aren't (are not) considered beautiful, and when I was in high school it was the same for me. I didn't get a nose job, and every single girl around me did. Therefore, I was out. I was not cool. What's so great about Glee is that it shows you how that kind of stuff hurts, but it doesn't (does not) matter: You can still be who you want to be. And in four years, high school will be over and all of that crap won't (will not) matter anyway."

Reception

Critical reviews
Some songs performed by Michele as Rachel have been released as digital download singles. They were also on the soundtrack albums, Glee: The Music, Volume 1 and Glee: The Music, Volume 2. Rachel has received positive reviews from critics. Michele was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for "Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series" in 2010. She also was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for "Best Actress - Television Series Musical or Comedy" in 2010. Robert A. George of the New York Post stated "the only female [in Glee] who doesn't (does not) come across as manipulative (easy to tell someone what to do) or vapidly (nothing good about her) helpless" (not able to help her own self). Chicago Tribunes Maureen Ryan wrote, "Lea Michele not only has an amazing voice but manages to make her character, spoiled (get's whatever she wants in life) diva Rachel Berry, more than a humorless (not funny) stereotype." Denise Martin of The Los Angeles Times commented in her review of the episode "The Rhodes Not Taken": "if there's any justice in the world, Lea Michele will win a Golden Globe and an Emmy for playing Rachel".

In the episode "Hairography", Kurt Hummel gives Rachel a bad make over. Mike Hale of the New York Times remembered a popular theme that critics give negative reviews because of the way Glee treats its female characters. Hale said that he understands why, but also says that the show equally treats male characters the same. However, he wrote that "it was a bit much when Finn looked at Rachel in her catsuit and frizzy hair and said she looked like a 'sad clown hooker.' Come on. She looked fantastic (really good)." Zap2it's Korbi Ghosh commented: "when we saw Rachel fall for them (Finn and Puck), she was actually relatable. Likable even. The type-A (best), uber-talented, self-involved (gets into things by herself) know-it-all (a person who believes they know everything) who's usually alienating her classmates let her guard down to expose (to show) a vulnerable side. And, as a bonus, we got some super solid musical performances from those awkward courtships."

Awards and nominations
Michele has won a number of awards for her portrayal of Rachel. Michele won the Satellite Awards for "Best Performance by an Actress in a Musical or Comedy Television Series" in 2009. She also won, as part of the cast, for "Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series" at the Screen Actors Guild Awards. In 2010, Michele won the NewNowNext Awards for "Brink of Fame: Actor". In 2009, she was nominated for a Teen Choice Awards in the category "Choice TV Breakout Star". That same year, Michele was nominated for a Golden Globe for "Best Actress - Television Series Musical or Comedy". She also was nominated for an Emmy Award for "Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series". She received another Teen Choice Award nomination in 2010 for "Choice TV Actress: Comedy". Michele was included in Time magazine's 2010 list of the "100 Most Influential People In the World". Her cover of The All-American Rejects' "Gives You Hell" reached the top 40 on the US Billboard 200. Michele is featured as lead singer in 14 of the top 20 selling Glee Cast songs as of 2010. She won the 2012 People's Choice Award for "Favorite TV Comedy Actress".

Michele was nominated for two Grammy Awards in 2011. The first for "Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals" ("Don't Stop Believin"). The second for "Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television, or Other Visual Media" (Glee: The Music, Volume 1). Michele said of the first Grammy nomination: "I like that it's for 'Don't Stop Believin", which is for the whole cast, so that we all get to go. That's just awesome." She was nominated again for "Best Actress- Television Series Musical or Comedy" at the 2011 Golden Globe Awards. The cast of Glee was also nominated for the "Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series" award at the 2011 and 2012 Screen Actors Guild Awards.

References

Other websites
 Rachel Berry  at Fox.com

Fictional American people
Glee
Television characters

Rachel Berry


A finger pillory is a style of restraint where the fingers are held in a wooden block, using an L-shaped hole to keep the knuckle bent inside the block. The name is taken from the pillory, a much larger device used to secure the head and hands.

Finger stocks were also used in churches for minor offences, like not paying attention during a sermon. An example still survives in St Helen's Church, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire, England.

References

Physical restraint

Finger pillory


GameRevolution (formerly Game-Revolution) is a gaming website created in 1996. Based in Berkeley, California, the site includes reviews, previews, a gaming download area, cheats, and a merchandise store, as well as webcomics, screenshots, and videos. Their features pages include articles satirizing Jack Thompson, E³, the hype surrounding the next-generation consoles, and the video game controversy. Cameo writing appearances include Brian Clevinger of 8-Bit Theatre and Scott Ramsoomair of VG Cats.  The website has also participated in marketing campaigns for video games, including Gauntlet: Seven Sorrows.

Company history
Net Revolution, Inc., a California corporation, was founded in April 1996 by Duke Ferris as a holding company and as the publisher of the GameRevolution website. Ferris served as president of the company until it was acquired in 2005 stock purchase by Bolt Media, Inc. for an undisclosed sum.

E3
The staff of GameRevolution are annual judges at the E3.  Duke Ferris is a returning Judge for the 2010 show.  Perhaps the most influential year for GameRevolution at E3 was in 2000, where they invited Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik of Penny Arcade to attend.  They also bestowed Black & White the Best of E3 award.

Purchase by CraveOnline
Following the bankruptcy of Bolt Media, Inc., continuing to be frequented by hundreds of thousands of visitors, GameRevolution was purchased by the men's entertainment site CraveOnline (a division of Atomic Online), for another undisclosed sum. It has since been integrated as part of the CraveOnline community while continuing to stand alone as a popular site. The purchase was announced February 25, 2008. CraveOnline itself was renamed to Mandatory in March 2018.

Features
The feature section commonly includes articles about important gaming events as the Nintendo Summit, and other developers' personal and public congregations and displays. For a number of years, it has also contained the GR Awards for Best, and Worst, of a year in gaming, as well as having buying guides for the Holiday Season. There are also a number of bizarre and unique articles describing phenomena in the gaming community, or simply, interesting news for gamers.

Jack Thompson controversy

Sometime in August 2005, Jack Thompson contacted Lou Kerner of GameRevolution and requested he remove an "offensive" AIM buddy icon from an affiliate site of GameRevolution known as Bolt.com. Kerner complied and had the offending icon removed immediately. Thompson saw the removal as an admission of guilt and contacted the NYPD to have Kerner arrested; however, no such action was taken. Duke Ferris, another employee of the site, wrote an article on the matter and humorously pointed out the ridiculousness of the entire situation. To drive home this point, he even chose to present a primitively drawn image which had Thompson being devoured by a crocodile, and then challenged Thompson to go ahead and have him arrested.

References

External links

Video game news websites
Video game Internet forums
Internet properties established in 1996
Companies based in Berkeley, California

GameRevolution