PresentBall

Calabria

2005-11-18T07:40:00.000-08:00

Most of the region is mountainous

Offenburg

2005-10-16T03:55:00.000-07:00

City, Baden-Württemberg Land (state), southwestern Germany, in the Kinzig River Valley, at the western edge of the Black Forest (Schwarzwald). First mentioned in 1101, it was founded by the Zähringen margraves on the site of a Roman settlement and was an imperial free city from 1289 to 1802. In 1846–49 it was a centre of the revolutionary movement in Baden. Gothic and Baroque buildings and remains

Arabia, History Of, World War I

2005-07-27T07:10:00.000-07:00

The Ottoman Empire entered World War I holding all of western Arabia and supported in central northern Arabia by the Rashidis of Ha'il. Earlier Ottoman attempts to extend the empire to eastern Arabia, however, had been countered by the British, who were then paramount in the gulf and in treaty relation with the Arab sheikhdoms there. Sharif Husayn ibn 'Ali of Mecca, with assurance

Bonard, Louis-adolphe

2005-07-24T20:00:00.000-07:00

Entering service in the French Navy in 1825, Bonard was promoted to lieutenant in 1835, captain in 1842, and was commissioned vice admiral in 1862. He was captured by Algerians after a shipwreck in 1830 and later helped quell

Carter, Elizabeth

2005-07-07T22:40:00.000-07:00

Carter was the daughter of a learned cleric who taught her Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. She was not a precocious child, but she persevered with an industry that affected her health, studying also French, German, Italian,

Alabaster

2005-07-06T02:50:00.000-07:00

Fine-grained, massive gypsum (q.v.) that has been used for centuries for statuary, carvings, and other ornaments. It normally is snow-white and translucent but can be artificially dyed; it may be made opaque and similar in appearance to marble by heat treatment. Florence, Livorno, and Milan, in Italy, and Berlin are important centres of the alabaster trade. The alabaster of

Sal Island

2005-06-15T20:25:00.000-07:00

Portuguese Ilha Do Sal, northeasternmost island of Cape Verde, in the Atlantic Ocean, about 400 miles (640 km) off the coast of western Africa. It has an area of 83 square miles (216 square km) and rises to an elevation of 1,332 feet (406 m). Sal (Portuguese for “salt”) is noted for its saltworks near the towns of Pedra Lume and Santa Maria, the island's chief town. The town of Espargo has an international airport. Pop. (1990 prelim.) 7,998.

Environmental Works, Groundwater sources

2005-06-03T05:10:00.000-07:00

The value of an aquifer as a source of groundwater is a function of the porosity of the geologic stratum, or layer, of which it is formed. Water is withdrawn from an aquifer by pumping it out of a well or infiltration gallery. An infiltration gallery typically includes several horizontal perforated pipes radiating outward from the bottom of a large-diameter vertical

Crofts, Freeman Wills

2005-05-31T23:40:00.000-07:00

Educated in Belfast, Crofts was a railroad engineer in Northern Ireland (1899–1929). During a long convalescence he wrote his first novel, The Cask (1920). Considered a classic

Narragansett

2005-05-17T14:45:00.000-07:00

Town (township), southeastern Washington county, southern Rhode Island, U.S., at the entrance to Narragansett Bay. The Pettaquamscutt River (north) and Point Judith Pond (south) form the western boundary of the town, which includes the village of Narragansett Pier and the fishing villages of Galilee and Jerusalem. Near Galilee is Point Judith Lighthouse (1816), an important

Appleton Layer

2005-05-15T20:30:00.000-07:00

Upper layer (called F2) of the F region (q.v.) of the ionosphere.

Burgess, Hugh

2005-05-13T18:25:00.000-07:00

Little is known of his early life. In 1851 he and Watt developed a process in which pulpwood was cut into small chips, boiled in a solution of caustic alkali at high temperature and pressure in a closed container,

Sennacherib

2005-03-15T23:15:00.000-08:00

Sennacherib's most enduring work was the rebuilding of Nineveh, his official residence as crown prince. On his accession he made it his capital, building a splendid new palace, Shanina-la-ishu (�Nonesuch�). Using prisoners of war for labour, he extended and beautified the city, laying out streets, restoring and extending public buildings, and erecting a great inner wall,

Hugh Of Lincoln, Little Saint

2005-03-14T11:21:00.000-08:00

The victim of an anonymous

Tyrone, Hugh O'neill, 2nd Earl Of

2005-03-11T19:50:00.002-08:00

Although born into the powerful O'Neill family of Ulster, Hugh grew up in London. In 1568 he returned to Ireland and

Tyrone, Hugh O'neill, 2nd Earl Of

2005-03-11T19:50:00.001-08:00

Although born into the powerful O'Neill family of Ulster, Hugh grew up in London. In 1568 he returned to Ireland and

Tyrone, Hugh O'neill, 2nd Earl Of

2005-03-11T19:50:00.000-08:00

Although born into the powerful O'Neill family of Ulster, Hugh grew up in London. In 1568 he returned to Ireland and

Bradbury, Sir Malcolm

2005-03-07T21:35:00.000-08:00

Bradbury studied at the University of Leicester (B.A., 1953), Queen Mary College (M.A., 1955) in London, and the University of Manchester, from which he received his doctorate in 1964. After traveling in the United States on a fellowship,

Military Aircraft, Reconnaissance

2005-03-06T00:46:00.000-08:00

Reconnaissance aircraft also carried ECM devices and relied heavily on electronic and infrared sensors to supplement their film cameras. Their tasks were to locate and photograph targets, using radar and conventional photographic techniques, and to probe enemy electronic defense systems to discover and evaluate the types of radio and radar equipment that

United Nations

2005-03-05T15:23:00.000-08:00

Though UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's term was scheduled to end on Dec. 31, 2001, he announced on March 22 his availability for five more years. UN delegates credited him with having strengthened internal management, gained control over the organization's budget, and improved ties with the U.S., and they reelected him by acclamation on June 29. He was praised for his levelheadedness,

Aleixandre, Vicente

2005-03-04T02:40:00.000-08:00

Kessel Schwartz, Vicente Aleixandre (1970), introduces his life and writings. Santiago Dayd�-Tolson (ed.), Vicente Aleixandre: A Critical Appraisal (1981), is a collection of essays that examine his work.

Aasen, Ivar

2005-03-03T03:06:00.000-08:00

After studying Old Norwegian, Aasen undertook a survey of the contemporary Norwegian dialects. These he judged to be the true offshoots of Old Norwegian, as distinct from the Danish-influenced

Fuchsia

2005-03-02T04:17:00.000-08:00

Genus of about 100 species of flowering shrubs and trees, in the evening primrose family (Onagraceae), native to the tropical and subtropical regions of Central and South America and to New Zealand and Tahiti. Several species are grown in gardens as bedding plants, small shrubs, or miniature treelike specimens; others are grown as pot plants or in hanging baskets

Costello, John A(loysius)

2005-03-01T15:30:00.000-08:00

A prosperous lawyer who had served as attorney general, he owed his selection as prime minister to a coalition of several parties (including his own Fine Gael) and prominent independent politicians united in opposition to Eamon De Valera's Fianna F�il (Republican Party). During his first

D.c.m.g.

2005-02-28T03:46:00.000-08:00

Dame commander of St. Michael and St. George, member of the second highest rank of a British order of knighthood. See Saint Michael and Saint George, The Most Distinguished Order of.

Kudamatsu

2005-02-26T20:18:00.000-08:00

Kudamatsu revived during World War I as an industrial city, assisted by its natural

Biblical Literature, The tribal league

2005-02-25T02:21:00.000-08:00

The invading tribes who became masters of parts of Canaan, although effectively autonomous and lacking a central authority, considered themselves a league of 12 tribes, although the number 12 seems to have been more canonical or symbolical than historical. Some scholars, on the analogy of Greek leagues of six or 12 tribes or cities with a common sanctuary, speak of the Israelite

Physical Science, Principles Of, Application of Newton's laws

2005-02-24T01:26:00.000-08:00

In the same way that the timing of a pendulum provided a more rigorous test of Galileo's kinematical theory than could be achieved by direct testing with balls rolling down planes, so with Newton's laws the most searching tests are indirect and based on mathematically derived consequences. Kepler's laws of planetary motion are just such an example, and in the two centuries

Insurance, Miscellaneous insurance

2005-02-23T14:57:00.000-08:00

Special casualty forms are issued to cover the hazards of sudden explosions from equipment such as steam boilers, compressors, electric motors, flywheels, air tanks, furnaces, and engines. Boiler and machinery insurance has several distinctive features. A substantial portion of the premium collected is used for inspection services rather than loss protection.

Kecskem�

2005-02-22T05:20:00.000-08:00

Town and seat, B�cs-Kiskun megye (county), central Hungary. Long established as a centre for handicrafts and cattle raising, it has also grown in importance for its viticulture, vegetables, and fruit. It is surrounded by flat sandy farmland, often referred to as �the orchard of Hungary.� The locality provides as much as 25 percent of the country's fruit, notably apricots, and

Switzerland, Internal political difficulties; external threats to neutrality

2005-02-21T19:04:00.000-08:00

Unfortunately, this era of material prosperity was not free from political problems. The Mediation Act had disappeared with Napoleon, its place taken by a new Federal Pact that once again established Switzerland as a confederation of sovereign states united only for common defense and the maintenance of internal order. Thus, the formulation and execution of

Nagaoka

2005-02-20T06:58:00.000-08:00

City, Niigata ken (prefecture), Honshu, Japan, on the middle reaches of the Shinano River. A castle town in the 1600s, it prospered with the discovery of the Higashiyama oil well in the early 20th century. Despite heavy damage suffered during World War II, the city continued to grow, its industries producing chemicals, machinery, and processed foods. Nagaoka is a hub of rail and road

War Communism

2005-02-19T09:35:00.000-08:00

In the history of the Soviet Union, economic policy applied by the Bolsheviks during the period of the Russian Civil War (1918 - 20). More exactly, the policy of War Communism lasted from June 1918 to March 1921. The policy's chief features were the expropriation of private business and the nationalization of industry throughout Soviet Russia, and the forced requisition of surplus grain

Zamora

2005-02-18T10:25:00.000-08:00

In full� Zamora De Hidalgo, � city, northwestern Michoac�n state, west-central Mexico. It lies at an elevation of 5,141 feet (1,567 m) above sea level in the Zamora valley, formed by the Duero River. It was founded in 1540 as an outpost to guard against Indians. Commerce, agriculture, and livestock raising are the principal sources of income. Corn (maize), wheat, beans, and numerous fruits and vegetables are grown in the

Abyssal Zone

2005-02-17T01:21:00.000-08:00

Portion of the ocean deeper than about 2,000 m (6,600 feet) and shallower than about 6,000 m (20,000 feet). The zone is defined mainly by its extremely uniform environmental conditions, as reflected in the distinct life forms inhabiting it. The upper boundary between the abyssal zone and the overlying bathyal zone is conveniently defined as the depth at which the water temperature is 4� C (39� F); this

Shackleton, Sir Ernest Henry

2005-02-16T16:07:00.000-08:00

Educated at Dulwich College (1887 - 90), Shackleton entered the mercantile marine service in 1890 and became a sublieutenant in the Royal Naval Reserve in 1901. He joined Captain Robert Falcon Scott's British National Antarctic (Discovery) Expedition (1901 - 04) as third

Uganda

2005-02-15T10:25:00.000-08:00

Officially �Republic of Uganda, �Swahili �Jamhuri ya Uganda � landlocked country of East Africa. Covering a total area of 93,072 square miles (241,038 square km), the country is slightly smaller in size than its former colonial ruler, Great Britain. It is bordered by The Sudan to the north, Kenya to the east, Tanzania and Rwanda to the south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Congo [Kinshasa]; formerly Zaire) to the west. The capital city, Kampala

Qatar, Government

2005-02-14T02:05:00.000-08:00

The emir's power is constrained

Dvur Kr�lov� Nad Labem

2005-02-13T14:19:00.000-08:00

City, V�chodocesk� kraj (region), Czech Republic. The city lies just north of Hradec Kr�lov�, on the left bank of the Elbe (Czech: Labe) River. The name in both Czech and German (K�niginhof an der Elbe) means �the court of the queen on the Elbe,� recalling the founding of the town by King Wenceslas II at the end of the 13th century and the gift of the place to his queen, Elisabeth. It was the

Basel-landschaft

2005-02-12T18:11:00.000-08:00

French �B�le-campagne, � Halbkanton (�demicanton�), northern Switzerland, traversed by the Jura Mountains and drained by the Ergolz and Birs rivers. It was formed in 1833 by the division of Basel canton into two half cantons, or demicantons, and its early history is linked with Basel (q.v.) city. Its present constitution dates from 1892, and its capital is Liestal (q.v.). Approximately one-third of its 165 square miles

Weaving

2005-02-11T05:20:00.000-08:00

In weaving, lengthwise yarns are called warp; crosswise yarns are called weft, or filling. Most woven fabrics are made with their outer edges finished in a manner that avoids raveling; these are called

Volsci

2005-02-10T09:22:00.000-08:00

Knowledge of the Volsci depends largely upon Roman accounts of their mutual

Anderssen, Adolf

2005-02-09T18:39:00.000-08:00

In full �Karl Ernst Adolf Anderssen � chess master considered the world's strongest player from his victory in the first modern international tournament (London, 1851) until his defeat (1858) by the American Paul Morphy in match play and, again, after Morphy's retirement (c. 1861) until his defeat by the Austrian Wilhelm Steinitz (1866). Anderssen was noted for his ability

Indian Ocean, Upwelling

2005-02-08T08:57:00.000-08:00

Upwelling is a seasonal phenomenon in the Indian Ocean because of the monsoon regime. During the southwest monsoon, upwelling occurs off the Somali and Arabian coasts and south of Java. It is most intense between 5� and 11� N, with replacement of warmer surface water by water of about 57� F (14� C). During the northeast monsoon, strong upwelling occurs along the western coast of India.

Tientsin Massacre

2005-02-07T19:45:00.000-08:00

(June 21, 1870), in Tientsin, China, violent outbreak of Chinese xenophobic sentiment that nearly precipitated international warfare and signaled the end of the �cooperative policy� between China and the Western treaty powers. Before the incident, rumours circulated in Tientsin that the French Sisters of Charity were kidnapping and mutilating Chinese children. Hostility

Jacobi, Sir Derek

2005-02-05T07:30:00.000-08:00

Born into a nontheatrical family - his father was a London department store manager, his mother a secretary - Jacobi first developed a taste for performing while attending the all-male Leyton County High School. Earning a

Hoover, Herbert

2005-02-04T21:41:00.000-08:00

Hoover and his wife - the former Lou Henry (Lou Hoover), also a Stanford-trained geologist - moved first to Palo Alto, California, and then to New York City, where they took up residence at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. For the next 30 years, Hoover was closely identified with the most conservative elements in the Republican Party, condemning what he regarded as the radicalism of the New Deal and opposing Roosevelt's attempts to take a more active role against German and Japanese aggression. He believed fascism lay at the root of government programs like the New Deal and argued so in The Challenge to Liberty (1934) and the eight-volume Addresses upon the American Road (1936 - 61), as well as in the speeches Against the Proposed New Deal (1932, see original text) and The New Deal and European Collectivism (1936, see original text). An ardent anticommunist and foe of international crusades, he opposed American entry into World War II (until the attack on Pearl Harbor) and denounced American involvement in the Korean and Vietnam wars. His last major activity was heading the Hoover Commission, under Presidents Harry Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower, which aimed at streamlining the federal bureaucracy. The research-oriented Hoover Institution on War, Revolution, and Peace at Stanford University - founded in 1919 as the Hoover War Collection, a library on World War I - is named in his honour.

Insurance, Major types of fidelity bonds

2005-02-03T18:34:00.000-08:00

Fidelity bonds differ according to whether specific persons are named as principals or whether all employees or persons are covered as a group. The latter are most frequently used by employers with a large number of employees, because they offer automatic coverage on given classes of workers, including new employees, and greater ease of administration, including

Aulnoy, Marie-catherine Le Jumel De Barneville, Countess (comtesse) D'

2005-02-02T01:25:00.000-08:00

Shortly after her marriage as a young girl in 1666, Marie d'Aulnoy conspired with her mother and their two lovers to accuse falsely Marie's husband, a middle-aged financier, of high treason. When the plot miscarried,

Dislocation

2005-02-01T00:31:00.000-08:00

Dislocations are caused by stresses forceful enough to overcome the resistance of the ligaments, muscles, and capsule that hold the joint in place. A dislocation is called simple when the joint surfaces are not exposed to the air; it is called compound when

Anderson, Marian

2005-01-31T06:10:00.000-08:00

U.S. singer (b. Feb. 27, 1897, Philadelphia, Pa.--d. April 8, 1993, Portland, Ore.), maintained a quiet dignity while transcending the racial and cultural barriers imposed on her artistry and used her rich contralto voice brilliantly to interpret the works of Schubert, Schumann, Brahms, Mahler, Verdi, and Richard Strauss as well as spirituals. Though Anderson's birth certificate stated that

Ubon Ratchathani

2005-01-30T01:12:00.000-08:00

The area in which Ubon Ratchathani is situated produces rice, freshwater fish, cattle, pigs, sugarcane, timber, and cotton. There are large numbers of

Karakoram Highway

2005-01-29T05:44:00.000-08:00

The highway was a joint Pakistani and Chinese project and required

Arts, South Asian, Epics

2005-01-28T04:52:00.000-08:00

The age of the Pallavas (300? - 900), a warrior dynasty of Hindu kings, is known for its epics, beginning with Cilappatikaram (�The Jewelled Anklet�) and Manimekalai (�The Girdle of Gems�) and including an incomplete narrative, Perunkatai (�The Great Story�), the Civakacintamani (�The Amulet of Civakan�) by Tiruttakkatevar, and Culamani (�The Crest Jewel�) by Tolamolittevar. The last three works depict Jaina kings

Arabia, History Of, Regional centres

2005-01-27T21:42:00.000-08:00

Once Mu'awiyah and the Umayyads had seized overlordship of the far-flung Islamic empire, which they ruled from Damascus, the Holy Cities remained only the spiritual capitals of Islam. The Umayyad caliphs appointed governors over the three crucial areas of the Hejaz, Yemen, and Oman; but in Iraq occasional powerful governors managed to control the Persian Gulf provinces,

Algeria, Mining

2005-01-26T06:32:00.000-08:00

The main mining centres are at Ouenza and Djebel Onk near the eastern border with Tunisia and at El-Abed in the west, the latter the source of most of Algeria's zinc and lead production. Nearly all of the country's substantial output of high-grade iron ore from the open-cut works at Ouenza is used to supply the domestic steel industry. About one-third of Djebel Onk's phosphate

Fuad Pasa, Mehmed

2005-01-25T15:47:00.000-08:00

The son of a well-known Turkish poet, Fuad Pasa was trained in medicine, but his knowledge of French allowed him to enter the diplomatic service, where he

Astronaut

2005-01-24T13:11:00.000-08:00

Person trained to pilot a spacecraft, operate any of its various systems, or conduct scientific experiments aboard such a craft during spaceflights. The term is commonly applied to those participating in U.S. space missions, as opposed to the designation cosmonaut used to refer to Soviet space travelers. The U.S. Department of Defense awards the rating of astronaut

Arts, Southeast Asian, Sculpture

2005-01-23T15:03:00.000-08:00

The Thai kings made repeated attempts to �purify� their conservative Theravada strain of Buddhism, importing patterns of art along with texts and learned monks from Ceylon and trying to wean their people from worship of the spirits. To retain the greatest spiritual potency, Buddha icons in Thai temples had to be as close in type as possible to a great original prototype

Mercury

2005-01-22T09:01:00.000-08:00

Mercury's orbit is inside the orbit of the Earth, and this creates two important astronomical effects. First, Mercury is never more than 27�45� of angle away from the Sun and is thus seen as a �morning� star just before sunrise or an �evening� star just after sunset. Second, Mercury exhibits

Libya, Resources

2005-01-21T23:07:00.000-08:00

Petroleum is Libya's most important mineral resource. First discovered in 1956 near the Algerian border, it has since been located mainly in the Surt Basin. The major oil fields are Zaltan, Amal, and Intisar A in the vicinity of Banghazi; the Dahra field is located near Misratah, and the Sarir field is near Darnah. Deposits have been located near Ghadamis on the western border, Murzuq in

Wright, Wilbur And Orville

2005-01-20T10:39:00.000-08:00

American brothers, inventors, and aviation pioneers who achieved the first powered, sustained, and controlled airplane flight (1903) and built and flew the first fully practical airplane (1905).

Iowa, Cultural life

2005-01-19T23:29:00.000-08:00

A widely dispersed population with small urban centres makes it difficult for Iowans to support many of the cultural amenities that exist in large urban settings. Traveling shows, including theatre and dance, symphonies, and guest artists visit many places in the state each year. The major cultural centres are the universities and colleges. The fine arts are notably

Chase, William Merritt

2005-01-18T23:30:00.000-08:00

Chase studied at the National Academy of Design in New York City and under Karl von Piloty for six years in Munich. He worked for a time in the grays and browns of the Munich school, but in the 1880s

Chelyabinsk

2005-01-17T09:45:00.000-08:00

Chelyabinsk was founded as a fortress in 1736 on the site of a Bashkir village; it became a town in 1787. First a local centre of an agricultural region, it began to grow with the coming of the Trans-Siberian Railroad in 1894 - 96. Thereafter

San Felipe

2005-01-16T02:55:00.000-08:00

City, capital of Yaracuy estado (�state�), northwestern Venezuela. It lies on the flanks of the eastern portion of the Segovia Highlands, at an elevation of 1,800 feet (550 m) above sea level. San Felipe is a commercial and manufacturing centre in the fertile Yaracuy River valley. Much of the sugarcane, cotton, cacao, corn (maize), fruit, rice, and hides produced there are sent to Barquisimeto

Carlisle

2005-01-15T18:49:00.000-08:00

Borough (town), seat (1751) of Cumberland county, southern Pennsylvania, U.S., in the Cumberland Valley, 18 miles (29 km) southwest of Harrisburg. James Le Tort, a French-Swiss Indian trader, settled with an Indian tribe near the site about 1720. The town, laid out in 1751, was named for Carlisle, Cumberland, England. It was the setting for continuous conflict with the Iroquois Confederacy until Benjamin

Calasso, Roberto

2005-01-13T13:13:00.000-08:00

While a student at the University of Rome, where he received a degree in English literature, Calasso began working for Adelphi Edizioni, a publisher of classic and modern literature.

Abu Hanifah

2005-01-12T08:08:00.000-08:00

Muhammad Shibli Numani, Imam Abu Hanifah: Life and Work (1972), provides an introduction. Discussions of his work in its larger context can be found in Joseph Schacht, An Introduction to Islamic Law (1964, reprinted 1982); A.J. Wensinck, The Muslim Creed: Its Genesis and Historical Development, 2nd ed. (1979); and John Alden Williams (ed.), Islam (1961).

Aedon

2005-01-11T10:18:00.000-08:00

In Greek mythology, a daughter of Pandareus of Ephesus. According to Homer, she was the wife of Zethus, the king of Thebes. She had only two children and envied her sister-in-law, Niobe, who had many. She planned to murder Niobe's eldest son in his sleep, but by mistake killed her own son, Itylus, who was sharing his room. Zeus took pity on Aedon in her grief and changed her into a nightingale;

Jackson

2005-01-10T03:43:00.000-08:00

City, capital of Mississippi, U.S. It lies along the Pearl River, in the west-central part of the state, about 180 miles (290 km) north of New Orleans, Louisiana. Jackson is also the coseat (with nearby Raymond) of Hinds county. Settled (1792) by Louis LeFleur, a French-Canadian trader, and known as LeFleur's Bluff, it remained a trading post until the Treaty of Doak's Stand (October 18, 1820) opened the territory

China, The Chinese Revolution (1911 - 12)

2005-01-09T14:33:00.000-08:00

The Chinese Revolution was not triggered by the United League itself but by the Hupeh army troops urged on by the local revolutionary bodies not incorporated in the league. An accidental exposure of a mutinous plot forced a number of junior officers to choose between arrest or revolt in Wu-han. The revolt was initially successful because of the determination of

Aliyah

2005-01-08T10:57:00.000-08:00

Plural �aliyahs, �aliyoth�, or �aliyot�, Hebrew �'aliya (�going up�)� in Judaism, the honour accorded to a worshiper of being called up to read an assigned passage from the Torah (first five books of the Bible). Because the passage assigned for each sabbath-morning service is subdivided into a minimum of seven sections, at least seven different persons are called up for these readings. An additional reader is called up to repeat part of

'abd Al-malik

2005-01-07T21:44:00.000-08:00

'Abd al-Malik spent the first half of his life with his father, Marwan ibn al-Hakam, fourth Umayyad caliph, in Medina, where he received religious instruction and developed friendly relations with the pious circles of that city that were to stand him in good stead in his later life. At the age of 16, he was entrusted by his kinsman, the caliph Mu'awiyah, with administrative responsibilities.

Zambezi River, Animal life

2005-01-06T06:45:00.000-08:00

The tiger fish is one of the few species found both above and below the Victoria Falls. Pike is predominant in the upper course of the river, as are yellowfish and barbel. Bream are now common both above and below the falls. Crocodiles abound in the Zambezi, though they generally avoid stretches of fast-running water. Hippopotamuses are also found in the upper and lower

Endomorph

2005-01-05T04:16:00.000-08:00

A human physical type (somatotype) tending toward roundness, as determined by the physique classification system developed by American psychologist W.H. Sheldon. The extreme endomorph has a body as nearly globular as humanly possible; he has a round head, a large, round abdomen, large internal organs relative to his size, rather short arms and legs with fat upper arms

Pacific Mountain System, Geology

2005-01-04T03:31:00.000-08:00

In general, the movement of tectonic plates has been responsible for the development of the Pacific mountain system. The coastal mountains from the Queen Charlotte Islands southward to southern California have been folded, faulted, and intruded with molten rock as a result of this movement. The most significant activity has been the lateral, northerly movement

Chang Hsien-chung

2005-01-03T13:23:00.000-08:00

Pinyin �Zhang Xianzhong, �byname �Yellow Tiger� Chinese rebel leader at the close of the Ming dynasty (1368 - 1644). Following a disastrous famine in the northern province of Shensi in 1628, Chang became the leader of a gang of freebooters. Using hit-and-run tactics, he and his men plundered widely throughout North China. Although his forces were bought off several times

Nitroso Compound

2005-01-01T11:26:00.000-08:00

Nitroso compounds are usually prepared

Estonia, Relief and drainage

2004-12-31T18:32:00.000-08:00

The Estonian landscape is largely the product of glacial activity; the south is covered with moraine hills, and the central part abounds in elongated hills with flat tops. The northern part of Estonia is characterized by long narrow swells consisting of deposits left by glacial rivers that formed during the melting of ice. Extensive sandy areas mark what was once

Wainganga River

2004-12-30T06:03:00.000-08:00

River, tributary of the Godavari River, western India. It rises in the Mahadeo Hills in south-central Madhya Pradesh state and flows 360 miles (580 km) south to join the Wardha River (a headwater of the Godavari) northeast of Kagaznagar in Maharashtra state. Along the final 142 miles (229 km) of its course, the river forms the boundary between Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh states and is known as

Intentional Fallacy

2004-12-29T08:10:00.000-08:00

Introduced by W.K. Wimsatt, Jr., and Monroe C. Beardsley in The Verbal Icon (1954), the approach was a reaction to the popular belief that to know what the author intended - what he had in mind at the time of

Police Gazette, The

2004-12-28T03:32:00.000-08:00

The original Gazette, the Quarterly Pursuit, was founded in 1772 by John Fielding, chief magistrate of the Bow Street Police Court, then seat of London's police forces.

Chemistry

2004-12-27T02:06:00.000-08:00

For the first two-thirds of the 20th century, chemistry was seen by many as the science of the future. The potential of chemical products for enriching society appeared to be unlimited. Increasingly, however, and especially in the public mind, the negative aspects of chemistry have come to the fore. Disposal of chemical by-products at waste-disposal sites of limited capacity

Hexachloroplatinic Acid

2004-12-26T11:00:00.000-08:00

Also called �Chloroplatinic Acid, � complex compound formed by dissolving platinum metal in aqua regia (a mixture of nitric and hydrochloric acids) or in hydrochloric acid that contains chlorine. It is crystallized from the solution in the form of reddish brown deliquescent (moisture-absorbing) crystals with specific gravity 2.43 and melting point 60� C (140� F). It is the starting material from which most platinum

Kadesh, Battle Of

2004-12-25T20:52:00.000-08:00

(1275 BC), major battle between the Egyptians under Ramses II and the Hittites under Muwatallis, in Syria, southwest of Hims, on the Orontes River. Seeking to recapture the Hittite-held city of Kadesh in Syria, Ramses II invaded Syria with four divisions and an auxiliary force. Muwatallis gathered a large alliance among his vassal states and, hiding his army behind the city mound,

Baseball Hall Of Fame

2004-12-24T06:39:00.000-08:00

In full� National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum � museum and honorary society, Cooperstown, New York, U.S. The origins of the hall can be traced to 1935, when plans were first put forward for the 1939 celebration of the supposed centennial of baseball (it was then believed that the American army officer Abner Doubleday had developed the game at Cooperstown in 1839, a story that was later discredited). The first vote for players to be

Rachmaninoff, Sergey

2004-12-23T09:55:00.000-08:00

Rachmaninoff's letters have been collected and published in Russian in Pisma, ed. by Z.A. Apetian (1955), which includes all previously published letters and some newly published ones. Rachmaninoff's Recollections, Told to Oskar von Riesemann, trans. from German by Dolly Rutherford (1934, reissued 1979), are reminiscences by the composer about his life and work; the last chapter is Riesemann's analysis of Rachmaninoff's qualities as a composer. Sergei Bertensson, Jay Leyda, and Sophia Satin, Sergei Rachmaninoff: A Lifetime in Music (1956, reissued 1965), is a comprehensive biography whose preparation was assisted by the composer's cousin and sister-in-law; it is especially useful for its description of the composer's years in the United States. Other biographical studies are Patrick Piggott, Rachmaninov (1978), including detailed musical commentary and critique; Barrie Martyn, Rachmaninoff: Composer, Pianist, Conductor (1990), drawing extensively on archival and Russian-language sources, with a discography; and Geoffrey Norris, Rachmaninoff, rev. and updated ed. (1994).

Duricrust

2004-12-22T03:01:00.000-08:00

Surface or near-surface of the Earth consisting of a hardened accumulation of silica (SiO2), alumina (Al2O3), and iron oxide (Fe2O3), in varying proportions. Admixtures of other substances commonly are present and duricrusts may be enriched with oxides of manganese or titanium within restricted areas. Thus, siliceous, ferruginous, and aluminous crusts constitute duricrusts

West Highland White Terrier

2004-12-21T00:57:00.000-08:00

Breed of terrier that probably originated at Poltalloch, in the former county of Argyll, Scotland. It was bred there for many years by the Malcolm family, whose dogs appear to be traceable back to the time of King James I of England. Typically hardy and gay-spirited, the West Highland white terrier is a short-legged dog standing 10 to 11 inches (25.5 to 28 cm) and weighing 13 to 19 pounds (6 to

Henley-on-thames

2004-12-20T14:16:00.000-08:00

The old town (incorporated 1526) has a medieval church and a wide market street. Georgian buildings are also well represented. The old town serves

Earth, Ellipsoidal era

2004-12-19T10:07:00.000-08:00

The period from Eratosthenes to Picard can be called the spherical era of geodesy. A new ellipsoidal era was begun by Newton and the Dutch mathematician and scientist Christiaan Huygens. In Ptolemaic astronomy it had seemed natural to assume that the Earth was an exact sphere with a centre that, in turn, all too easily became regarded as the centre of the entire universe.

Re

2004-12-18T13:23:00.000-08:00

Also spelled �Ra, or Phra, � in ancient Egyptian religion, god of the sun and creator god. He was believed to travel across the sky in his solar bark and, during the night, to make his passage in another bark through the underworld, where, in order to be born again for the new day, he had to vanquish the evil serpent Apopis (Apepi). As the creator, he rose from the ocean of chaos on the primeval hill, creating

Milkweed

2004-12-17T21:18:00.000-08:00

Any of several species of flowering plants belonging to the family Asclepiadaceae (q.v.).

Prichard, Katherine Susannah

2004-12-16T06:27:00.000-08:00

Prichard's father was editor of the Fiji Times, and she grew up mostly in Australia. She first worked as a newspaper journalist in Melbourne and Sydney and then as a free-lance journalist in London before concentrating

Computers And Information Systems, E-Commerce.

2004-12-15T00:21:00.000-08:00

France, History Of, Foreign policy

2004-12-14T17:53:00.000-08:00

Meanwhile, some important successes were being scored in the field of foreign policy. For two decades after 1871 France had remained diplomatically isolated in Europe. Bismarck, to ward off potential ideas of revenge in France, had shrewdly encouraged French governments to embark on colonial conquest overseas and had negotiated alliances with all those European

Lord Dunmore's War

2004-12-12T21:43:00.000-08:00

(1774), Virginia-led attack on the Shawnee Indians of Kentucky, removing the last obstacle to colonial conquest of that area. During the early 1770s the Shawnee watched with growing distress the steady encroachment upon their rich Kentucky hunting grounds by white trappers, traders, speculators, and settlers. In early 1774 the Virginia militia seized Fort Pitt and renamed it Fort

Khakassia

2004-12-11T10:48:00.000-08:00

Also spelled �Khakasiya, or Khakassiya,� republic in central Russia. The republic occupies the western half of the broad Minusinsk Basin on the upper Yenisey River. The Abakan River, a tributary of the Yenisey, forms the axis of the republic. Southeast of the Abakan's valley rise the Western (Zapadny) Sayan mountains, reaching 9,613 feet (2,930 m) in Mount Karagosh, and to the west and northwest are the Abakan and Kuznetsk

Res Judicata

2004-12-09T09:59:00.000-08:00

It has long been held that one judicial contest is enough for the litigants on