Anne Dreydel OBE (27 May 1918 – 3 July 2007) was the co-founder of the Oxford English Centre, which later became St Clare's, Oxford.  In 1958 she was awarded the German state decoration of Bundesverdienstkreuz which, in 2001, was then upgraded to the Commander's Cross.  In 1981 she was appointed an OBE for her services to education.

At the age of 22, during the Second World War, Dreydel was badly injured by a German bomb that fell on her London home.  The explosion killed her stepfather and paralysed her from the waist down.  After over a year of recovery she left hospital, but she remained in a wheelchair for the remainder of her life.

Dreydel studied English at St. Anne's College in Oxford from 1943 and studied German in Bonn during her holidays.  In 1947 she founded the Oxford-Bonn Universities Committee to develop the twinning of the University of Oxford and the University of Bonn and their respective cities.  The link encouraged students from Germany to study at Oxford during a time when relations between the countries were still strained.

Along with Pamela Morris she founded the Oxford English Centre in 1953, which went on to become St Clare's College.  She became the sole principal in 1972 and remained in that post until her retirement in 1983.  Later she would become the head of the American International School of Florence and then the director of the Oxford Centre for Learning Skills.

Dreydel also helped the disabled by serving on the Committee for the Employment of Disabled People for Oxfordshire and Berkshire.

References

External links
News from St Anne's - Anne Dreydel (1943)

1918 births
2007 deaths
Founders of English schools and colleges
Heads of schools in England
Alumni of St Anne's College, Oxford
Officers of the Order of the British Empire
Commanders Crosses of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
20th-century philanthropists
Heads of schools in Italy

Anne Dreydel


Michael Chabon (born May 24, 1963) is an American author. His first novel was called The Mysteries of Pittsburgh  and published in 1988. Chabon was 25 years old. The book made him famous among writers. He has also written genre fiction. Chabon published The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay in 2000. It won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2001.

Biography

Early years
Michael Chabon was born in Washington, DC to Robert Chabon, a physician and lawyer, and Sharon Chabon, a lawyer. He knew he wanted to be a writer when he was a child.  He studied at Carnegie Mellon University for a year before transferring to the University of Pittsburgh. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree there in 1984. Then Chabon went to graduate school at the University of California, Irvine and earned a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing.

Personal life
In 1987, Chabon married the poet Lollie Groth. They divorced in 1991, and he married the writer Ayelet Waldman in 1993.

Works

Novels
 The Mysteries of Pittsburgh (1988)
 Wonder Boys (1995)
 The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay (2000)
 The Final Solution (2004)
 The Yiddish Policemen's Union (2007)
 Gentlemen of the Road (2007)
 Telegraph Avenue (2012)

Young-adult fiction
 Summerland (2002)

Children's books
 The Astonishing Secret of Awesome Man (2011) (illustrator: Jake Parker)

Short story collections
 A Model World and Other Stories (1991)
 Werewolves in Their Youth (1999)

Essay collections
 Maps and Legends (2008)
 Manhood for Amateurs (October 2009)

As contributor or editor
 McSweeney's Mammoth Treasury of Thrilling Tales (editor and contributor) (2003)
 JSA All Stars #7, "The Strange Case of Mr. Terrific and Doctor Nil" (writer) (2004)
 McSweeney's Enchanted Chamber of Astonishing Stories (editor) (2004)
 Michael Chabon Presents: The Amazing Adventures of the Escapist (comic book series published by Dark Horse Comics) (2004–2005) (Numbers 1–8; the first six are also collected in three books, two numbers per volume)
 The Best American Short Stories 2005 (editor, with Katrina Kenison) (2005)
 The Escapists (six-issue comic book limited series published by Dark Horse Comics) (2006)

References

Writers from Washington, D.C.
Living people
1963 births
Pulitzer Prize winners

Michael Chabon


Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America is a 2007 comic book limited series dealing with various superheroes' reactions to the death of Captain America in the Marvel comics universe after the Civil War.

The five-issue series is written by Jeph Loeb, with Leinil Yu, Ed McGuinness, John Romita Jr., David Finch, and John Cassaday each illustrating one of the issues.

Background
The premise for this limited series was created by J. Michael Straczynski during a Marvel retreat in New York.  (The book credits Straczynski with the initial concept.)  He suggested the structure of five issues, each based on Elizabeth Kubler Ross' Five Stages of Grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Loeb lobbied hard to write the series, and succeeded, saying that he could draw upon his own experience of having lost his son Sam Loeb. In the Spring Preview issue of Wizard magazine, Loeb said:

Plot

Issue #1 – Denial
Wolverine confronts the Winter Soldier about the improbability of Captain America dying from the gunshot wounds suffered at the court house; especially since both Captain America and Winter Soldier, the former Bucky, have both been thought to be dead at one time yet survived. Unable to get Winter Soldier to agree on a trip to S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters to see with their own eyes whether or not Cap is dead, Wolverine recruits the aid of Daredevil whose enhanced senses would enable him to sort out the truth from the deception. Using some enchantments created by Doctor Strange, the duo make their way into the main S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier and to the holding cell of Crossbones, the man who made the first shot on Captain America. After a brief interrogation, Wolverine attempts to intimidate Crossbones into attacking him and therefore granting him an excuse to seek revenge but Daredevil refuses to allow it, stating that everything Crossbones told them was the truth.

As Daredevil departs, Wolverine makes his way to where S.H.I.E.L.D. is keeping Captain America's body to determine once and for all the truth of the matter, only to be confronted by Iron Man and Hank Pym. Wolverine looks inside the coffin and notices to his disgust that Cap's shield is missing; accusing Stark of planning to create a replacement. Although Pym attempts to detain him, Iron Man lets Wolverine go for the simple reason that he can tell the others that Steve Rogers, Captain America, is indeed dead. As he leaves, Wolverine warns Iron Man that if he learns that Stark had anything to do with Cap's death, he would kill him.

Issue #2 – Anger
As Wolverine and Daredevil infiltrate the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier, Iron Man contacts the Mighty Avengers who are en route to prevent the super-villain Tiger Shark from attacking a coastal missile base. Tiger Shark has stolen the so-called "Horn of Gabriel" from Atlantis, which can summon terrible sea monsters to his side. During the fight Tiger Shark boasts that he'll finally gain the respect he deserves and a furious Ms. Marvel begins to savagely beat him until the Sub-Mariner arrives to calm the raging monsters. Condemning the brutality used by them against both Tiger Shark and the sea monsters as an outlet for their anger regarding Cap's death, Namor takes Tiger Shark into custody and reveals he learned there are missiles hidden in the coastline of Maine. As Namor warns the Mighty Avengers that he will retaliate if Atlantis is ever attacked, Ares asks Ms. Marvel if they won and if so then that was all that mattered.

Meanwhile, the Thing joins a poker game organized by the New Avengers along with Young Avengers Patriot and Hawkeye at the Sanctum Sanctorum. Tensions are running high and conversation soon turns to Cap's death and recent events caused by the Civil War. Sensing how close things are to boiling over, Patriot and Hawkeye leave the game to take out their frustration on some bad guys just as Wolverine returns from his quest aboard the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier. Wolverine informs the other Avengers that he saw Cap's body. Wolverine and Spider-Man get into a dispute, and The Thing separates them, then points out that fighting each other won't alleviate either of their pain regarding the loss of someone like Cap. Spider-Man leaves the game and Wolverine shadows him to make sure the webslinger gets home safe while the others decide to resume playing rather than discuss it any further.

Issue #3 – Bargaining
Clint Barton summons Tony Stark to the deserted old Avengers' Mansion and confronts him over the death of Steve Rogers. Stark then takes Barton into custody at the S.H.I.E.L.D. helicarrier to confirm that he is, in fact, Clint Barton – back from the grave. Upon confirmation of his identity, Stark reveals Captain America's real shield and Barton has the chance to take the shield for a spin (literally) on the helicarrier deck. When he proves he can handle it effectively, unlike others who have tried, Stark makes Barton an incredible offer: to restore Captain America to the people of the United States.

Stark takes Barton out on patrol and they discover Elijah Bradley and the new Hawkeye, Kate Bishop, defeating Firebrand. Stark confronts the duo about their violation of the Superhuman Registration Act to which Hawkeye replies by disabling Iron Man with an E.M.P. arrow. As Hawkeye and Patriot attempt to flee into the sewers, they find themselves approached by Barton as Captain America. Barton confronts Kate Bishop about her assumption of the Hawkeye mantle to which she claims that she did so to honor him but would never disgrace his memory by attempting to copy or replace him, as she and Patriot accuse Barton of trying to do with Captain America. As Stark's Iron Man armor reboots, Barton allows Patriot and Hawkeye to escape and he immediately returns the shield to Stark, realizing that Iron Man's desire to find a replacement Cap was more an attempt to alleviate Stark's own guilt over Rogers' death rather than the comfort of the American people. Barton promises to mail Stark back Rogers' costume and Iron Man vows to pursue Barton if he sides with the New Avengers. Barton doesn't reply and Stark is left to stand alone in the rain.

Issue #4 – Depression
Spider-Man visits his Uncle Ben's grave, reflecting that while a true hero's legacy is judged by the lives he's saved, his will be judged by those he's lost; citing Uncle Ben, his parents, Harry Osborn, Gwen Stacy, her father, and now Captain America. He laments that although Uncle Ben told him that there would be 'days that would test him', he does not know if he can bear it anymore. Just then, his thoughts are interrupted by his spider-sense which alerts him to the presence of the Rhino. Believing that Rhino is somehow up to something, Spider-Man attacks him and in an attempt to defend himself, Rhino accidentally breaks his mother's headstone. As he reveals that he was only visiting his mother's grave, Spider-Man realizes his mistake but is too late to prevent Rhino from going into a rage. As Rhino proceeds to beat him to a pulp, Spider-Man recalls a time when he went against the Hulk and was nearly killed until Captain America came to his aid. Realizing he won't be saved this time, Spider-Man wills himself to his feet and defeats Rhino much in the same way Cap defeated the Hulk.

At that moment, Wolverine reveals himself and begrudgingly congratulates Spider-Man who brushes him off before heading to the Brooklyn Bridge where Gwen Stacy died. Wolverine follows him and an angry Spider-Man accuses him of being incapable of understanding what he's feeling. Wolverine then describes a condition like having a cannon shot through one's stomach, leaving a hole that has a tendency to reopen again and again, though the hole heals back faster each time it is reopened. Spider-Man asks if the pain ever goes away and Wolverine explains that you never 'get over' a death. You simply have to learn to live with the pain, and life will get better... someday.

Issue #5 – Acceptance
Captain America is given a funeral with full military honors (in a ceremony usually reserved for the president), and many thousands are in attendance, not to count the people watching on TV. Among the audience and speakers are Tony Stark, Sam Wilson, Hank Pym, Janet van Dyne, Ben Grimm, and a number of other heroes both old and modern, as well as their loved ones and the people Cap inspired. Tony is given the first opportunity to speak, but a wave of emotion renders him incapable of speaking anything besides "It wasn't supposed to be this way...". Sam then gets up and takes over, starting with a history of the names Cap was once called by, and pointing out that despite that, it was always Steve Rogers who really mattered. He speaks of how soldiers and heroes of yesteryear were inspired to be what they are simply by watching Cap in action. He asks them to stand up, and recounts the events that froze Cap and helped him survive to the modern day. He mentions—with emphasis on why he couldn't be in attendance—how Namor was involved in bringing him back. Then he asks all those inspired by Cap's return to stand up as well, including heroes and those who supported the heroes. He references the New Avengers (not by name), who wanted to be there, but couldn't. At Dr. Strange's house, they are watching the funeral and discussing why they didn't go; Spider-Man says it would have been worth the risk. Sam concludes by saying that with everyone in attendance proving they were inspired by Cap—since by this point literally everyone is standing—it shouldn't be a sad day, but one of celebration of all the things Steve Rogers would have wanted.

Three days later, in the arctic, Iron Man, Wasp and Yellowjacket land in a S.H.I.E.L.D. ship with Rogers' casket. Tony mentions that the body in Arlington isn't really Cap's, but a decoy to please the public, and that this funeral would have been what Steve really wanted. The real body is here, and it will rest in the Arctic forever, the rationale being that he was preserved in peace here for decades until he could be revived, and so it was the best place for him to rest forever. Tony says a heartfelt good-bye, reflecting on their past together in the Avengers, and showing that despite their conflict during Civil War, he still cared for him. Namor appears, revealing that he too is touched by the death, and that as long as he rules the oceans, Steve Rogers will rest in peace. Janet then asks Tony whether everyone must now accept that the old era is finally over and a new one is beginning. The casket sinks slowly into nothingness without an answer.

Other versions

What If?
An issue of Volume 7 What If? titled What If? Fallen Son asks "What if Iron Man died instead of Captain America?". It was released in December 2008. In this reality, Captain America never dies on the steps of the courthouse, and is tried as normal.

Shortly after a press conference detailing Steve Rogers' sentence, Tony Stark is attacked and killed by Tom Foster, blaming Stark for his uncle's death. This action seems to only help grow support of the Superhuman Registration Act, which leads Ms. Marvel to assault Luke Cage brutally after he said he wished he could have gotten to Stark first.

With the superhero community, and the world, mourning the death of Tony Stark, the Skrulls descend towards an unsuspecting Earth to start their Invasion. As Uatu looks on at the Skrull ships headed towards Earth, he says "It wasn't supposed to be this way...".

References

External links

 Fallen Son:The Death of Captain America covers and variants image gallery
 Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America review Favourable review of Fallen Son

2007 comics debuts
Captain America titles
Captain America storylines
Comics set in New York City


Simchat Torah (, lit., "Rejoicing with/of the Torah", Ashkenazi: Simchas Torah), also  spelled Simhat Torah, is a Jewish holiday that celebrates and marks the conclusion of the annual cycle of public Torah readings, and the beginning of a new cycle. Simchat Torah is a component of the Biblical Jewish holiday of Shemini Atzeret ("Eighth Day of Assembly"), which follows immediately after the festival of Sukkot in the month of Tishrei (occurring in September or October on the Gregorian calendar).

The main celebrations of Simchat Torah take place in the synagogue during evening and morning services. In many Orthodox as well as many Conservative congregations, this is the only time of year on which the Torah scrolls are taken out of the ark and read at night. In the morning, the last parashah of Deuteronomy and the first parashah of Genesis are read in the synagogue. On each occasion, when the ark is opened, the worshippers leave their seats to dance and sing with the Torah scrolls in a joyous celebration that can last for several hours.

The morning service is also uniquely characterized by the calling up of each member of the congregation for an aliyah. There is also a special aliyah for all the children.

Duration of holiday

On the Hebrew calendar, the seven-day holiday of Sukkot in the autumn (late mid-September to late mid-October) is immediately followed by the holiday of Shemini Atzeret. In Orthodox and Conservative communities outside Israel, Shemini Atzeret is a two-day holiday and the Simchat Torah festivities are observed on the second day. The first day is referred to as "Shemini Atzeret" and the second day as "Simchat Torah", although both days are officially Shemini Atzeret according to Halakha, and this is reflected in the liturgy. Many Hasidic communities have Hakafot on the eve of the first day of Shemini Atzeret as well.

In Israel, Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah are celebrated on the same day. Reform congregations, even outside Israel, may do likewise. Many communities in Israel have Hakafot Shniyot ("Second Hakafot") on the evening following the holiday, which is the same day as Simchat Torah evening in the diaspora. The custom was started by the former Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv, Rabbi Yedidya Frankel.

Evening festivities
The Simchat Torah festivities begin with the evening service. All the synagogue's Torah scrolls are removed from the ark and are carried around the sanctuary in a series of seven hakafot (circuits). Although each hakafa need only encompass one circuit around the synagogue, the dancing and singing with the Torah often continues much longer, and may overflow from the synagogue onto the streets.

In Orthodox and Conservative Jewish synagogues, each circuit is announced by a few melodious invocations imploring God to Hoshiah Na ("Save us") and ending with the refrain, Aneinu B'yom Koreinu ("[God] answer us on the day we call"). In Orthodox and Conservative synagogues, the hakafot are accompanied by traditional chants, including biblical and liturgical verses and songs about the Torah, the goodness of God (Mipi El is an example), Messianic yearnings, and prayers for the restoration of the House of David and of the Temple in Jerusalem. Congregations may also sing other, popular songs during the dancing. Children often receive flags, candies and other treats. The vigour of the dancing and degree of festive merriment varies with congregational temperament.

In Orthodox synagogues, men and boys predominate in the dancing; children (even young girls) may also dance with their fathers. Women and older girls often have their own dancing circles (sometimes with the Torah scrolls), or look on from the other side of a mechitza (partition), in accordance with the value of tzniut (modesty).
In Conservative and Progressive congregations, men and women dance together. In some congregations, the Torah scrolls are carried out into the streets and the dancing may continue far into the evening.

After the hakafot, many congregations recite a portion of the last parashah of the Torah, V'Zot HaBerachah ("This is the Blessing ...") in Deuteronomy. The part read is usually 33:1–34:12, but this may vary by individual synagogue custom, although Deuteronomy is never read to the end in the evening.

Morning festivities

The morning service, like that of other Jewish holidays, includes a special holiday Amidah, the saying of Hallel, and a holiday Mussaf service. When the ark is opened to take out the Torah for the Torah reading, all the scrolls are again removed from the ark and the congregation again starts the seven hakafot just like in the evening.

Early priestly blessing

In most Eastern Ashkenazic communities, one deviation from an otherwise ordinary holiday morning service is the performance of the Priestly Blessing as part of the Shacharit service, before the celebrations connected with the Torah reading begin, rather than as part of the Musaf service that follows. This practice hearkens back to an old custom for the kiddush sponsored by the Hatan Torah (see below) to be held during the Simchat Torah service itself where hard liquor (along with other refreshments) may be served. Since the Bible prohibits Kohanim (descendants of Aaron) from performing the priestly blessing while intoxicated, and there is concern that Kohanim may imbibe alcoholic beverages during the Simchat Torah festivities, the blessing was moved to before the time when alcohol would be served. In some congregations, the Kohanim deliver their blessing as usual during the Musaf service of Simchat Torah. In some Western Ashkenazic communities, as well as in many communities in Israel, the Kohanim deliver their blessing at both Shacharit and Musaf services, as is done on every Festival.

Torah reading and customs

After the hakafot and the dancing, three scrolls of the Torah are read. The last parashah of the Torah, V'Zot HaBerachah, at the end of Deuteronomy (33:1–34:12), is read from the first scroll, followed immediately by the first chapter (and part of the second) of the Book of Genesis (1:1–2:3), which is read from the second scroll. It is a Jewish custom that a new beginning must immediately follow a completion, therefore it is logical to immediately read Gen. 1 after finishing Deuteronomy.

It is a special honor to receive the last aliyah of the Book of Deuteronomy; the person receiving that aliyah is called the Hatan Torah (the groom of the Torah) (or Kallat Torah (the bride of the Torah) in synagogues that allow women to receive an aliyah). Likewise, it is a special honor to receive the first aliyah of the Book of Genesis; that person is called Hatan B'reishit (the groom of Genesis) (or Kallat B'reishit (the bride of Genesis).

In many congregations it is customary to call all eligible members of the congregation for an aliyah to the Torah on Simchat Torah. To accommodate this the first five aliyot are reread so that everyone has an opportunity to recite the blessing. To save time, some congregations call people up in groups. Others hold a series of separate minyanim for the Torah reading. In a minority of Orthodox congregations women receive aliyot in single-gender tefillah groups (prayer groups consisting only of women, who pray together), and only men are called to the Torah in front of the whole congregation.

Another custom is to call all the children (in Orthodox congregations boys only) to a special aliyah called Kol HaNe'arim ("all the children"). In many congregations, a large talit is spread out over the heads of all the children as the blessing over the Torah is pronounced, and for the congregation to bless the children by reciting (in Hebrew) a verse from Jacob's blessing to Ephraim and Manasseh, Genesis 48:16.

May the angel who redeems me from all evil bless the children, and may my name be declared among them, and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac, and may they teem like fish for multitude within the land.

Although the blessing of the children is omitted from the 1985 edition of Conservative Judaism's Siddur Sim Shalom prayer book, it was reinstated in later versions. Most Conservative congregations still perform it.

After the portion of Genesis is read, the Maftir, Numbers 29:35–30:1, is read from a third Torah scroll. The passage describes the prescribed offerings performed for the holiday. The haftarah (reading from the prophets) is the first section of the Book of Joshua.

History

The name Simhat Torah was not used until a relatively late time. In the Talmud (Meg. 31b) it is called Shemini Atzeret.

Celebration and dancing
Modern customs of celebration and dancing arose in the early Rishonic period. Isaac ibn Ghiyyat (1030–1089) writes in his Me'ah She'arim that he asked Hayy ben Sherira "about those whose wont is to remove the sefer torah from its ark at the close of the holiday, and [Hayy] responded that this is not our practice ... but that local customs should not change." Joseph Colon Trabotto adds in his Responsa that in his edition (ours is lacunose) Ghiyyat added that Hayy had also written "Our habit is to dance [on the day after Sh'mini Atzeret] specifically, even many of the elders, when they make eulogies of the torah, and this is permitted because it glorifies the torah", a ruling affirmed by Moses Isserles (Darkhei Moshe). This places the custom of removing the scrolls from the ark and dancing in some locales into the 11th century. Abraham ben Isaac of Narbonne (1080–1158) writes in haEshkol that "this teaches that we make a feast to complete the torah, therefore we make great feasts and ample delicacies on the day of Simchat Torah, to honor the torah's completion". Abraham ben Nathan (12th century) writes in haManhig that "the French rite is ... they make large celebrations, the entire community in the homes of the honorees, because it is the Simchat Torah." Zedekiah ben Abraham Anaw (13th century) writes in Shibbolei haLeqet  that "It is called Simchat Torah ... the custom is for the Chatan Torah to make a feast and to distribute sweets and candies".

Readings
In the 9th century, some European Jewish communities assigned a special reading from the Prophets to be read on this day. In the 13th century, the reading of Genesis was added immediately upon the completion of Deuteronomy and the Shulhan Arukh (written about 1565) only mentions this without mentioning the presumably later custom of southern European countries to remove all the Torah scrolls from the ark and to sing a separate hymn for each one. In northern European countries, those who had finished the reading of Deuteronomy made donations to the synagogue, after which the wealthier members of the community would give a dinner for friends and acquaintances. By the end of the 15th century, it was a common though not universal practice for the children to tear down and burn the sukkahs on Simhat Torah.

In the 16th century, the practice of taking out the scrolls and filing solemnly around the bimah on the night of the 23rd of Tishri became customary; and on the same evening, after the procession, a number of passages from the Torah were read.

In the 17th century, Rebecca bat Meir Tiktiner of Prague composed a poem about Simhat Torah.

In Poland it was the custom to sell to the members of the congregation, on the 23rd of Tishri, the privilege of executing various functions during the services on Shabbat and Jewish festivals; i.e. the synagogue used this occasion as a fund-raiser. People who made these donations were called up to the Torah and given a congregational blessing.

Symbolism

"Feet" of the Torah
In Chabad Hasidic thought, the traditional dancing with the Torah allows the Jew to act as the "feet" of the Torah, taking the Torah where it wishes to go, as feet transport the head. This is thought as an act of submission to the will of God as expressed in the dictates of the Torah. It is an act that causes the Jew to inherently and naturally observe the Jewish faith. And just as the head benefits from the mobility of the feet, so does the Torah become exalted by the commitment of the Jew.

Symbol of Jewish identity
In the 20th century, Simhat Torah came to symbolize the public assertion of Jewish identity. The Jews of the Soviet Union, in particular, would celebrate the festival en masse in the streets of Moscow. On October 14, 1973, more than 100,000 Jews took part in a post–Simhat Torah rally in New York city on behalf of refuseniks and Soviet Jewry. Dancing in the street with the Torah has become part of the holiday's ritual in various Jewish congregations in the United States as well.

Rejoicing under adversity
Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel said:The Gaon of Vilna said that ve-samachta be-chagekha (You shall rejoice in your festival; Deuteronomy 16:14) is the most difficult commandment in the Torah. I could never understand this puzzling remark. Only during the war did I understand. Those Jews who, in the course of their journey to the end of hope, managed to dance on Simhat Torah, those Jews who studied Talmud by heart while carrying stones on their back, those Jews who went on whispering Zemirot shel Shabbat (Hymns of Sabbath) while performing hard labor . . . ve-samachta be-chagekha was one commandment that was impossible to observe—yet they observed it.

2023 invasion of Israel
On October 07, 2023, during Simchat Torah, Hamas launched an attack on Israeli army installations and settlements near the Gaza border. More than 1,400 Israelis died, most of them unarmed civilians. This event marks the starting point of the 2023 Israel–Hamas war.

Commemoration

In 1996, the Israel Postal Authority issued a postage stamp to honour the holiday.

See also
 Jewish holidays 2000–2050

References

Bibliography

 Goodman, Philip. Sukkot and Simchat Torah Anthology JPS, 1988.
 Yaari, A. Toldot Hag Simchat Torah. Jerusalem: Mosad Harav Kook, 1964.
 Zinberg, Israel. Old Yiddish Literature from Its Origins to the Haskalah Period KTAV, 1975. . On Rebecca batMeir Tikitiner's Simchat Torah poem, see p. 51ff.

External links
 Chabad.org: Simchat Torah

Hallel
Hebrew names of Jewish holy days
Hebrew words and phrases in Jewish law
Shemini Atzeret

Sukkot
Tishrei observances
Torah

Simchat Torah


Kyle Rae (born January 23, 1954) is a Canadian consultant and former politician. Rae was a member of Toronto City Council from 1991 to 2010, representing Ward 6 in the old city from 1991 to 1997 and Ward 27 Toronto Centre-Rosedale following the municipal amalgamation of Toronto in 1997.

Politics
Rae was first elected to Toronto city council in 1991 as a left-leaning councillor filling the seat vacated by Jack Layton (who was running for mayor at the time). He campaigned as an openly gay candidate and beat his closest rival by 1,003 votes, becoming the city's first openly gay councillor. During his first term, as Chair of the City's Personnel Committee he attempted, with Mayor June Rowlands' support, to introduce affirmative action in the city's fire department. The motion was defeated.

A longtime member of the Ontario New Democratic Party, he left the party because of the failure of NDP Premier Bob Rae's government (who is not related to Kyle Rae) to pass long-promised reforms on gay rights issues. Rae led a local boycott of the NDP in the 1993 by-election in the riding of St. George—St. David (now Toronto Centre) to highlight his position. In recent years, Rae supported John Sewell's independent candidacy in the 1999 provincial election and federal Liberal Bill Graham. He supported Barbara Hall against David Miller in the 2003 mayoralty election. Because of his long running and historic criticism of the NDP's legislative failure on gay rights issues, Rae surprised many when he endorsed former Premier Rae when the latter successfully contested the Toronto Centre federal by-election on March 17, 2008 as the Liberal Party candidate. Kyle said of Bob, "He has a unique set of skills and experience, and I hope he wins .... His candidacy has my full support."

In 2000, Rae and fellow councillor David Soknacki were both acclaimed in their ridings.

In 2002, he was sued for defamation by members of the Toronto Police Force after he sharply criticized a 2000 raid on the Toronto Women's Bathhouse, a lesbian bathhouse event. His calling the police "rogue cops" and "goons" and the operation a "panty raid" was criticized, and the officers alleged what was only a standard liquor inspection hurt their careers and reputations.  A jury eventually decided that the seven officers were defamed and ordered Rae to pay $170,000. The settlement money was paid by the city from a fund that protects councillors from having to pay lawsuits from personal funds.

With the legalization of same-sex marriage in 2003, Rae married Mark Reid, his partner since 1994.

In May 2007, Rae renewed his call for a bylaw to further protect historic buildings. The proposed bylaw would give the City of Toronto the power to charge building owners who let historic buildings fall into disrepair. It would also give the city the power to perform emergency repairs in certain cases, applying the bill to the owner's taxes. Rae's call came after the Walnut Hall, a historic Georgian Rowhouse, collapsed after decades of neglect. The building's various owners sought to tear it down and were prevented because of its historical value.

On December 11, 2009, Rae announced that he would not run in the November 2010 municipal election. He endorsed Ken Chan, a former police officer and aide to London Mayor Boris Johnson in the Ward 27 council race and Toronto mayoral candidate George Smitherman. Chan was defeated by Kristyn Wong-Tam in the municipal election.

In June 2010, Rae held a retirement party at the Rosewater Club and billed the $12,000 cost to his office budget. Mayoral candidate Rob Ford and fellow councillors criticized Rae for this expense and said that Rae should return the money. Council voted down a request to have Rae return the money. Rae claimed that unspent campaign funds he was forced to turn over the city more than covered the cost, but critics pointed out that the campaign money was not his to spend. This example was used by Ford as an example of the "Gravy Train" at City Hall.

After politics
Since retirement, Rae has worked as a consultant for the development industry clearing zoning and other regulatory and statutory hurdles on behalf of builders. In 2012, ONEX chairman Gerry Schwartz hired Rae to lobby city councillors against a downtown casino, a development that the city's executive committee has been considering as a tool of economic development. He also teaches introductory politics and local government part-time at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University).

References

External links

Former city councillor biography
 Kyle Rae fonds - Archival records at The ArQuives: Canada's LGBTQ2+ Archives

1954 births
Activists from Toronto
Brock University alumni
Gay politicians
LGBT municipal councillors in Canada
Canadian LGBT rights activists
Living people
Toronto city councillors
Canadian gay men
20th-century Canadian politicians
20th-century Canadian LGBT people
21st-century Canadian politicians
21st-century Canadian LGBT people

Kyle Rae


"Let's keep the Goan tradition and culture alive, worldwide"

Ami Bhikari Khore

We are real beggars

Type: Dulpod

Source: Lourdinho Barreto. Goemchem Git. Pustok 1, p. 28

Musical form: Binary

Literary form: Sarcastic comment on "marginals". Monologue

Translated by Lourenço de Noronha, Vienna, June 2005

Ami bhikari khore.

We are real beggars.

Rezra bore.

We beg hard,

Bhikreank tandull poddtai thodde.

(But) Beggars get little rice.

Tandullu amkam

Poddtai bore,

We get a lot of rice,

Moddgonvam voddllea gharam kodde.

At the big house in Margão.

Poddlo tandull,

The rice which we receive,

Sorea(c) khaile,

We use for palm and caju wine,

Bazrant Apkarekodde.

At the market pub (of Margão).

Poddlo poixe,

When money comes,

Potiant ghaile.

We put it in the pocket.

Kedo pottol choi amkodde.

See what a big purse we have.

Matear fottem,

Rag on the head,

Paiank zotem,

Slippers on the feet,

Bhikreank jevonn mett'a aitem.

A beggar gets food without working.

Hatant dhanddo,

With rod in the hand,

Hankeant ol'li,

A basket at the elbow,

Bhikreank tiksanni choddi.

The rage of a beggar is very harsh.

Polleiat

Dulpod Goenche

Sondorbh

Konknni
Dulpod
Romi panam

Ami Bhikari Khore - Dulpod


Uni or UNI may refer to:

Education
 Uni, a commonly used abbreviation for university

Entertainment
Uni Records, a division of MCA, formally called Universal City Records
"U.N.I.", a song by Ed Sheeran from + (Plus)
Uni, a species in the Neopets Trading Card Game
Uni, a character in the anime Reborn!
Uni, a character in the television series Dungeons and Dragons

Geography
Uni (inhabited locality), name of several inhabited localities in Russia
UNI, the reporting mark of Unity Railways, a defunct Pennsylvania railroad
UNI, the MTR station code for University Station, Hong Kong

Other uses
Uni (letter), a glyph in Georgian scripts
Uni (mythology), the supreme goddess of Etruscan mythology
Uni (food), Japanese name for edible sea urchin gonads
uni-ball, brand of pens and pencils made by the Mitsubishi Pencil Company
In mathematics, the category of uniform spaces
Ente Nazionale Italiano di Unificazione, an Italian technical standards organization
UNI global union, an international trade union federation
 UNI Panthers, an alternate name for the Northern Iowa Panthers, the athletic program of the University of Northern Iowa
United News of India, an Indian news agency
User–network interface, the junction from which a telecommunications service is connected between the service provider and the end user
UNI, fashion denotes unisex clothing
Uni, a uniformed police officer in law enforcement jargon
National Union of Independents (disambiguation), the name of several political parties
Uni, a fictional character in the Hyperdimension Neptunia Mk2 video game

Uni


Sarasota Opera is a professional opera company in Sarasota, Florida, USA, which
was founded as the Asolo Opera Guild and, until 1974, presented a visiting company's productions. Between 1974 and 1979, it set about mounting its own productions in the same venue until, in 1979, it acquired the Edwards Theatre, which became the Sarasota Opera House in 1984. The house underwent a further renovation in 2008, creating a 1,119-seat venue.

In addition to two or three operas in the popular repertoire, each season typically includes an opera as part of the long-running "Verdi Cycle", the company's planned presentations of every Verdi opera, and one in the "Masterworks Revival" series.

Company history

Initially bringing the Turnau Opera of Woodstock, New York to perform chamber-sized operas at the historic Asolo Theater on the grounds of the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, the guild then began mounting its own productions, also at the Asolo, in 1974, but when it acquired the Edwards Theatre in 1979, the company set about a rehabilitation of the old vaudeville and movie theater and opened it in 1984.

Under the artistic direction of Victor DeRenzi since 1982 and executive director Richard Russell, the company presents its Winter Opera Festival in February and March, usually offering four fully staged operas with the Sarasota Opera Orchestra. The repertoire includes standard works as well as lesser known operas.

In March 2008, the Sarasota Opera House reopened after a $20 million renovation with Verdi's Rigoletto, and in the same year, the company added its first fully staged fall production, Rossini's The Barber of Seville bringing the number of operas presented in a season to five. For the most part, the Fall operas have been popular favourites, but in 2012, it presented Daron Hagen's world premiere opera, Little Nemo in Slumberland.

Characteristic features of the company
Verdi Cycle
One of the company's longest standing initiatives is the Verdi Cycle, an effort—which began in 1989—to perform all of the works of Giuseppe Verdi, including every one of his operas (as well as all alternative versions), all his orchestral and chamber music, as well as the Requiem. In recent years, the Verdi Cycle operas have included I due Foscari, Giovanna d'Arco, I Lombardi and Otello. In 2009, the company staged performances of the composer's Don Carlo in the four-act version of 1884 (the "La Scala" version) in French. At the time, this was the largest opera ever presented by the company.

The first grand opera which Verdi wrote for Paris, Jérusalem (a revised version of the 1843 I Lombardi), was given in French in 2014, while his first comedy, Un giorno di regno, appeared in 2013. Don Carlos, in the original, 5-act, Paris version in French was performed in 2015.

The 2016 Winter Festival Season brought the completion of the 28-year Verdi Cycle on March 20, 2016 making Sarasota Opera the only company in the world to have performed every work, operatic and non-operatic, available for performance by Giuseppe Verdi and Maestro Victor DeRenzi the only conductor in the world to have conducted every available work by Giuseppe Verdi. The season culminated in a Verdi Festival Week, March 15–20, which included performances of the final two Verdi operas to be performed as part of the cycle, La battaglia di Legnano and Aida, two concerts dedicated to the music of Verdi, a two-day International Verdi Conference in partnership with the American Institute for Verdi Studies, and a 28-year retrospective exhibit on the Verdi Cycle. Distinguished guests included two of Giuseppe Verdi's great-great-grandchildren, Maria Mercedes Carrara Verdi and Angiolo Carrara Verdi, Gloria Marina Bellelli, Consul General of Italy, and Enzo Petrolini, President of the Club dei 27.

In June of 2016 and in recognition for his role in bringing the Verdi Cycle to completion, Maestro DeRenzi was knighted by the Italian government, receiving the title of Cavaliere dell'ordine della Stella d'Italia (Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy).

Sarasota Firsts Initiative
Starting this fall, Sarasota Opera will launch a new venture entitled "Sarasota Firsts" in which the company will present operas never previously produced on the Sarasota Opera House stage. For the 2016/2017 season, Sarasota Opera will present three operas in association with this new series which will be Don Pasquale by Gaetano Donizetti, L'italiana in Algeri by Gioachino Rossini, and Dialogues of the Carmelites by Francis Poulenc. The season will also include Madama Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini and L'amore dei tre re by Italo Montemezzi.

The Masterworks Revival Series,
The series includes presentations of neglected works of artistic merit. Operas presented in this series  have included Alfredo Catalani's La Wally, Carl Nielsen's Maskarade, Engelbert Humperdinck's Königskinder, Stanisław Moniuszko's Halka, and Mascagni's L'amico Fritz.

The company also runs an Apprentice Program and a Studio Artists Program. Both programs provide young singers with additional training and performance opportunities in the chorus or other small roles in the company's productions.

American Classics Series
The 2010-2011 opera season marked the beginning of Sarasota Opera's newest initiative, the American Classics Series, through which Sarasota Opera has made the commitment to produce one opera by an American composer each season.  Robert Ward's opera, The Crucible based on the play by Arthur Miller, served as the inaugural production of this new series, and it was received with critical acclaim.
 The 2012 Festival Season featured Samuel Barber's Vanessa and, in 2013, the American Classic opera was Carlisle Floyd's Of Mice and Men.  In 2013 the company announced that they would no longer continue this series, with Lawrence Johnson noting in London's Opera magazine that "Richard Russell, the company's new executive director, decided to pull the plug on the enterprising project due to lack of enthusiasm from the company's local patron base, heavy on seniors who prefer conservative repertoire".

Youth Opera
The Sarasota Youth Opera program, begun in 1984, is the most comprehensive training program designed for young people ages 8 to 18 currently in the United States. The program admits all who apply, regardless of skill level, and provides instruction in the musical and theatrical aspects of opera. In recent years, the Sarasota Youth Opera has mounted world premieres on Sarasota's stage, the best-known being The Language of Birds, and gave the United States premiere of Canadian composer Dean Burry's opera The Hobbit in 2008. In 2010, the Sarasota Youth Opera presented the opera The Black Spider by Judith Weir. Sarasota Opera presented the world premiere of Little Nemo in Slumberland, an opera the company commissioned with music by Daron Hagen and words by J.D. McClatchy, in November 2012. On November 12, 2016, the Sarasota Youth Opera will perform The Secret World of Og also by the Canadian composer Dean Burry based on the popular children's novel by Pierre Berton.

 The Da Capo Society

First launched in 2016, the Da Capo Society is an organization for younger opera enthusiasts, roughly ages 21 to 40, dedicated to promoting and enjoying opera. Members enjoy discounted prices and meet to socialize before and after shows, as well as gaining access to behind-the-scenes conversations with visiting artists. Members are encouraged to bring guests, as a central goal of the organization is to cultivate a younger audience for the opera.

Sarasota Opera House
For a more detailed article on the opera house, see Sarasota Opera House

Recognizing the need for a larger theater with an orchestra pit, the guild purchased the then-closed A. B. Edwards Theatre, which had been renamed as the Florida Theatre in December 1936. The theater had been built in 1926 by an important early resident of Sarasota, Arthur Britton Edwards, as a versatile performance venue that could be adapted for vaudeville or as a movie house. The guild members renovated the building beginning in 1982. The next year the A. B. Edwards Theatre was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and was reopened as the Sarasota Theatre of the Arts in 1984. The name was changed to the Sarasota Opera House a few years later. From 2007 until the opening of the new season on 1 March 2008, the opera house was extensively remodeled and updated throughout its interior and exterior. The $20 million renovations included a gutting of the auditorium, resulting in a newly configured seating plan, expansion of the public areas and Opera Club on the second level, the opening up of the atrium to reveal a newly installed skylight system which had existed in the 1926 building. Seating has been expanded to 1,119.

References
Notes

External links
 Sarasota Opera Home Page
 Verdi Cycle Website

American opera companies
Culture of Sarasota, Florida
Tourist attractions in Sarasota County, Florida
Musical groups established in 1974
Performing arts in Florida
1974 establishments in Florida

Sarasota Opera


The area known as Locustville is today a section of the village of Hope Valley in the town of Hopkinton, Rhode Island.

Overview
Once a separate village, it was virtually "taken over" by Hope Valley, its more dominant neighbor to the south. Locustville is still a known place, and its past can still be seen in the present day. An example is Locustville Road, a small road near the center of the village, and Locustville Pond, a large, skinny pond that stretches through much of the present-day borders of the village of Hope Valley.

The site of Locustville is near to the Hope Valley Elementary School on Thelma Drive, which Locustville Road branches off of.

Although the areas which were once Locustville are now known as Hope Valley, the name "Locustville" still is a familiar name among residents, and some residents still identify themselves with the village.

References

Villages in Washington County, Rhode Island
Villages in Rhode Island

Locustville, Rhode Island


Skype ( /skaɪp/) is a software program that uses the Internet to make telephone calls (using a technology called Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). It was created in 2003 by the Swedish and Danish Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis. A company currently owns it in Luxembourg called Skype Technologies S.A.R.L, which since 2011 has been part of Microsoft. (From 2005 to 2011, Skype was owned by eBay.)

The Skype program works on computers with Microsoft Windows, macOS and Linux. It is available as a mobile app for different platforms, including iOS and Android. Using VoIP to make calls is very cheap to call another phone. It does not cost money to call another Skype user. Every Skype user has a unique name to which other users can find and talk. Skype also has additional features such as video calls and multiple members in a conversation. In the chat, you can also find a selection of various emojis available.

History of Skype
 September 2002: investment from Draper Investment Company.
 April 2003: Skype.com and Skype.net domain names registered.
 August 2003: First public beta version released.
 September 2005: Skype for talking is banned in South China.
 October 2005: eBay bought Skype.
 December 2005: videotelephony introduced.
 April 2006: 100 million users.
 October 2006: Skype 2.0 for Mac is released, the first full release of Skype with video for Macintosh.
 December 2006: Skype announces a new pricing structure as of January 18, 2007, with connection fees for all SkypeOut calls* March 2007: Skype 3.1 is released, adding some new features, including Skype Find and Skype Prime. Skype also released a 3.2 beta with a new feature called Send Money which allows users to send money via PayPal from one Skype user to another.
 August 2007: Skype 3.5 for Windows released with additions such as inclusion of video content in chat, call transfer to another person or a group,
 August 15, 2007: Skype 184.108.40.206 (beta) for Mac OS X released adding availability of contacts in the Mac Address Book to the Skype contact list, auto redial, contact groups, public chat creation, and an in-window volume slider to the call window.
 August 16 / August 17, 2007: Skype users unable to connect to full Skype network in many countries
 November 2007: Skype users in London who use the 020 city code lost the phone numbers that connected to their Skype accounts after December 2007.

Security
Skype has an encryption system for security. This system cannot be turned on or off. Skype provides an uncontrolled registration system for users. People can use the system safely without revealing their real-life identity to other users of the system, but there is no way to know that the person they communicate with is the one they say they are.

Criticism
Skype has many points of critisism, such as:

 Skype clients can become supernodes. These supernodes hold together the peer-to-peer network. It can use a big quantity of bandwidth. For this reason, some universities have banned the use of Skype.

 Significant use of obfuscated code
 Keeps chatting on the network
 Blind trust in anything else speaking Skype
 Ability to build a parallel Skype network
 Lack of privacy (Skype has the keys to decrypt calls or sessions)
 Heap overflow in Skype
 Skype makes it hard to enforce a (corporate) security policy
 "No way to know if there is/will be a backdoor"
 Users of Skype on Mac OS X have poor audio quality when connecting to Mac/Mobile clients
 Bugs and delays in the Linux version

Other websites
 Official Skype website
 Planetskype website
 Portable Skype (Windows)

2003 establishments
File sharing
Video chat
Telephone

Skype


The KSD-64[A] Crypto Ignition Key (CIK) is an NSA-developed EEPROM chip packed in a plastic case that looks like a toy key.  The model number is due to its storage capacity — 64 kibibits (65,536bits, or 8KiB), enough to store multiple encryption keys.  Most frequently it was used in key-splitting applications: either the encryption device or the KSD-64 alone is worthless, but together they can be used to make encrypted connections.  It was also used alone as a fill device for transfer of key material, as for the initial seed key loading of an STU-III secure phone.

Newer systems, such as the Secure Terminal Equipment, use the Fortezza PC card as a security token instead of the KSD-64. The KSD-64 was withdrawn from the market in 2014. Over one million were produced in its 30-year life.

Operation

The CIK is a small device which can be loaded with a 128·bit sequence which is different for each user. When the device is removed from the machine, that sequence is automatically added (mod 2) to the unique key in the machine, thus leaving it stored in encrypted form. When it is reattached, the unique key in the machine is decrypted, and it is now ready to operate in the normal way. The analogy with an automobile ignition key is close, thus the name. If the key is lost, the user is still safe unless the finder or thief can match it with the user's machine. In case of loss, the user gets a new CIK, effectively changing the lock in the cipher machine, and gets back in business.

The ignition key sequence can be provided in several ways. In the first crypto-equipment to use the idea (the KY-70), the CIK is loaded with its sequence at NSA and supplied to each user like any other item of keying material. Follow-on application (as in the STU-II) use an even more clever scheme. The CIK device is simply an empty register which can be supplied with its unique sequence from the randomizer function of the parent machine itself. Not only that, each time the device is removed and re-inserted, it gets a brand new sequence. The effect of this procedure is to provide high protection against the covert compromise of the CIK wherein a thief acquires the device, copies it, and replaces it unknown to its owner. The next morning (say), when the user inserts the device, it will receive a new sequence and the old copied one will be useless thereafter. If the thief has gotten to his machine during the night, he may be able to act into the net; but when the user attempts to start up in the morning the user's device will no longer work, thus flagging the fact that penetration has occurred.

This concept appears particularly attractive in office environments where physical structures and guarding arrangements will not be sufficiently rigorous to assure that crypto-equipments cannot be accessed by unauthorized people.

References

External links
 Article on STU-III and CIK by Jerry Proc
 KSD-64 at Crypto Museum

Encryption device accessories
Key management
National Security Agency encryption devices

KSD-64


The Bozo Super Sunday Show is the final version of WGN-TV's 40+ year-old Bozo series, which aired on Sunday mornings for seven seasons. It was taped in Chicago. The lead star of the show was Bozo the Clown, played by Joey D'Auria. The last episode was taped on October 25, 2000 and featured a cameo appearance by Roy Brown as Cooky the Cook, Bozo's sidekick on WGN's previous Bozo series, Bozo's Circus and The Bozo Show.

In 1997, the show was retooled in an effort to make the show qualify for educational requirements.

The final Bozo television taping was the Bozo: 40 Years of Fun! special on June 12, 2001. It aired on July 14, 2001, featuring a guest appearance by singer Billy Corgan, a loyal fan of WGN's Bozo series, who performed Bob Dylan's "Forever Young."

The final rerun of The Bozo Super Sunday Show was broadcast August 26, 2001. Counting both of its predecessors, the Chicago Bozo was the longest-running television adaptation of the Bozo franchise, which was seen in numerous local versions throughout North America. The vast majority of Bozo stations had discontinued their Bozo franchises in the early 1970s, with the exception of a few stations that had revivals in the late 1980s.

WGN-TV's Bozo returned to the airwaves on a two-hour retrospective titled Bozo, Gar and Ray: WGN TV Classics on December 24, 2005.  The primetime premiere was #1 in the Chicago market and is rebroadcast annually during the holiday season.

Segments

Characters

External links
 Official website

 History (fan website) of WGN-TV Chicago's Bozo show
 NPR Program about 40 years of Bozo

1994 American television series debuts
2001 American television series endings
1990s American children's comedy television series
2000s American children's comedy television series
English-language television shows
Local children's television programming in the United States
WGN America original programming
Television series by Tribune Entertainment
Chicago television shows
Television shows about clowns
Bozo the Clown

The Bozo Super Sunday Show


James Putnam Archibald (1912 - May 28, 2006), was a judge of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court.

The son of a lawyer, Archibald attended Bowdoin College and law school at Boston University before returning to Houlton in 1937. He worked in his father's firm and in 1941 was elected Aroostook County attorney. After military service during World War II he was re-elected to the post.

As a special assistant attorney general, he was called to investigate the double murder of a doctor and his wife, and in 1954 led a probe into allegations of payoffs by a Maine wine distributor to the state liquor commission.

He was appointed to the Superior Court in 1957 by Governor Edmund Muskie.  In 1971, Governor Kenneth M. Curtis appointed him to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court in 1971. He became an active retired justice in 1981.

Archibald was highly respected and well liked by lawyers and fellow judges.  Former Maine Chief Justice Vincent L. McKusick eulogized him as "the grand old man of the supreme judiciary".

External links
 Boston Globe article

1912 births
2006 deaths
Bowdoin College alumni
Boston University School of Law alumni
Justices of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court
20th-century American judges
People from Houlton, Maine

James Archibald


Alexandria is a small farming town in the Eastern Cape of South Africa and is situated 100 km North East of Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, on the way to Bushman's River Mouth, Kenton-on-Sea and Port Alfred. Alexandria is part of the Ndlambe Local Municipality in the Sarah Baartman District Municipality of the Eastern Cape.

It might have been established by the Dutch colonial government in the late 18th century, but was named Alexandria in 1856 after Reverend Alexander Smith. It has a warm temperate climate and is unusual in southern Africa in having no distinct dry or wet season, with rain received throughout the year.

Alexandria is one of the most important chicory producing areas in South Africa and is also known for pineapple production and dairy farming. The Alexandria area also includes the Alexandria State Forest, known as Langebos to the locals, which is a narrow stretch of pristine indigenous forest bordering the Alexandria dune field, one of the largest active dune fields in the world. The Woody Cape Nature Reserve, which stretches from the Sundays River mouth to the Bushman's River mouth and includes the dune field and the indigenous forest, has been incorporated into the Addo Elephant National Park.

References

External links

Populated places in the Ndlambe Local Municipality

Alexandria, South Africa


Blockbuster was an American provider of home video (DVD, VHS), and video game rental services that was founded in 1985 and disestablished in 2013. In 2004, Blockbuster had 84,300 employees and over 8,000 stores.

Blockbuster was founded in 1985 by David Cook, a technician. In 1994 it was bought by media giant Viacom and in 1997 John Antioco was named CEO. In 2004, they launched the "Blockbuster By Mail" DVD service to compete with Netflix and In 2007, James Keyes, a 7-Eleven executive, replaced Antioco as CEO. Blockbuster also started "Blockbuster On Demand" as an online-streaming service. Blockbuster filed for bankruptcy on September 23, 2010. On April 6, 2011, the company and its remaining 1,700 stores were bought by the satellite television company Dish Network and Michael Kelly of Dish was named President of Blockbuster. Stores remained open until Dish closed all company-owned locations in 2013.

In 2015, Blockbuster replaced "Blockbuster On Demand" with Sling TV, an over-the-top television service. The Blockbuster Fan Page originally tracked the franchise-owned stores, but as of 2019 there is only remaining in operation in Bend, Oregon.

Notes

References

Movie industry
1985 establishments in the United States
2014 disestablishments in the United States

Blockbuster


Joseph Hasner, Ritter von Artha (13 August 1819 – 2 February 1892) was an Austrian ophthalmologist born in Prague. His brother, Leopold Hasner von Artha (1818–1891), was an influential Austrian politician.

He studied medicine at the University of Prague, and subsequently worked at the local general hospital (1842). In 1843 he was an assistant at Johann Fischer's eye clinic. In 1848 he gained his habilitation, and in 1852 he became an associate professor. From 1856 he was a "full professor" of ophthalmology and a primary physician in Prague. Starting in 1869 he was an editor of the Vierteljahrsschrift für die praktische Heilkunde (from 1880- Zeitschrift für Heilkunde).

Hasner is remembered for the discovery of plica lacrimalis, which is a fold of mucous membrane that guards the lower opening of the nasolacrimal duct. This membrane goes by other names, including "Hasner's valve" and "Hasner's fold". Also, he put forth the theory that myopia was caused by stretching of the eyeball — this being due to pulling on the posterior pole by the optic nerve.

Published works
Among his numerous publications is Klinische Vorträge über Augenheilkunde (Clinical Lectures on Ophthalmology), which is a collection of Hasner's lectures on eye diseases and ophthalmoscopy. Other noted writings by Hasner include:
 Beiträge zur Physiologie und Pathologie des Tränenableitungsapparats (Contributions to the Physiology and Pathology of the Lacrimal Drainage Apparatus), 1851
 Beiträge zur Physiologie und Pathologie des Auges (Contributions to the Physiology and Pathology of the Eye), 1873
 Über die Grenzen der Akkommodation des Auges (On the Limits of Accommodation of the Eye), 1875
 Das mittlere Auge in seinen physiologischen und pathologischen Beziehungen (The Median Eye in its Physiological and Pathological Relationships), 1879
 Die Verletzungen des Auges in gerichtsärztlicher Beziehung (The Injuries of the Eye in Forensic Medical Relationships), In: Maschka's Handbuch der gerichtlichen Medizin, Tübingen 1880
 Tycho Brahe und I. Kepler in Prag (Tycho Brahe and I. Kepler in Prague), 1872

References
 The Bernard Becker Collection in Ophthalmology (biographical information)
 List of publications and parts of the biography based on a translation of the German Wikipedia; named sources being:
 Meyers Konversations-Lexikon. 4. Auflage. Band 8, Bibliographisches Institut, Leipzig 1885–1892,  S. 203.
 Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB). Band 50, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1905, S. 54.

1819 births
1892 deaths
19th-century Austrian people
19th-century Czech people
Austrian ophthalmologists
Charles University alumni
Academic staff of Charles University
Habsburg Bohemian nobility
German Bohemian people
Physicians from Prague

Joseph Hasner


Melvin Joseph Francis (August 6, 1945 – January 12, 2006) was the governor of the Passamaquoddy Pleasant Point Reservation, one of two reservations in Maine of the Passamaquoddy Indian tribe, from 1980 until 1990 and again since 2002.

Born and raised in Pleasant Point, he attended local schools. After graduating from Shead High School he earned a journeyman's certificate and specialized in carpentry. He spoke the Passamaquoddy language and was engaged in the preservation of his communities traditions. But alike in the betterment of living conditions for his people as a devoted advocate, peacemaker and lending his professional skills were needed. As governor he strongly supported a proposed LNG terminal on tribal land and legislation allowing an Indian-run racetrack casino in Washington County. Both proposals were not without controversy.

Francis died when his car crashed head first into a tanker truck. He had been on his way home from the signing of an agreement with the Venezuelan-owned Citgo Petroleum Corporation at Indian Island providing affordable oil to the Passamaquoddy, Penobscot, Mi'kmaq and Maliseet tribes in Maine.

Governor John Baldacci postponed the State of the State address for one day to attend the service on January 17, 2006. Also the United States flag and the State of Maine flag were flown at half staff on this day. The Chief Melvin Francis Memorial Fund was set up in his remembrance to improve the education, health, welfare, safety and lives of tribal members.

References

External links
Pleasant Point - Passamaquoddy Tribal Government

1945 births
2006 deaths
Native American leaders
People from Washington County, Maine
Passamaquoddy people
Road incident deaths in Maine

Melvin Francis


Marabunta is a fully distributed software application for anonymous P2P. The main goal is the fight against internet censorship and assuring the freedom of speech. It is a peer-to-peer platform for information exchange among nodes in an anonymous way based on several communication algorithms called "Order and Chaos" which can be found in massive social organizations such as ant colonies.

The project was founded at the University of Zaragoza, Spain, developed and promoted by students of computing engineering although development teams and users from many different places have shown interest, perhaps attracted by the ideological aims of the project. The software is available in Spanish and English, the website is also available in English.

Marabunta uses the Qt graphical widget toolkit, allowing it to be used on both Linux and Microsoft Windows. Released under the GNU General Public License, Marabunta is free software.

Purpose

Marabunta is an implementation of the ideas explained in the "Free Nets project " and it has been developed with these ideas in mind:

 Avoiding censure: Communication between people avoiding central servers is allowed, so it is free from censure attacks, which are commonly launched by many governments and corporations that want to control the communications.
 Anonymity: A degree of anonymous communication is made possible, such that information can be accessed without knowledge of its original source.
 Motives and development: Marabunta is the first project of this kind developed in Spain (first version released in 2005). Still, the software has potential use by people anywhere in the world, especially in countries with little or no freedom of speech.

Features

There are many potential services that can be run on top of Marabunta. Text message interchange is the first service. It could be taken as a platform for telegram distribution, where each computer in the net works as a host and as a server.

 As a host: messages are sent, active nodes are sought, etc.
 As a server: text messages and requests to increase the connectivity between nodes are routed to the network using a broadcast forwarding method.

There are four message distribution lists, so receivers only receive messages sent to the list they are interested in: General, Technology, Philosophy, and Politics.

Content filters are allowed, so only messages with certain patterns are displayed. This is specially useful when searching for some specific information because Marabunta just selects potentially interesting messages.

Connections

All generated traffic uses the UDP/IP protocols. Avoiding setting up connections between nodes lets more traffic flow in the network and the operational redundancy of every node can be used. Moreover, the UDP protocol could be seen as increasing the anonymity in the net because there is no need to validate source hosts to receive a datagram.

Port-forwarding on NATs

Marabunta does not support UDP hole punching, so users behind NATs have to establish a port forwarding route to let the router know to which port and node of the internal net it should forward the arriving datagrams.

References

External links
  Marabunta home page  (Software does display in Spanish by default. To set in English : run the software, click the tab "Opciones Generales", area "Seleccion de Idioma" (bottom of the window), change from "Castellano" to "English").

Anonymity networks
Anonymous file sharing networks
Cross-platform free software
Free communication software
Free file sharing software
Free instant messaging clients
Free multilingual software
Internet privacy software
Peer-to-peer computing
File sharing software that uses Qt
Windows file sharing software
File sharing software for Linux
Free software programmed in C++

Marabunta (software)


Calcium sulfide is a chemical compound made of one calcium atom and one sulphide atom. It has the chemical formula CAS. It is white and forms cubes.

It has a high melting point of 2,525 Celsius (4,577 °F; 2,798 Kelvin), and decomposes upon contact with water.

Calcium compounds
Sulfur compounds

Calcium sulfide


Max Carl Anton Fürbringer (January 30, 1846 – March 6, 1920) was a German anatomist, known for his anatomical investigations of vertebrates and especially for his studies in ornithology on avian morphology and classification. He was responsible for the first major phylogenetic ordering of bird groups based on a large scale study on a combination of skeletal, morphological and anatomical characteristics.

Biography
Max was the first son of Hermine and Karl Fürbringer. Although he was born in Wittenberg, his father's government employment involved travel and he was raised by relatives in Gera. Max was taught and influenced by Karl Theodor Liebe, a bird enthusiast who kept many kinds of birds. Max spent his early childhood collecting coins, butterflies, bees, mosses and ferns. Max's brother Paul would later become an eminent physicist. Max studied at the universities of Berlin and Jena, where he was a student of Karl Gegenbaur. Fürbringer would be one of Gegenbaur's most ardent disciples and supporters. One of Fürbringer teachers was Ernst Haeckel about whom he wrote glowingly:
"He stepped into the auditorium, not with the measured step of the professor, but with the triumphant charging-along of an Apollonian youth, hurrying toward the cathedral, a tall, slender, impressive form; ... golden, flying locks, large, blue, flashing eyes—probably the most beautiful man that I had ever seen, and it seemed to me as if the room, which had already been bright, became noticeably brighter..."
He obtained his doctorate with a thesis on the muscles and bones of dinosaurs. He later worked as a prosector under Gegenbaur at the University of Heidelberg, followed by professorships in Amsterdam, Jena (from 1888) and Heidelberg (from 1901). In 1901 he replaced Gegenbaur at Heidelberg as professor and stayed on until 1912 when his student (and later son-in-law) Hermann Braus took over. He then served as an außerordentliche (=extraordinary) professor at the University of Marburg.

In 1888 Fürbringer published a monumental two volume work on the systematics of birds groups. The first volume was on the forelimbs and shoulder girdle of vertebrates while the second examined the characters and systematics of bird groups. One of the ideas that he used was that the connection of the nerve to a muscle tends to be conserved with evolution. He made use of 51 anatomical and morphological characters and compared every pair of bird group and deduced an evolutionary tree of all the extant and extinct bird groups. His evolutionary tree branched in three dimensions which he represented by means of side and cross-sectional views. This representation was probably influenced by the work of Adolf Engler on plants. This was a seminal work in bird systematics which underwent modifications by Hans Gadow and others to become a definitive basis for subsequent work on the avian evolutionary tree well until the arrival of molecular techniques.

As a defender of Gegenbaur, Fürbringer went against Carl Rabl in 1901. This long drawn conflict relating to the archipterygium or how the fin and the limb were related based on conflicting evidence from anatomy and embryology descended into polemical attacks on each other.

Selected writings
 Die Knochen und Muskeln der Extremitäten bei den schlangenähnlichen Saurien ("The bones and muscles of the extremities in the snake-like lizards"), 1870.
 Zur Entwickelung der Amphibienniere ("The development of amphibian kidneys"), 1877.
 Vergleichende Anatomie und Entwicklungsgeschichte der Excretionsorgane der Vertebraten ("Comparative anatomy and history of development of the excretion organs of the vertebrates"), 1878.
 Untersuchungen zur Morphologie und Systematik der Vögel ("Researches on the morphology and systematics of the bird"), 1888. (in two volumes)
 Über die spino-occipitalen Nerven der Salachier und Holocephalen und ihre vergleichende Morphologie, 1897.
 Beitrag zur Systematik und Genealogie der Reptilien ("Contribution to the systematics and genealogy of the reptiles"), 1900.
 Zur vergleichenden Anatomie des Brustschulterapparates und der Schultermuskeln ("Comparative anatomy of the breast-shoulder apparatus and the shoulder muscles"), volumes 4 and 5, 1900–1902.
 Morphologische Streitfragen ("Controversial questions in morphology"), 1902.
 Abstammung der Säugetiere ("Mammal ancestry"), 1905.

Notes

External links

 Pagel: Biographisches Lexikon hervorragender Ärzte des neunzehnten Jahrhunderts. Berlin, Wien 1901, Sp. 566–567.

1846 births
1920 deaths
Scientists from Wittenberg
People from the Province of Saxony
19th-century German biologists
German ornithologists
German anatomists
20th-century German biologists

Max Fürbringer


The Toyota Aurion  is a mid-size car produced by Toyota in Australia and parts of Asia from 2006 to 2017. In the two generations it was produced, the Aurion was derived from the equivalent Camry. Changes were mainly limited to revised front- and rear-end treatment, along with changes to the interior. The Camry-based Aurion was also sold in the majority of East and Southeast Asia as the Toyota Camry, with the original version of the Camry sold alongside the Aurion in Australasia and the Middle East. In the previous two markets, the car replaced the Avalon model, which can trace its roots back to the early 1990s. A total of 111,140 Aurions were sold over the 10 year Australian production span.

The name "Aurion" was derived from Greek word meaning "tomorrow".

First generation (XV40; 2006)

The first generation Aurion was on sale from 2006 to 2012. In Australia and New Zealand, it replaced the Toyota Avalon (XX10). In some markets this car is referred to as the "prestige" Camry. The Aurion shares most of its tooling, drivetrain, and centre body work, with restyled front and rear ends and interior fittings.

In 2006, Toyota Australia released a heavily enhanced version known as the TRD Aurion, with a supercharged engine and full bodykit.

Pre-facelift

Facelift (2009)

Second generation (XV50; 2011)

After production started in February 2012, April 2012 saw the release of the second generation Aurion in Australia and New Zealand. The same model designations applied in Australia in tie with the first generation model, those being: AT-X, Sportivo SX6, Sportivo ZR6, Prodigy, and Presara. In New Zealand, the model designations are: AT-X, Touring, and Sportivo SX6.

This nameplate is again based on the Camry. The all new model has been available for some Asian and European markets as a Camry since 2011. The same, separate model designations of the Camry and Aurion are on sale in Australia and New Zealand. For the first time, with the XV50 model, the Japanese market Camry is now based on the same design as the "prestige" Camry or Aurion, rather than the "regular" Camry. The "prestige" Camry was designed in Japan by Hirofumi Fukui, Kazumi Kowaki and Keisuke Matsuno in 2009 and unveiled in Ukraine on 25 August 2011.

Facelift
The Aurion-based Camry, sold in Japan and other Asian markets, received a large facelift in 2014. It was discontinued in Japan in July 2017 and in Southeast Asia in late 2018, and it was replaced by the TNGA-based XV70 Camry.

In Australia, however, the Aurion itself received a much smaller facelift, with little exterior changes. The Prodigy trim was deleted from the range, and the Sportivo SX6 and ZR6 were merged to form a single Sportivo trim. The revised trim for the Australian market were: AT-X, Sportivo and Presara.

Special Editions
In 2012, the Aurion in Australia released the Touring SE variant. Only 1500 were built, all of which were based on the AT-X. It added a rear spoiler, front fog lamps, as well as a sports grille on the exterior. The interior features contained a similar interior as the AT-X, except it included steering wheel with audio controls and sport pedals.

Sales
Sales of the second generation Aurion commenced in Australia in April 2012. Whilst having a slow start, the end of the year saw the car achieve sales in excess of 1,000 units in both November and December 2012. However, with this, the Aurion's sales progressively got less as time went on, leaving some months with as little as 100-200 units.

The following table lists the Australian sales made throughout its tenure.

Replacement/Successor
Production of the second generation Aurion in Australia ended in August 2017, ending Aurion production after almost 11 years. With this, Toyota reintroduced, for the first time since 2006, the V6 Camry. Like the Aurion, the Camry also ceased production at the Altona factory, with an imported model from Japan coming to replace it.

References

Cars of Australia
Front-wheel-drive vehicles
Mid-size cars
Sedans
Aurion
Cars introduced in 2006
2010s cars

Toyota Aurion


Variations is a classical and rock fusion album.  The music was composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber and performed by his younger brother, the cellist Julian Lloyd Webber.

The Lloyd Webber brothers were always very close but their two different careers (a rock musical composer and a classical cellist) meant that a collaboration seemed unlikely. It was not until Julian beat his brother in a bet on a Leyton Orient football match that Andrew was forced to write his cello work.

As his subject, Andrew chose the theme of Paganini's 24th caprice and added 23 variations for cello and rock band. The work premiered at the 1977 Sydmonton Festival with rock band Colosseum II, featuring Gary Moore, Jon Hiseman and Don Airey being joined by Barbara Thompson (sax, flute), Rod Argent (piano, synthesizer, keyboards) and Julian Lloyd Webber (cello). It was subsequently rearranged and recorded in 1978. It reached Number 2 on the UK album charts.

The cover is based on the painting Frederick, Prince of Wales, and his sisters by Philip Mercier.

Adaptations

The work was used in musical Song and Dance (1982) and David Cullen made an arrangement of the work for cello and orchestra. The opening and closing variations have been rewritten for cello and piano, the latter of which Julian often uses as an encore, due to its amusing glissando down to Bottom A (forcing a mid piece retune) to conclude.

The opening theme is used as the theme to The South Bank Show (1978–2010) and "Variation 5" became "Unexpected Song" with lyrics by Don Black.  "Variation 18" is an instrumental version of the title song from the first Rice and Webber musical, The Likes of Us (1965, unperformed until 2005). Also, the UK's children's  program, The Book Tower (hosted by Doctor Who actor, Tom Baker) adopted a section of "Variation 19" for its theme tune.

In Lloyd Webber's West End musical adaptation of the film School of Rock (2003), Dewey Finn and Ned Schneebly play Guitar Hero to the audience on an imaginary TV screen, and the Variations album is played. In addition, the chorus of the song "Stick it to the Man" is based on a note sequence from Variation 14.

Track listing
 "Introduction"
 "Theme (Paganini Caprice in A minor No. 24) and Variations 1-4"
 "Variations 5 and 6"
 "Variation 7"
 "Variation 8"
 "Variation 9"
 "Variation 10"
 "Variations 11-15 (including the Tributes to Hank Marvin and Prokofiev)"
 "Variation 16"
 "Variations 13-14 Varied" (listed as 14-15)
 "Variation 17"
 "Variation 18" (Rachmaninoff's Variation 18)
 "Variations 19, 20 and 5 Varied (listed as 6)"
 "Variations 21 and 22"
 "Variation 23"

Personnel
Original rock version
 Julian Lloyd Webber – cello
 Gary Moore – Gibson Les Paul, Rickenbacker electric 12 string & Fender Stratocaster electric guitars, Guild acoustic guitar
 Rod Argent – grand piano, synthesizers (Minimoog, Roland RS-202, Yamaha CS-80)
 Don Airey – grand piano, synthesizers (ARP Odyssey, Minimoog, Solina String Ensemble), Fender Rhodes electric piano
 Barbara Thompson – flute, alto flute, alto & tenor saxophone
 John Mole – Fender Precision Bass, Hayman fretless bass guitar
 Jon Hiseman – Arbiter Auto-Tune drums, Paiste cymbals & gongs, percussion

with additional performers
 Andrew Lloyd Webber – synthesizer
 Dave Caddick – piano
 Bill Le Sage – vibraphone
 Herbie Flowers – bass
 Phil Collins – drums, percussion

Orchestral version
 Julian Lloyd Webber – cello
 Lorin Maazel – conductor
 London Philharmonic Orchestra

See also
 Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini (written by Sergei Rachmaninoff in 1934)
 List of variations on a theme by another composer

References

External links
 Live performance "Introduction and Variations I - IV" by Julian Lloyd Webber on YouTube
 Andrew Lloyd Webber - Variations (1978) album review by Bruce Eder, credits & releases at AllMusic
 Andrew Lloyd Webber - Variations (1978) album releases & credits at Discogs.com
 Andrew Lloyd Webber - Variations (1978) album to be listened as stream at Spotify.com
 James Ehnes: "Caprice No. 24 in A minor: Tema con variazioni, quasi presto" (written by Niccolò Paganini) to be listened as stream at Spotify.com
 Sarah Brightman - "Unexpected Song" to be listened as stream at Spotify.com

1978 albums
Andrew Lloyd Webber albums
Variations
Albums produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber

Variations (Andrew Lloyd Webber album)


The Gray Panthers are a series of multi-generational local advocacy networks in the United States which confront ageism and many other social justice issues. The organization was formed by Maggie Kuhn in response to her forced retirement from the Presbyterian Church at the age of 65 in 1970. The Gray Panthers are named in reference to the Black Panthers.

In addition to its initial response to the issue of mandatory retirement, Gray Panthers have challenged other ageist laws and stereotypes and engaged in anti-war activism, Medicare and Social Security preservation, inter-generational housing, LGBT rights advocacy, environmentalism, the fair treatment of people in nursing homes, and the promotion of single-payer health care.

History

Founding history
Maggie Kuhn's interest in older persons' rights existed well before she founded the Gray Panthers in 1970. She was involved with the White House Conference on Aging in 1961, and appalled by the way people in some retirement homes were treated.

What really sparked her determination to form an activist organization was when she found herself a victim of the lack of rights for older persons in 1970, forced to retire from a job she loved in the Presbyterian Church. Instead of passively accepting retirement, Kuhn decided to band together with other people she knew who were also forced to retire. The lack of accepting the status quo would not just form the Gray Panther organization, but also the Gray Panther name--"It's a fun name. There's a certain militancy, rather than just a docile acceptance of what our country's doing."

When Kuhn formed the organization, her alliances were not just limited to other older persons facing a plight similar to her own. As indicated by the Gray Panthers' slogan which endures to this day, "Age and Youth in Action," she made it a priority to include people of all generations. Gray Panthers membership continues to be inclusive of people of diverse ages.

Issues in the 1970s and 1980s
During this period, the main issues of the Gray Panthers included forced retirement, ageist stereotypes, cuts to Medicare and Social Security, and world peace.

There had been a mandatory forced retirement age at 65, based on the perception that older persons could not be productive members of a workplace after that age. While that stereotype was difficult to overcome, the Panthers were ultimately successful in their efforts to overturn the law, and in 1986, Congress passed a law banning mandatory retirement in most jobs. The law was signed by President Ronald Reagan, as of that time the oldest ever President of the United States.

There were other ageist stereotypes that the Gray Panthers wanted to end. In particular, the stereotype that older persons were "impotent, frail, disabled, demented, or dependent." By confronting those stereotypes, the Gray Panthers were at the forefront of ideas some considered provocative—namely, ideas that older persons should be able to live in inter-generational housing, and that older people can and should freely have sex. And, of course, many of Maggie Kuhn's quotes—including,"Old age is not a disease, it is strength and survivorship, triumph over all kinds of vicissitudes and disappointments, trials and illnesses"—were used as weapons against ageist stereotypes.

While the Gray Panthers wanted to counteract the stereotypes that older persons were weak, disabled, and incapable of doing much physical labor, the organization still cared deeply for people who were frail. As such, the organization was among the most vocal opponents to President Reagan's proposed cuts to Medicare and Social Security. As with the ban on mandatory retirement, this was an issue where the Gray Panthers were able to get what they wanted because Medicare and Social Security were saved from deep cuts.

Another key facet of Gray Panther work from its early years was its advocacy for peace. The Panthers, both young and old, were particularly vociferous in its opposition to the Vietnam War, and war, in general, was a part of the Gray Panthers platform from the very beginning. The organization's work in being anti-war did not stop with Vietnam—the Panthers were opponents of several of President Reagan's plans, such as his "Star Wars" and increased foreign intervention in Central America.

Issues in the 1990s and 2000s
While mandatory retirement ages were abolished in 1986, there were still many threats and social injustices for Gray Panthers to address, including world peace, Medicare and Social Security Benefits, and single-payer health care. They would also become a prominent advocate for LGBT rights.

The organization was prominent in protests against both Iraq Wars, in 1991 and 2003. There were even some Gray Panthers who were arrested over protests in 2003. While such efforts were originally unsuccessful, protesting these wars resonated with younger generations of potential Gray Panthers, therefore, engaging the "youth" part of "Age and Youth in Action." Furthermore, with the 2003 Iraq War, the Gray Panthers were critical of American intervention years before the majority of Americans shared similar opinions.

The Gray Panthers also advocated for a robust national health care system, whether it be through the preservation of Medicare and Social Security, or through single-payer health care. On these issues, the organization continued to succeed in preserving Medicare and Social Security, though the Clinton Administration's health care proposal in 1993-94 fell short of what the Gray Panthers wanted. In fact, the health care plan Maggie Kuhn championed what was described by The New York Times as "the most radical of the various proposals: health insurance paid totally by the government."

The organization protested President Bill Clinton's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy which kept members of the military from being openly LGBT. The Gray Panthers were, therefore, at the forefront of an issue which was deeply unpopular at the time.

Present-day issues
In the present day, the Gray Panthers continue to be at the forefront of advocacy against ageism and for social justice at the local, national, and international levels.

Within the United States, the Gray Panthers have received considerable media attention for triggering an audit of nursing home violations, confronting ageist stereotypes at all levels of society, and bringing attention to other issues which affect the quality of life of all seniors.  The Gray Panthers are working with the United States Department of Labor to ensure support for family caregivers, and are involved in discussions on how to deliver improved home health care in the United States.

Action and advocacy for older persons is not confined just to the United States.  The Gray Panthers have also become increasingly prominent at the United Nations. The organization is one of the strongest advocates for a binding global Convention to protect the Human Rights of Older Persons.  Gray Panthers has been instrumental in ensuring that the concerns of older persons have been enshrined in the Sustainable Development Goals, the world's blueprint for social, economic, and environmental development. Ensuring that the rights of older women would be recognized, Gray Panthers successfully overcame resistance so that the Convention for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women had explicit protections.  Gray Panthers has become one of the most prominent American non-governmental organizations advocating for the rights of older persons globally.

Notable Gray Panthers
 Maggie Kuhn, founder
 Ralph Nader, responsible for merger of Retired Professionals Action Group with Gray Panthers
 Jule Sugarman, founder of HeadStart and Former Interim Executive Director of the Gray Panthers
 Ron Wyden, U.S. Senator from Oregon

References

Housing rights organizations in the United States
Ageism
Organizations established in 1970
Political advocacy groups in the United States
Seniors' organizations

Gray Panthers


Rajah may refer to:

 Rajah, an other spelling of Raja, meaning an Indian monarch
 Rajah (comics), a fictional character in the Marvel Universe
 Rajah (dog), famed New Zealand German Shepherd police dog

People
 Indranee Rajah, a Deputy Speaker of Singapore's Parliament
 Rajah Humabon, Muslim king of the Philippines, during the 16th century
 Rajah Lakandula, Muslim king of the Philippines, during the 16th century
 Rajah Muthiah Chettiar, Tamil banker, educationist, philanthropist, and politician
 Rajah Sulayman, Muslim king of the Philippines, during the 16th century

Places
 Ayer Rajah, an area in the Queenstown Planning Area in the southwest part of Singapore
 Rajah Buayan, a municipality in the Philippines
 Rajah Buayan, Maguindanao, a municipality in the Philippines

Things
 Ayer Rajah Expressway, a Singapore expressway
 Culex rajah, a type of mosquito
 Nepenthes rajah, a carnivorous pitcher plant species native to Malaysia
 Rajah Broadcasting Network, a Philippine media network
 Rajah Motors, former automobile manufacturer in India
 Rajah Scops Owl, a type of owl
 Rajah Solaiman Movement, a terrorist organization
 Rajah Spiny Rat, a species of rodent
 The Rajah, a 1919 movie starring Harold Lloyd

 HMS Rajah (D10), an escort aircraft carrier
 Toxorhynchites rajah, a type of mosquito

Related pages
 Rajput

Rajah (disambiguation)


Emmental cheese (sometimes also called Emmentaler or Emmenthal) is a Swiss cheese. It first came from Switzerland. It is named after the Emmental, the valley of a river, near Berne. Emmental cheese was first made around 1353 when Bern joined the confederacy.

Today, most cheese-producing countries make a cheese called Emmental cheese - These cheeses often have little in common with the original though, except for the holes in the cheese. In 1882 was the first time, products could be protected in Europe. Already at that time, Emmentaler was made in countries other than Switzerland.

Emmental cheese is amongst the best-known types of cheese. It is made from cow's milk. Two of the features that make Emmental distinctive are its holes and sweetness. The holes are there because of the way the cheese is made with bacteria which produce the cheese and over time (usually several months) create bubbles of carbon dioxide gas.

Today, Switzerland, France, Austria, and Germany produce Emmental cheeses that have a Protected Designation of Origin. In Switzerland, Austria and Germany, untreated milk is used; most of the other countries use pasteurized milk. About 12 litres of milk are needed to make 1 kg of cheese.

Emmental is produced in loaves of 70–80 kg. Usually, Emmental cheese is left to ripen for a period of 6–7 weeks. Ripening it for 8–12 weeks gives a more spicy (salty) cheese. In Europe, about 464 200 tons of Emmental are produced each year. This means that about 6% of the total amount of milk these countries produce is used to make Emmental cheese. France is the biggest producer of Emmental. In 2005, 247 069 tons were produced there. For this, 13.1% of national milk production was used. About 19% of the production was exported.

French and Swiss people eat the most of this kind of cheese, about 3.3 kg per person per year. Germans eat about half that amount, 1.7 kg per person, per year.

Emmental is also widely used in convenience food products, because it is so widely known.

References

Other websites
 How to cook Emmental cheese
 Emmental cheese review  on Cheese Review
 Official Website of Swiss Emmental producers

Swiss cheeses

Emmental cheese


Dead Man Walking (1993) is a work of non-fiction by Sister Helen Prejean, a Roman Catholic nun and one of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Medaille based in New Orleans. Arising from her work as a spiritual adviser to two convicted murderers on death row, the book is set largely at the Louisiana State Penitentiary (Angola) in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana. It examines moral issues related to the men's acknowledgement of their crimes and to the state's use of the death penalty.

Background
Prejean has become a leading advocate for the abolition of capital punishment in the United States. Her campaign was initiated following her correspondence and visits that she maintained with two convicted murderers. She began this ministry in 1982. The first man was Elmo Patrick Sonnier, who was sentenced to death for the murder of a teenage couple. She visited Sonnier in prison and agreed to be his spiritual adviser in the months leading up to his execution in the electric chair. The second was Robert Lee Willie for whom she also served as spiritual adviser.

Prejean gained insight into the minds of the convicted murderers, the process involved in executions, and the effects on the prison guards and other personnel. She became convinced that the state's use of the death penalty was morally wrong and began speaking out against capital punishment. At the same time, she founded Survive, an organization devoted to providing counseling to the families of victims of violence.

Name
The title of the book comes from a once-traditional phrase in American prisons to designate men who had been sentenced to death. They were held on what was known as death row and were deprived of most social contact and barred from work or participation in prison programs. Prior to the 1960s, when guards would lead a condemned man down the prison hallway, they would call out, "Dead man walking! Dead man walking here!" The origin of the phrase is unknown. It may have been to warn other staff or prisoners to let them know that they should be on their guard since a death row prisoner has nothing to lose and could be violent. It may also have been a kind of honorific declamation, to let other prisoners know that they should move out of the way, death row prisoners being seen as an elite within the prison system. Alternatively, the call may have been a stigma attached to the condemned man, to remind others within earshot not to touch him to avoid catching his bad luck. In any case, its symbolism is clear: the condemned prisoner, in the eyes of the law, was dead already.

Adaptations

Film

In 1995, a film based on the book was made, starring Susan Sarandon and Sean Penn.

Opera

The book was adapted as an opera of the same name, composed by Jake Heggie with a libretto by playwright Terrence McNally. It premiered at the San Francisco Opera in October 2000. The international premiere of the opera was in August 2003, in Adelaide. It has been produced in several other cities, including by the Union Avenue Opera in St. Louis, Missouri. In November 2019, Lyric Opera of Chicago presented their premiere of the opera. It premiered at the Metropolitan Opera in September 2023.

Stage version of the book/film

References

 Prejean, Helen (1993). Dead Man Walking. Random House.  (paperback)

External links

'Dead Man Walking' School Theatre Project
Sister Helen Prejean's website
Sister Helen's Facebook page
Interview with Alan Moroney
"Sister Helen Prejean: The Real Woman Behind 'Dead Man Walking'", American Catholic,  April 1996
Study Guide on Dead Man Walking

1993 non-fiction books
American memoirs
Works about capital punishment
Memoirs adapted into films
Random House books
Works about American prisons
Louisiana State Penitentiary
Books about Louisiana
Books about imprisonment

Dead Man Walking (book)