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Simply Deep

Simply Deep is the debut solo studio album by American singer Kelly Rowland. It was first released on October 22, 2002, by Columbia Records and Music World Entertainment. Initially expected to be released during the hiatus of her group Destiny's Child in 2003, recording of the album was accelerated after the success of the single "Dilemma," a collaboration with rapper Nelly. Largely produced within three weeks only, guest appearances on Simply Deep include Nelly, Solange Knowles and Joe Budden.

The album received generally mixed to lukewarm reviews from most music critics who called it a pleasant listen but found that it lacked ambition. While Simply Deep peaked at number 12 on the Billboard 200 and sold over 600,000 copies in the United States, it was regarded as a bigger commercial success abroad, where it topped the UK Albums Chart, reached the top five in Australia, Denmark, and Ireland, and singles such as "Stole" and "Can't Nobody" were released to stronger commercial success.

In late 2003, nearly a year after the album's initial release, Rowland embarked on her debut solo Simply Deeper Tour to promote the album in Europe. While Simply Deep established Rowland as a viable solo artist and, with worldwide sales of more than 2 million units, remains the biggest-selling album within her solo catalogue, the singer has expressed her dissatisfaction with the rushed and less thought out character of the album, though still being fond of the material that she had recorded for it.

Background and development
Rowland launched her singing career with all-female R&B group Destiny's Child in the late 1990s. While recording their third studio album, Survivor, in late 2000, the band announced that members of the group would disband for a short period to produce solo albums in the coming years, which they hoped would boost interest in Destiny's Child. The idea of individual releases emanated from the group's manager, Mathew Knowles. With different types of music for each member to produce, the albums were not intended to compete on the charts as Destiny's Child's management strategically planned to stagger the release of each group member's album to maximize sales.

Michelle Williams became the first to release a debut solo album, Heart to Yours, in April 2002. Beyoncé Knowles debuted on the big screen, starring in the spy comedy film Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002), and started recording her solo debut Dangerously in Love (2003). Meanwhile, Rowland collaborated with American rapper Nelly on the song "Dilemma" as a solo artist. The song originally appeared on his album Nellyville (2002), and while it was initially not expected to be released as a single, it received a positive response from DJs and listeners and was eventually promoted to single status. Issued to major success, "Dilemma" became a worldwide number-one hit that year, allowing Rowland's label Columbia Records to advance the release date of Simply Deep from 2003 to late 2002.

Recording and production
In order to capitalize on the success of "Dilemma," the ordering of Knowles and Rowland's albums was switched, leading to the postponement of Knowles's solo album Dangerously in Love to mid-2003 and the recording of Simply Deep being accelerated to summer 2002. Rowland who had previously signed on to star in Ronny Yu's slasher film Freddy vs. Jason and was expected to start filming in Vancouver in September 2002, was forced to complete the album within a month. The singer felt pressured by high expectations due to Destiny's Child and their huge success. She later revealed: "It was a challenge and I did that creatively and vocally. I was very nervous, but I came through with flying colors because of my family and, of course, Destiny's Child. There were days in the studio where I would run out, like, 'I'm frustrated! I don't wanna do this!' And they would calm me and tell me that everything was gonna be okay. I got through it because of them." Rowland eventually overcame her fears during the process as her newfound independence offered her an opportunity to branch out and try new things. In fact, she co-wrote three songs on the album and came up with the vocal arrangements for several tracks.

Columbia Records arranged for Rowland to record with a large group of previous collaborators, several of which had worked with Destiny's Child on their 2001 studio album Survivor, including producers Anthony Dent, Rob Fusari, Falonte Moore, Mark J. Feist, Jovonn Alexander, and Damon Elliott. In addition, she would work with Troy Johnson, Alonzo Jackson, Damon Sharpe, Billy Mann, Anders Barrén, and Jany Schella, and trio Steve Kipner, Dane Deviller, and Sean Hosein. Songwriter-producer Rich Harrison contributed "Can't Nobody," the first of many songs which he would produce for either Destiny's Child or the band's solo projects. Robert "Big Bert" Smith oversaw the production of "Love/Hate," a song co-written by his then-girlfriend, fellow singer Brandy. Solange Knowles, Beyoncé's younger sister, wrote and co-produced three songs on Simply Deep. Recording sessions for the album took place at several recording studios, including Studio 353, The Hit Factory and Sound-on-Sound Studio in New York City, Stankonia Recording Studio in Atlanta, Audio Vision Recording Studios in Miami Beach, and The Enterprise in Burbank, Henson Recording Studios and The Record Plant in Los Angeles, Heeba Jeeba Studios in Sherman Oaks and the Real FM Sound and Nature's Finest Studios in Hollywood.

Music and lyrics
Musically, the album took Rowland's solo work into an alternative R&B sound, which she described as a "weird fusion [of] a little bit of Sade and a little bit of rock." According to Rowland it was her manager Matthew Knowles idea for her to "craft her own brand of Rock & R&B". In an Interview with Billboard, she stated, "He's always known how much I love rock music and alternative music; He brought the idea to me and I was so excited because I never thought that I could do something like that".

Release and promotion
Simply Deep was released through Columbia Records in collaboration with Music World Music on October 28, 2002, in both the United States and Canada. The album would not be released worldwide until February 3, 2003. The album yielded three singles; "Stole," a pop rock -influenced mid-tempo track about school bullying, was released as the album's lead single. The song entered the top 20 on the majority of the charts it appeared on, reaching the top five in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, where it remains her highest-charting solo single to date. The album's second single was an up-tempo track entitled "Can't Nobody". The final single, "Train on a Track", was featured on the soundtrack of the romantic comedy film Maid in Manhattan (2003).

Singles
Although "Dilemma" was not technically the lead single from the album, it was the first song on the album recorded and released before Rowland even began the process of recording the album. "Dilemma" was generally well received by critics. It was number one in ten countries, including the UK, the US and Australia, selling over 7.6 million copies worldwide also becoming Rowland's first number one single as a solo artist, her highest charting and most successful single to date and her biggest international hit. "Stole" was released as the album's lead single in October 2002, following the worldwide success of "Dilemma", it entered the top twenty on the majority of the charts it appeared on but only a moderate hit compared to its predecessor. "Can't Nobody" was released as the album's second single (3rd overall) although it widely failed to match the success of "Dilemma" or "Stole". "Train on a Track", was the final track released from the album and only entered the top twenty on the UK Singles Chart, although it was featured on the soundtrack to the romantic comedy film The Seat Filler and Maid in Manhattan.

Critical reception
Upon its release, Simply Deep received generally mixed to lukewarm reviews from most music critics. British morning newspaper The Independent gave the album a generally favorable review, writing that "on the whole the album sticks closely to the standard urban-diva formula, mixing garage twitchers with the usual billing and cooing on ballads such as "Haven't Told You". But it's all done with style and intelligence, whether she's luxuriating in the loneliness of "Everytime You Walk Out That Door" or evoking the momentum of the first flush of love in "Train on a Track"." Lisa Verrico of The Times stated "on first listen, Simply Deep does everything but live up to its title. It sounds like a shallow stroll through the poppier end of urban music [...] But give it another listen and [it] does grow on you if you’re looking for an easy-on-the-ear album. It is a pleasant listen." Joy Dunbar, writing for BBC Music, noted that while "the albums main weakness is that it tries to offer too much diversity and Kelly tries too hard to stand outside her former incarnation," it was a must-have for fans of R&B music, adding: "Simply Deep endeavours to demonstrate another side of Kelly Rowland, as a songwriter and an independent solo artist [...] The in frequent high points make this a must for your collection."

In her review for Simply Deep, Caroline Sullivan of The Guardian wrote, "Rowland is no longer a mere backing vocalist for Beyoncé Knowles. But while she undoubtedly has talent to burn, her first solo album is a mildly disappointing setting for it. A top-flight example of the American inclination toward lush but lightweight soul, it makes all the right R&B noises without engaging the emotions." She gave it three out of five stars. Sal Cinquemani of Slant dismissed the ballads on Simply Deep as "all gloppy-goo and no soul; but through it all Rowland manages to keep her cool. The album's best tracks, the light and breezy "Train on a Track" and "(Love Lives In) Strange Places," infuse the singer's lush harmonies with acoustic guitars and poetic wordplay." He especially criticized Solange Knowles' contribution to the album, noting her "icky [and] laughable lyrics" as the worst on Simply Deep which he rated two and a half out of five stars. Jon Caramanica of Entertainment Weekly commented that "Rowland, at times, seems like Destiny's adopted child, never receiving a full helping of Knowles-family adulation. Alas, her first solo project doesn't pull her out from Beyonce's shadow. She needs added star power: Her backup-singer instincts leave even the hottest songs here feeling somewhat chilly." Craig Seymour of Vibe was generally disappointed with the album, writing: "Rowland's solo album marks an attempt to further establish herself as a singular talent, but the effort is as misguided as the Nelly hookup was savvy [...] An abundance of cheesy folk/R&B numbers make Rowland come off like Brandy fronting as India.Arie." Rolling Stone's Christian Hoard found that the album's "tired character sketches and polite R&B hooks will make you long for the sass and spirit of her main outfit."

Accolades
"Dilemma" was nominated for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration and Record of the Year at the 45th Grammy Awards (2003), winning the award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration. During the 55th Anniversary of the Hot 100 issue of Billboard magazine, the song was ranked at number 75 on the all-time Hot 100 songs, while at the end of 2009 was named the eleventh most successful song from 2000 to 2009, on the Billboard Hot 100 Songs of the Decade. "Dilemma" was accredited internationally with sixteen certifications.

Commercial performance
Simply Deep debuted and peaked at number twelve on the Billboard 200, the official albums chart in the United States, on November 9, 2002, selling 77,000 units in its first week of release. It was this week's fourth-highest charting entry after Santana's Shaman, Foo Fighter's One by One and Rod Stewart's It Had to Be You: The Great American Songbook. Simultaneously, the album also charted on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums tally, reaching number three behind LL Cool J's 10 (2002) and Gerald Levert's The G Spot (2002). On December 5, 2002, Simply Deep was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments figures in excess of 500,000 copies. The album remains Rowland's best-selling album in the country to date. By August 2007, it had sold more than 600,000 copies domestically.

Released to even bigger success in international territories, in the United Kingdom, the album debuted at number-one on the UK Albums Chart on February 15, 2003, selling more than 100,000 copies in its first week. It received both a silver and a gold certification by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) the following week, and on April 11, 2003, was certified platinum for sales of 300,000 units. Simply Deep also reached number two on the Irish Albums Chart, elsewhere in Europe, the album managed to enter the top ten in Denmark and the top twenty in Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Switzerland. Across Oceania, it placed fifth and seventh on the Australian and the New Zealand Albums Chart, in the week of January 26, 2003, and was certified gold by both the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) and the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ). Worldwide, the album has sold over 2.5 million copies, making it Rowland's best-selling solo album to date.

Track listing
Notes
 * undefined signifies a vocal producer
 * undefined signifies a co-producer
 * undefined signifies a remix producer

Sample credits
 * "Dilemma" contains elements from "Love, Need and Want You" (1983) as written by Bunny Sigler and Kenneth Gamble.
 * "Can't Nobody" contains elements from "Let's Get Small" (1982) as written by Robert "Syke Dyke" Reed and Tony Fisher.

Personnel
Credits are taken from the album's liner notes.

Managerial and imagery

 * A&R – Teresa LaBarbera Whites
 * Art direction – Fabiola Caceres, Ian Cuttler

 * Executive producers – Mathew Knowles, Kelly Rowland
 * Photography – Isabel Snyder

Performance credits

 * Vocals – Kelly Rowland

 * Vocal assistance – Sherrie Ford, Jeanette Olsson

Instruments

 * Acoustic guitar – Billy Mann
 * Cello – Kati Raitinen, Peter Tornblom
 * Electric guitar – Nick Moroch
 * Guitar – Romeo Antonio, Mats Berntoft, Svein H. Martinsen, Isaac Phillips, Sergio Ponzo, Stanka Simeonova

 * Viola – Tonstudio Bauer, Torbjorn Helander, Mikael Sjogren
 * Bass – Mark J. Feist
 * Drums – Mark J. Feist
 * Violin – Christian Bergqvist, Ulrika Frankmar, Jan Isaksson, Roger Johnsson, Stanka Simeonova, Stanka Simeonova, Monika Stankkoliska

Technical and production

 * Engineering – Blake English, Paul Falcone, John Frye, Franny G, Jaime Sickora, Spider, Kevin Thomas
 * Engineering assistance – Jun Ishizeki, Flip Osman, Daniel Milazzo
 * Mastering: Tom Coyne

 * Mixing: Tony Maserati, Dave Pensado, Richard Travali
 * Production – Anders Barrén, Dane Deviller, Mark J. Feist, Sean Hosein, Heeba Jeeba, Steve Kipner, Faltone Moore, Jany Schella, Damon Sharpe
 * Vocal production – Teron Beal, Brandy Norwood, Kelly Rowland, Tiaa Wells

title: Simply Deep


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Cheile Bicazului-Hășmaș National Park

The Cheile Bicazului - Hășmaș (Bicaz Gorges - Hășmaș Mountains) National Park is located in north-eastern Romania, in the Eastern Carpathians mountain chain. The reservation territory is part of Neamț and Harghita counties.

The park administration is located in Izvoru Mureșului, in Harghita County.

Geologic features
The park's most important geologic features are:
 * Cheile Bicazului (Bicaz Gorges), a deep canyon dug by the river Bicaz
 * Lacu Roșu (the Red Lake) – a natural dam lake
 * Hășmaș Mountains

Zones
The park's area of 6575 ha is divided into two zones: the special conservation zone (78%), and the protection zone (22%).

Natural reserves:
 * Bicaz Gorge (Neamț County – 1,600 hectares and Harghita County – 2,128 hectares)
 * Lacu Roșu
 * Cheile Șugăului (10 hectares)
 * Avenul Licaș (5 hectares)
 * Hășmașul Mare Massif, Piatra Singuratică (the Lonely Stone) and Hășmașul Negru (800 hectares)

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Cheile Bicazului-Hășmaș National Park


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Barsaat (1949 film)

Barsaat (English: Rain) is a 1949 Indian Hindi-language film directed by Raj Kapoor. The film stars the famous duo of Kapoor and Nargis as well as Prem Nath. It was also the introduction of actress Nimmi in her first film role. Barsaat was one of the first major hit films directed by Kapoor. This success allowed Kapoor to buy RK Studios in 1950. This was Raj Kapoor's second directional venture after Aag. Barsaat became the highest-grossing Indian film at the time of its release beating Gyan Mukherjee's Kismet which released 6 years earlier.

Plot
The film revolves around two love stories. Pran (Raj Kapoor) and Reshma (Nargis) and Gopal (Prem Nath) and Neela (Nimmi). Two friends with opposite personalities, the rich but sensitive Pran and the womanizing Gopal both have affairs with two mountain girls while holidaying in the valley of Kashmir. While Pran and Reshma's love is true and reciprocated, Gopal is a womanizing villain, who disregards the faithful Neela (Nimmi) and condemns her to wait faithfully for his return with the barsaat (rainy season). Many plot intrigues follow through with Pran and Reshma facing many trials on the path of true love, including parental opposition, accidents, and an attempted forced marriage of Reshma to an uncouth fisherman. The couple are finally reunited. Gopal on the other hand finally becomes a reformed character and rushes to claim the ever-faithful Neela who has been pining away, arriving there he finds his true love dead. The film ends with Gopal lighting Neela's funeral pyre as the rains finally come.

Filming
Raj Kapoor shot parts of the film Barsaat in the Kashmir Valley, making it the first film to be ever shot in Kashmir Valley.

Artwork and Publicity
The much-acclaimed poster and publicity for the movie were illustrated by the master artist Dr S. M. Pandit. One of the posters showing the heroine dangling on the arm of the hero would go on to inspire the R K Studios' famous logo.

Music
The music of Barsaat became famous upon the film's release in 1949. The film was the debut for music directors Shankar Jaikishan and established their careers. The famous playback singer Lata Mangeshkar famously sang for both Nargis and Nimmi in Barsaat.

Actress Bimla Kumari appears swaying in the song 'Hawa mein udta jaaye', the song become very popular as well.

The soundtrack was listed by Planet Bollywood at number 1 on their list of the 100 Greatest Bollywood Soundtracks. Rakesh Budhu of Planet Bollywood gave 10 stars stating, "Barsaat is ideally one of Hindi cinema's best soundtracks".

title: Barsaat (1949 film)


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Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board

Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board (ALCDSB) is a separate school board in Ontario, Canada. The school board is the school district administrator for Roman Catholic schools in the western portions of Eastern Ontario, including Napanee, Kingston, Belleville and Quinte West.

Elementary schools

 * Archbishop O'Sullivan Catholic School
 * École Catholique Cathédrale
 * Georges Vanier Catholic School
 * St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School
 * Holy Name Catholic School
 * Holy Name of Mary Catholic School
 * Annex - St. Mary Catholic School (Shannonville)
 * Holy Rosary Catholic School
 * J.J. O'Neill Catholic School
 * Annex - St. Patrick Catholic School
 * John XXIII Catholic School
 * Mother Teresa Catholic School
 * Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School
 * Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School
 * Our Lady of Mercy Catholic School
 * Annex - St. Martin Catholic School
 * Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic School
 * Sacred Heart Catholic School
 * Sacred Heart Catholic School
 * St. Carthagh Catholic School
 * St. Gregory Catholic School
 * St. Joseph Catholic School
 * St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Catholic School
 * St. Martha Catholic School
 * St. Mary Catholic School
 * St. Michael Catholic School
 * St. Patrick Catholic School
 * Annex - St. Mary Catholic School
 * Annex - St. James Major Catholic School
 * St. Patrick Catholic School
 * St. Paul Catholic School
 * Annex - Sacred Heart Catholic School
 * St. Peter Catholic School
 * St. Peter Catholic School
 * St. Thomas More Catholic School
 * Annex - St.Joseph/St. Mary Catholic School

Secondary schools

 * Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School, Kingston
 * Nicholson Catholic College, Belleville
 * Regiopolis-Notre Dame Catholic High School, Kingston
 * St. Paul Catholic Secondary School, Trenton
 * St. Theresa Catholic Secondary School, Belleville

ALCDSB Student Senate
The Student Senate of the Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board is a board wide level of student government that is composed of representatives from each of the school board's five secondary schools: Regiopolis Notre Dame, Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School, St. Theresa Catholic Secondary School, Nicholson Catholic College, and St. Paul Catholic Secondary School. Some of the student senate's purposes include representing the voice of all ALCDSB students, establishing and strengthening communication and a transfer of knowledge between the student councils of each secondary school, and to enact short and long term initiatives to better the student environment in the ALCDSB.


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Antonio Serrano (director)

José Antonio Serrano Argüelles (born 17 May 1955, in Mexico City) is a Mexican film director, actor, playwright and screenwriter. He graduated with a degree in Communications from the Universidad Iberoamericana. He also attended the Royal Weber Academy of Dramatic Art in England and the Odin Teater of Denmark. He studied with the following directors: Polish Jerzy Grotowski, French Philippe Gaulier and Italian Carlos Bosso. Back in Mexico he worked in the telenovela (soap opera) industry for Televisa and TV Azteca, directing actors such as Gael García Bernal, Salma Hayek, Chayanne and Angélica Aragón.

He directed ten plays as well including Sexo, pudor y lágrimas, which he also wrote. He made this play into a film in 1999 which became the highest grossing at the time (118 million MXN, or 12 million US dollars at the exchange rate of 1999). The movie was seen exhibited for six months by millions and earned several Ariels awarded by the Mexican Academy of Film. His following films were Lucia, Lucia with All About My Mother Argentine actress Cecilia Roth and the segment El Torzón of the series of short-films about violence in Mexico City titled Cero y van cuatro. Serrano was nominated for the Ariel Award in 2004 for his adaptation of the script of Lucía, Lucía.

Telenovelas (as a director)

 * Cara o cruz (2002)
 * La vida en el espejo (1999)
 * Mirada de mujer (1997)
 * Nada personal (1996)
 * Mágica juventud (1992)
 * Teresa (1989)

Theater

 * Café americano (1992)
 * Sexo, pudor y lágrimas (1990)
 * Doble cara (1988)
 * A destiempo (1986)

As a director

 * Sexo, pudor y lágrimas (Sex, Shame & Tears) (1999)
 * La hija del canibal (Lucía, Lucía) (2003)
 * Cero y van cuatro (segment "El Torzón") (2004)
 * Hidalgo: La historia jamás contada (2010)
 * Morelos (2012)
 * Macho (2016)

As a screenwriter

 * La hija del canibal (Lucía, Lucía) (2003, adaptation)
 * Sexo, pudor y lágrimas (Sex, Shame & Tears) (1999, original; script)

As an actor

 * Un mundo maravilloso (2006)
 * Un hilito de sangre (1995)
 * La dedicatoria (1992)
 * The Comfort of Strangers (1990)
 * La última luna (1990)
 * Romero (1989)
 * Tranquille donne di compagna (1980)

title: Antonio Serrano (director)


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Hercule Poirot's Christmas

Hercule Poirot's Christmas is a work of detective fiction by British writer Agatha Christie, first published in the UK by the Collins Crime Club on 19 December 1938 (although the first edition is copyright dated 1939). It retailed at seven shillings and sixpence (7/6).

It was published in the US by Dodd, Mead and Company in February 1939 under the title of Murder for Christmas. This edition retailed at $2.00. A paperback edition in the US by Avon books in 1947 changed the title again to A Holiday for Murder. The book features the Belgian detective Hercule Poirot and is a locked room mystery. The premise is a family reuniting for Christmas, and they find the host of the gathering murdered in a private room.

Plot summary
Multi-millionaire Simeon Lee, frail in his old age, unexpectedly invites his family to gather at his home for Christmas. The gesture is met with suspicion by the guests. Simeon is not given to warm family sentiment, and the family are not on good terms, particularly with the black sheep of the family, Harry. Simeon also searched out his orphaned, Spanish-born granddaughter, Pilar Estravados, and has invited her to live in his house. None of the siblings has met their late sister Jennifer's daughter before; she proves to be delightful.

Simeon is intent on playing a cruel game with his family's emotions. Stephen Farr, a surprise guest, arrives on Christmas Eve. He is the son of Simeon's former partner in the diamond mines, welcomed warmly by Simeon. Simeon calls his family together that afternoon, to hear him on the telephone with his attorney, saying he wants to update his will after Christmas. This incomplete information stirs up negative feelings among his sons and their wives.

After dinner on Christmas Eve, the sounds of crashing furniture and a hideous scream are heard by several people, who rush to Simeon's room. When they get to his door, they find it locked and have to break it down. The sight revealed includes heavy furniture overturned, crockery smashed, and Simeon dead, his throat slit, in a great pool of blood, a grisly and shocking sight. The local police superintendent is already at the front door, before anyone could call the police. Superintendent Sugden notices Pilar pick up something from the floor. He insists that she give the small bit of rubber and a small object made of wood to him.

Sugden explains that he is at the house by prior arrangement with the victim, who confided to him the theft of a substantial quantity of uncut diamonds from his safe. Poirot accompanies Colonel Johnson to investigate this murder. The murder generates many questions. How was the victim killed inside a locked room? Was the murder connected to the theft of the diamonds? And what is the significance of the small triangle of rubber and the peg first noticed by Pilar?

Poirot's investigation explores the victim's methodical and vengeful nature and the way these characteristics come out in his sons, and observes physical traits as well. Each son, and perhaps one of the wives, appears as a suspect to the investigators. When the butler mentions his confusion about the identities of the house guests, Poirot realises that the four sons of Simeon's marriage may not be Simeon's only sons present in the home. Poirot finds the uncut diamonds mixed in with the stones of a decorative outdoor garden, which takes theft away as a motive. The family lawyer reads Simeon's will, which leaves half to son Alfred, who runs the business, and the other half to be split among his other children. This leaves Pilar with nothing, as her mother died a year earlier, and his granddaughter is not specifically named. Alfred, David and Harry agree to pool their inheritances and make a share for Pilar. This warm gesture, based on what is just, as Lydia tells her, upsets Pilar, and she refuses it. The final major clue comes from Pilar. She and Stephen are playing with balloons and one bursts; she mentions that the pieces are like what she found on the floor after Simeon was killed. Poirot warns her to be "on her guard", as she knows more than she realises. Soon she is almost killed by a stone cannonball balanced on top of her bedroom door.

A cable comes from South Africa reporting that the son of Simeon’s partner was dead; Stephen Farr admits his name is Stephen Grant, and he is in England to meet his father, from Simeon's last trip to South Africa, five years after his marriage in England. After that, Pilar reveals the story of the death of the real Pilar as the two crossed Spain during its civil war, and her own plan to arrive in England in her stead. With this knowledge, Sugden tries to blame the murder on Pilar. Then Poirot takes over and explains the crime. Poirot reveals that Sugden was another illegitimate child of Simeon, from an affair with a local girl. Simeon had paid her off and left her, but Sugden came to resent the abandonment. He had planned his revenge carefully and murdered Simeon hours before setting off the furniture collapse. Poirot deduced the relationship between Simeon and Sugden by noticing the shared mannerisms of Harry, Stephen, and Sugden, and also by placing a fake mustache on a portrait of a young Simeon and noting the resemblance to Sugden.

David is relieved of his years of anger toward his father for mistreating his mother. Stephen takes Pilar, now Conchita Lopez, to South Africa, to marry her. Lydia will invite them to a proper English Christmas. Alfred and Lydia plan to sell off their old house to forget about the horrible murder. Alfred offers his legitimate brother David his mother's furniture, but David politely refuses. Harry, David, and George depart one by one. Alfred and Lydia are a little sorry to leave Lydia's miniature gardens created in stone sinks. Lydia plans another miniature garden she will make in the future. Alfred wholeheartedly thanks his wife for serving him, but Lydia says that it was her duty as a wife.

The story ends with a conversation between Poirot and Colonel Johnson, Chief Constable of the county, by a wood fire. Poirot declares that he much prefers central heating.

Characters

 * Hercule Poirot, the Belgian detective
 * Colonel Johnson, Chief Constable
 * Superintendent Sugden, the investigating police officer
 * Simeon Lee, an old millionaire
 * Alfred Lee, Simeon's son, who lives with his father
 * Lydia Lee, Alfred's wife
 * George Lee, Simeon's son and an MP
 * Magdalene Lee, George's wife
 * David Lee, Simeon's son, the artist
 * Hilda Lee, David's wife
 * Harry Lee, Simeon's son, called the prodigal son
 * "Pilar Estravados", Simeon's only granddaughter, really Conchita Lopez
 * "Stephen Farr", son of Simeon's former business partner, really Stephen Grant
 * Horbury, Simeon's valet
 * Tressilian, the butler
 * Walter, the footman

Major themes
Like Appointment with Death (1938) before it, this is a novel in which the parent/victim was a sadistic tyrant, whose nature leads directly to his/her murder. This theme arises in later Christie works, such as Crooked House (1949) and Ordeal by Innocence (1958).

In some editions, the novel is headed by an epigraph from Macbeth that appears repeatedly in the novel itself: "Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?", a statement made by Simeon Lee's daughter-in-law, Lydia, after Simeon's corpse is found by his family.

Literary significance and reception
In The New York Times Book Review of 12 February 1939, Isaac Anderson concluded, "Poirot has solved some puzzling mysteries in his time, but never has his mighty brain functioned more brilliantly than in Murder for Christmas".

In The Observer of 18 December 1938, "Torquemada" (Edward Powys Mathers) finished his review by stating defensively, "'Is Hercule Poirot's Christmas' a major Christie? I think it is, and that in spite of a piece of quite irrelevant tortuosity in the matter of the bewitching Pilar Estravados, and in spite of the fact that the business of the appalling shriek will probably make no mystery for the average reader. The main thing, is, surely that Agatha Christie once more abandonedly dangles the murderer before our eyes and successfully defies us to see him. I am sure that some purists will reverse my decision on the ground that the author to get her effect, has broken what they consider to be one of the major rules of detective writing; but I hold that in a Poirot tale it should be a case of caveat lector, and that the rules were not made for Agatha Christie."

E R Punshon of The Guardian, in his 13 January 1939 review wrote that Poirot, "by careful and acute reasoning is able to show that a convincing case can be made out against all the members of the family till the baffled reader is ready to believe them all guilty in turn and till Poirot in one of his famous confrontation scenes indicates who is, in fact, the culprit. In this kind of detective novel, depending almost entirely for its interest on accuracy of logical deduction from recorded fact and yet with the drama played out by recognisable human beings, Mrs Christie remains supreme. One may grumble…that she depends a little too much upon coincidence and manufactured effect…but how small are such blemishes compared with the brilliance of the whole conception!"

Maurice Percy Ashley in the Times Literary Supplement (17 December 1938) had a complaint to make after summarising the plot: "Mrs Christie's detective stories tend to follow a pattern. First, there is always a group of suspects each of whom has something to conceal about his or her past; second, there is a generous use of coincidence in the circumstances of the crime; third, there is a concession to sentiment which does not necessarily simplify the solution. Mrs Christie makes one departure here from her recent practice, as she explains in her dedicatory foreword. The complaint had been uttered that her murders were getting too refined – anaemic, in fact. So this is 'a good violent murder with lots of blood.' But there is, on the other hand, another departure from Mrs Christie's earlier stories which must be regretted. M. Poirot in his retirement is becoming too much of a colourless expert. One feels a nostalgic longing for the days when he baited his 'good friend' and butt, Hastings, when he spoke malaprop English and astonished strangers by his intellectual arrogance."

Robert Barnard summarized the novel as a "Welcome interruption to the festive season as mischievous old patriarch, tyrant and sinner gets his desserts". His judgment of the novel was stated in two words: "Magnificently clued."

References to other works
The character of Colonel Johnson previously appeared in Three Act Tragedy (1935) and he mentions that case in Part 3, section v of this novel.

Publication history

 * 1938, Collins Crime Club (London), 19 December 1938, Hardback, 256 pp
 * 1939, Dodd Mead and Company (New York), (under the title Murder for Christmas, February 1939, Hardback, 272 pp
 * 1947, Avon Books, Paperback, Avon number 124, under the title A Holiday For Murder, 255 pp
 * 1957, Fontana Books (Imprint of HarperCollins), Paperback, 189 pp
 * 1962, Bantam Books, Paperback, 167 pp
 * 1967, Pan Books, Paperback, 204 pp
 * 1972, Fontana Books, Paperback, 189 pp
 * 1973, Greenway edition of collected works (William Collins), Hardcover, 253 pp ISBN 0-00-231309-X
 * 1974, Greenway edition of collected works (Dodd Mead), Hardcover, 253 pp
 * 1985, W. Clement Stone, P M A Communications, Hardback, ISBN 0-396-06963-0
 * 1987, Ulverscroft Large-print Edition, Hardcover
 * 2000, Berkley Books (New York), 2000, Paperback, ISBN 0-425-17741-6
 * 2006, Poirot Facsimile Edition (Facsimile of 1938 UK First Edition), HarperCollins, 6 November 2006, Hardback, ISBN 0-00-723450-3

The book was first serialised in the US in Collier's Weekly in ten parts from 12 November 1938 (Volume 102, Number 20) to 14 January 1939 (Volume 103, Number 2) under the title Murder For Christmas with illustrations by Mario Cooper.

The UK serialisation was in twenty parts in the Daily Express from Monday, 14 November to Saturday, 10 December 1938 under the title of Murder at Christmas. Most of the instalments carried an uncredited illustration. This version did not contain any chapter divisions.

1994 British adaptation
The story was adapted for television in 1994 in a special episode of Agatha Christie's Poirot starring David Suchet as Hercule Poirot, first aired (in the UK) on 25 December 1994. The adaptation is generally faithful to the novel, although some characters have been left out. Chief Constable Colonel Johnson, who features in the novel, is replaced in the television adaptation by regular Poirot character Chief Inspector Japp. Stephen Farr is also missing, and his romantic interest in Pilar is given to Harry. Sugden's mother in this adaptation comes from South Africa. Hilda and David Lee do not appear in the adaptation. The exterior scenes were filmed in Chilham, Kent and Chilham Castle was used as Gorston Hall. A small backstory is given explaining Poirot's reluctance to go, due to the fact that he stays at home at Christmas and prefers central heating. But his radiator has given out and the attendants at Whitehaven Mansions won't repair it until after Christmas. Before he leaves, he asked Simeon Lee if they have central heating.

Cast:
 * David Suchet as Hercule Poirot
 * Philip Jackson as Chief Inspector Japp
 * Mark Tandy as Superintendent Sugden
 * Vernon Dobtcheff as Simeon Lee
 * Simon Roberts as Alfred Lee
 * Catherine Rabett as Lydia Lee
 * Eric Carte as George Lee
 * Andrée Bernard as Magdalene Lee
 * Brian Gwaspari as Harry Lee
 * Sasha Behar as Pilar Estravados
 * Olga Lowe as Stella
 * Ayub Khan-Din as Horbury
 * John Horsley as Tressilian
 * Scott Handy as Young Simeon
 * Liese Benjamin as Young Stella

2006 French adaptation
The story was also adapted for the French television in a four-parts series entitled , broadcast by France 2 in 2006 and 2009, with the notable replacement of Poirot by a duet of newly created characters, both of whom have nothing to do with Poirot. On top of that, none of the characters match their names from those that are in the novel. The plot is only vaguely adapted, with great expansion to the novel and change to its characters. Nevertheless, Mathew Prichard himself, grandson of Agatha Christie, was quoted by Télérama as calling it the best TV adaptation he had seen.

2018 French adaptation
The novel was adapted as a 2018 episode of the French television series Les Petits Meurtres d'Agatha Christie. In this version there is no Christmas theme, and Poirot doesn't appear.

Radio
Hercule Poirot's Christmas was adapted for radio by BBC Radio 4, featuring Peter Sallis as Poirot. This was the second adaptation of a Poirot story for radio, aired 24 December 1986.

title: Hercule Poirot's Christmas


text:
Vingtaine

A vingtaine (literally "group of twenty" in French) is a political subdivision of Jersey. They are subdivisions of the various parishes of Jersey, and one, La Vingtaine de la Ville (The Vingtaine of the town), in Saint Helier is further divided into two cantons.

St. Ouen has cueillettes (Jèrriais: Tchilliettes) instead of vingtaines.

In each vingtaine, vingteniers and Constable's officers (in French: officiers du Connétable) are elected as part of Jersey's Honorary Police system. They do not have to live within the vingtaine or cueillette they represent, but they must live in the parish they represent (except in St. Helier, where ratepayers and mandataires are eligible).

Vingteniers are elected by a Parish Assembly of electors and ratepayers for a term of three years but are elected to a particular vingtaine (or cueillette) in that Parish. Vingteniers carry out general community policing in the parish, and fulfill administrative roles within their vingtaine in respect of tasks such as the Visite du Branchage.

Constable's Officers are elected to serve a vingtaine or cueillette at an Assembly of the electors of that Parish. They assist the Centeniers and vingteniers of the parish with community policing.

Roads Inspectors are elected to serve a vingtaine or cueillette at an Assembly of the electors of the Parish. They are responsible to for maintaining the highways and byways of the Vingtaine. Along with Honorary Police they are sworn in as officers by the Royal Court. Roads Inspectors report to and must enforce the decisions of the Roads Committee of the Parish.

By parish, the vingtaines are as follows-

Grouville

 * La Vingtaine des Marais
 * La Vingtaine de la Rue
 * La Vingtaine de Longueville
 * La Vingtaine de la Rocque (includes the uninhabited Minquiers)

Saint Brélade

 * La Vingtaine de Noirmont
 * La Vingtaine du Coin
 * La Vingtaine des Quennevais
 * La Vingtaine de la Moye

St Clement

 * La Grande Vingtaine
 * La Vingtaine du Rocquier
 * La Vingtaine de Samarès (includes La Motte Island)

St Helier

 * La Vingtaine de la Ville
 * Canton de Bas de la Vingtaine de la Ville
 * Canton de Haut de la Vingtaine de la Ville
 * La Vingtaine du Rouge Bouillon
 * La Vingtaine de Bas du Mont au Prêtre
 * La Vingtaine de Haut du Mont au Prêtre
 * La Vingtaine du Mont à l'Abbé
 * La Vingtaine du Mont Cochon

St John

 * La Vingtaine du Nord
 * La Vingtaine de Hérupe
 * La Vingtaine du Douet

St Lawrence

 * La Vingtaine de la Vallée
 * La Vingtaine du Coin Hâtain
 * La Vingtaine du Coin Motier
 * La Vingtaine du Coin Tourgis Nord
 * La Vingtaine du Coin Tourgis Sud

St Martin

 * La Vingtaine de Rozel
 * La Vingtaine de Faldouet
 * La Vingtaine de la Quéruée
 * La Vingtaine de l'Église
 * La Vingtaine du Fief de la Reine

The Écréhous (including Les Dirouilles and Pierres de Lecq) are part of the parish of St. Martin, but are uninhabited.

St Mary

 * La Vingtaine du Sud
 * La Vingtaine du Nord

St Ouen
Unusually, the subdivisions of this parish are not named vingtaines, they are instead named cueillettes.

 * La Petite Cueillette
 * La Grande Cueillette
 * La Cueillette de Grantez
 * La Cueillette de Millais
 * La Cueillette de Vinchelez
 * La Cueillette de Léoville

St Peter

 * La Vingtaine du Douet
 * La Vingtaine de St. Nicolas
 * La Grande Vingtaine
 * La Vingtaine des Augerez
 * La Vingtaine du Coin Varin

St Saviour

 * La Vingtaine de Maufant
 * La Vingtaine de Sous la Hougue
 * La Vingtaine des Pigneaux
 * La Vingtaine de la Grande Longueville
 * La Vingtaine de la Petite Longueville
 * La Vingtaine de Sous l'Église

Trinity

 * La Vingtaine de la Ville-à-l'Évêque
 * La Vingtaine de Rozel
 * La Vingtaine du Rondin
 * La Vingtaine des Augrès
 * La Vingtaine de la Croiserie

title: Vingtaine


text:
Talk:Thracian mythology

Comments
According to Jane Harrison, Prolegomena to the Study of Greek Religion, Zemelô is a Phrygian term taken from a Phrygian inscription:

 * de diôs Zemelô
 * me Zemelô ke deos
 * deos ke Zem(elô)
 * me Zemelô.

Harrison agrees it is a Phrygian form of Semele, but it is not attested as Thracian, AFAIK. Alexander 007 19:14, 15 July 2005 (UTC)

 * Seltman claims that Dionysus was a Thracian god, appealing to his mother, Semele, "a name almost certainly taken from Thraco-Phrygian religion, because in the language of that region the word ‘Zemelo’ meant Earth. In fact, she was an earth-goddess whose cult must have come to Bœotian Thebes with that of her son, and there been built into local legend."
 * But of course he probably assumed that the Thracians were kinned with the Phrygians. bogdan ʤjuʃkə | Talk 19:19, 15 July 2005 (UTC)

Kotys and Cottyto
Are they the same goddess ? If so, we have duplicate articles bogdan ʤjuʃkə | Talk 19:31, 15 July 2005 (UTC)

I'm 99% certain those are variant theonyms for the same Thracian goddess, though I don't have a quote available that specifically says so. Alexander 007 19:32, 15 July 2005 (UTC)

 * Everything2.com: Cotys. And this link has some more info, too. bogdan ʤjuʃkə | Talk 19:37, 15 July 2005 (UTC)

Then we do have duplicate articles. Alexander 007 19:49, 15 July 2005 (UTC)

Actually, a triplicate article. See: Cottytus. Alexander 007 21:51, 15 July 2005 (UTC)

title: Talk:Thracian mythology


text:
Informationist

An informationist (or information specialist in context) provides research and knowledge management services in the context of clinical care or biomedical research.

Although there is no one educational pathway or formalized set of skills or knowledge for informationists, one way to think of the informationist is as one who possesses the knowledge and skill of a medical librarian with extensive research specialization and some formal clinical or public health education that goes beyond on-the-job osmosis.

Medical librarians and other biomedical professional organizations have been exploring the possibilities for evaluating how informationists are being used and whether their activities supplement or replace medical library activity.

More generally, an informationist is a professional who works with information within a particular business, analytic or scientific context to drive toward outcomes based on evidence, analysis, prediction and execution. For example, an extension of the term is increasingly emerging in financial services, life sciences and health care industries. Though still nascently in use, its adoption applies to individuals with extensive industry expertise, acute familiarity with organizational structures and processes, deep domain level information mastery and information systems technical savvy. Informationists in this context support transformational initiatives within and across functional areas of an enterprise as architects, governance experts, continuous improvement advocates and strategists.

Background
The term was proposed in 2000 by Davidoff & Florance. Their editorial suggested that physicians should be delegating their information needs to informationists, just as they currently order CT scans from radiologists or cardiac catheterizations from cardiologists. They conceived of an information professional who was embedded in (and indeed, supported by) the clinical departments.

Supporters of the concept see it as a means for librarians to reinvigorate connections with the faculty/clinicians, as well as provide superior service by dint of informationists' biomedical training. Critics complained that the idea is nothing new; librarians already provide in-depth, high quality information services and clinical medical librarians have been working alongside physicians, nurses and other clinicians for years.

Large informationist programs in the U.S. exist at the National Institutes of Health and at Vanderbilt University. Welch Medical Library at Johns Hopkins University (JHU) is developing an informationist service model in which its 10 clinical and public health librarians are moving from serving as liaison librarians for assigned departments toward becoming embedded informationists within their departments.

To prepare for the embedded informationist role, librarians are undertaking education as needed to supplement their backgrounds. For example, librarians bring experience in clinical behavior counseling, public health, nursing, and more. Informationist training can then focus upon filling gaps in research methods knowledge more so than on gaining additional knowledge in the librarian's area of expertise. Courses, seminars and workshops being undertaken include those covering systematic reviews, evidence-based medicine, critical appraisal, medical language, anatomy and physiology, biostatistics, and clinical research.

The term informationist is related to that of informatician—also informaticist—and many informationists do possess skills in clinical topics, bioinformatics, and biomedical informatics. Harvard University, the University of Pittsburgh, and Washington University in St. Louis are examples of institutional libraries which have hired PhD-level scientists (who may or may not have library degrees) to provide informatics support for biomedical research.

title: Informationist


text:
Talk:East Woodhay

Comments
I've tried to cleanup this article a lot, in line with Wikipedia guidelines, and this has meant removing some un-needed links. Please note the article should eb about East Woodhay - info about the village of East End should be placed in a seperate article about East End! UkPaolo 19:15, 15 July 2005 (UTC)

Yes I agree. When I Started the article originally, it was about East End, but it grew to be about the wider area. I must split it off. -- user:Matt.whitby

 * Just seen you're the main person to have edited the article - well congrats, it's a v. informative lil article! Yes, it would be nice for an article on East End to be split off... I'm not sufficiently knowledgeable on the area to distinguish what content belongs where - but good luck in doing so! UkPaolo 19:39, 15 July 2005 (UTC)

"The Chase"
There is much more information about "The Chase" in the external links, some of which could be included in this article. --DThomsen8 (talk) 13:04, 7 July 2012 (UTC)

External links modified
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I have just modified 2 external links on East Woodhay. Please take a moment to review my edit. If you have any questions, or need the bot to ignore the links, or the page altogether, please visit this simple FaQ for additional information. I made the following changes:
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Relevance of long quote in the 1830 history subsection.
The extended quote in the History subsection 1830 doesn’t seem to add much in the way of information to the article. Around half of the quote is focussed on West Woodhay, and so is almost certainly inappropriate for this article. The quote in general feels very much like travel writing in a not particularly helpful style for this article - does the reader really need to know it was “dark” and there was “mild weather” on one specific night of the year in 1830? Mxtt.prior (talk) 22:13, 25 September 2020 (UTC)

title: Talk:East Woodhay


text: Talk:Taylor Dayne

title: Talk:Taylor Dayne


text:
AllCanada Express

AllCanada Express was a cargo airline based in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. It operated nightly flights to some of the major United States cargo hubs and to Central America, South America and the Caribbean.

History
The Canadian airline AllCanada Express (ACE) was established in October 1992 by John MacKenzie and Murray Lantz after they sold their 30% stake in Canair Cargo.

Canair had been founded by MacKenzie, Lantz, Goliger and Ontario Express Ltd. O/A Canadian Partner through a restructuring of Tempus Air in 1989. By 1992 Ontario Express had been rolled into Canadian Regional Airlines and wanted to sell its 55% stake in Canair. Goliger bought out the Canadian Regional, MacKenzie and Lantz interest in Canair in September 1992.

In 1992 ACE operations started as a cargo airline with one Convair 580 doing ad hoc cargo charter work. ACE built up to four CV 580s flying primarily for Canadian Airlines and in August 1994 received its first contract to fly a Boeing 727-100 for Burlington Air Express (BAX Global). A second B727 and a CV 580 was added for in 1995. In 1997 ACE picked up the UPS contract for domestic Canada line-haul and added two more B727-200Fs. The ACE aircraft were very noticeable in their silver and black livery with the "ACE of Spades" on the tail.

By 2001–2002, ACE had grown to a fleet of twelve Boeing 727s operating for BAX, UPS, DHL, and Canada 3000 Cargo and was earning approximately $60 million in annual revenue.

By the end of 2004, ACE Inc. had three B727 freighters dedicated to flying perishables, flowers and cargo between Toronto, Havana, Caracas, Bogotá, Quito, and Mexico City. ACE became the first truly international Canadian heavy jet cargo carrier.

In late 2004, ACE committed to Finova to take a former Canadian Airlines DC10-30F on lease to commence operations between Canada, Europe and South America. The company signed an agreement with Omni Air in Tulsa, Oklahoma to write manuals and commence pilot training.

Ultimately a new agreement was reached in October 2005 where Cargojet assumed the Bermuda and BAX business, assets and certain employees of ACE went over to Cargojet.

The former ACE B727s were sold to Allied Air Cargo in Nigeria, a subsidiary of DAS, or were parted out.

Fleet
The AllCanada Express fleet consists of the following aircraft (at August 2006):

 * 2 Boeing 727-200F
 * 1 Convair 580 (C-FHEL)

Previously operated:
 * 1 Bombardier Learjet 35A

title: AllCanada Express


text:
Inspector Gadget

Inspector Gadget is a media franchise that began in 1983 with the DIC Entertainment animated television series Inspector Gadget. Since the original series, there have been many spin-offs based on the show, including additional animated series, video games, and films.

The franchise follows the adventures of a powerful but dimwitted cyborg police inspector named Gadget as he investigates the criminal schemes of Dr. Claw and his organization, M.A.D., and fruitlessly attempts to stop him. However, neither side is aware that it is Gadget's niece, Penny, and her dog, Brain, who are truly responsible for thwarting M.A.D.

John Brown/Inspector Gadget
The protagonist and titular character of the franchise, initially voiced by Don Adams. Gadget is a cyborg (part man, part machine) with thousands of high-tech gadgets installed in his body, which he activates with the phrase "go-go gadget" before naming the device. Gadget is powerful, lovable, brave, caring and protective, and loyal to his career as a lawman, but he is also dim-witted, silly, clueless, incompetent and gullible. In many ways Gadget was reminiscent of Maxwell Smart (also portrayed by Don Adams) from the Get Smart TV show, using similar catchphrases and manners of speech. However, his attire and absent-minded personality are much closer to Peter Sellers' portrayal of Inspector Clouseau from the classic The Pink Panther series of movies. In fact, in the original Inspector Gadget pilot, he has a mustache just like Inspector Clouseau's, which was removed in subsequent episodes possibly to satisfy a copyright claim by MGM.

Gadget has a knack of inadvertently saving the day, usually without realizing he is doing so. Gadget loves his family more than anything and would do anything to keep them from harm, especially Penny. He was voiced by Don Adams in the original series and Inspector Gadget's Field Trip until Adams' retirement from voicing Gadget in 1999, Gary Owens and later Jesse White in the original series' pilot episode, Keith Scott in the KFC commercials in Australia and Maurice LaMarche in the Super Mario Bros. Super Show, Gadget and the Gadgetinis, the direct-to-video animated films, and various DIC Kids Network bumpers. For the 2015 series, the voice of Gadget is provided by Ivan Sherry. It is revealed in the first live action film that Gadget's real name is Jonathan "John" Brown, though, canonically, his real name is Augustin Tamare. He is portrayed by Matthew Broderick in the first film and French Stewart in the sequel.

Sanford Scolex/Dr. Claw
Dr. Claw is the main antagonist of the franchise. He is the leader of an evil crime syndicate called M.A.D. Only his arms are shown, wearing silver gauntlets with golden spiked wrist bands and a gold M.A.D. signet ring on one of the right middle fingers. He has a pet cat, who is often napping but is startled away when Dr. Claw slams his fist on his console if Gadget foils his evil plans. A parody of Ernst Stavro Blofeld from the James Bond franchise, his face is never seen at all (except in the first live action film, the second film had his face obscured by his hat and coat) with only his hands and pet cat visible. On a Dr. Claw action figure, the face was covered by a sticker on the box, which meant the toy had to be bought for his face to be seen. He is ruthless, murderous, sinister, dark, sadistic, and greedy, and will do anything to rule the world and destroy Gadget. In Gadget and the Gadgetinis, he reveals that he thinks Gadget's idiocy is an act to taunt him. In the 2015 series, he is noticeably less competent and malicious and the crimes he commits are a lot more petty. He has been voiced by Frank Welker, Don Francks, Brian Drummond, Doug Rand, and Martin Roach. In the first live action film his name is revealed to be Sanford Scolex and he is portrayed by Rupert Everett. Tony Martin subsequently took over the role of Dr. Claw in the sequel.

Penny Brown
Penny is Gadget's intelligent niece and the one who really stops Dr. Claw's evil schemes. She uses many high-tech devices to help her secretly solve the cases and stop the bad guys such as a computer book, a video watch, a laptop, and a holographic tablet. However, her meddling often leads to her getting kidnapped by the villains, which leaves Brain to rescue her. She is 10 in the original series, 12 in Gadget and the Gadgetinis, 16 in Inspector Gadget's Biggest Caper Ever, and 14 (later turning 15) in the 2015 series. Penny loves her uncle more than anything, which is why she is always ready to help him behind his back, but on a few occasions she gets annoyed by his stupidity. In Inspector Gadget's Biggest Caper Ever, she is notably more selfish, and unlike any other version, she doesn't try to help her uncle at all. In the 2015 series, she has become an agent in training, is more physically active than in previous versions, and she has a crush on Dr. Claw's nephew, Talon.

For the original series, her voice was portrayed by Mona Marshall in the pilot episode, Cree Summer in the first season, and Holly Berger in the second season. In the commercials for KFC in Australia, she was voiced by Robyn Moore. Erica Horn provided her voice in Inspector Gadget Saves Christmas. From 2001 to 2005, she was voiced by Tegan Moss. Tara Strong voices her in the 2015 series. In the first live action film she is portrayed by Michelle Trachtenberg. Caitlin Wachs portrays her in the sequel.

Brain
Brain is Gadget and Penny's shy but intelligent, sweet, lovable and curious 4-(later 5)-year-old dog. He is the only one who knows that Penny is the one who really saves the world. Brain usually has the job of keeping Gadget safe on his missions while Penny investigates M.A.D's crimes. He usually disguises himself when following Gadget, which often causes Gadget to think he's a M.A.D Agent. He is absent in Gadget and the Gadgetinis and only shows up in pictures. The reason given for why he is absent is because after all the years of secretly helping Gadget, he has become phobic of gadgets, Gadget, and the word itself. He ran away to a riverside shack to get away from Gadget. He returned in the episode, No Brainer, where Penny made him a translation collar in order to help find Gadget. However, he does return in later spinoffs.

His voice was played in the original series by Frank Welker, Maurice LaMarche in Gadget and the Gadgetinis, and Scott McCord in the 2015 series. Lee Tockar voiced him in Inspector Gadget's Biggest Caper Ever. In the first live action film he is voiced by Don Adams. In the sequel he is voiced by Jeff Bennett. In the Australian KFC commercials he was voiced by Keith Scott.

Chief Frank Quimby
Chief Quimby is Gadget's moody boss and the chief of the Metro City police (Riverton Police Department In The Live Action Disney films). He usually pops up near the beginning of each episode to give Gadget a sheet of paper describing his mission. Once Gadget finishes reading them, the paper self-destructs and blows up in Quimby's face in a parody of Mission: Impossible. He appears at the end to congratulate Gadget and give him full credit for stopping Dr. Claw. He is unaware that Penny did all the work, even though she always calls him. In Gadget and the Gadgetinis, he has become an agent for the CIA. In the 2015 series, he is given glasses, and his hair is blonde instead of brown. He was mentioned by Gadget in some episodes of Inspector Gadget's Field Trip.

His voice in the original series was provided by John Stephenson in the pilot, Dan Hennessey in the first season, and Maurice LaMarche for the second season and the 1992 Christmas Special. Jim Byrnes voiced him in Inspector Gadget's Last Case. He is voiced by Derek McGrath in the 2015 series. In the first live action film he is portrayed by Dabney Coleman. Mark Mitchell portrays him in the sequel.

Inspector Gadget (1983)
The original animated television series in the franchise, Inspector Gadget, debuted in 1983 and introduced audiences to the adventures of a clumsy, simple-witted bionic detective named Inspector Gadget – a human being with various bionic gadgets built into his body. Gadget's nemesis is Dr. Claw, the leader of an evil organization, known as "M.A.D."

Inspector Gadget was the first TV series from DiC Entertainment to be produced directly for syndication. Its two seasons originally ran from 1983 to 1985 and remained in syndication into the late 1990s.

Inspector Gadget Saves Christmas
In 1992, DiC produced an animated Christmas special based on the series, Inspector Gadget Saves Christmas. In the special, Dr. Claw has locked up Santa Claus at the North Pole and hypnotized his elves, forcing them to break all toys that are being produced. Inspector Gadget, Penny, and Brain travel to the North Pole in an attempt to stop Dr. Claw and save Christmas. This special was nominated for an Emmy. Don Adams, Frank Welker, Erica Horn and Maurice LaMarche provide the voices for the characters.

Gadget Boy & Heather
The 1995 Gadget Boy and Heather series was a spinoff from the original show. The series is about a younger version of Gadget, "Gadget Boy" (also voiced by Don Adams). Instead of Penny and Brain the Dog, Gadget Boy was assisted by the resourceful Heather (voiced by Tara Strong). Just as maladroit as his adult self is, Gadget Boy was usually bailed out of situations by the more practical Heather, though he was also helped greatly by his myriad of high-tech gadgets and extendable arms and legs. In this series, traditional nemesis Dr. Claw was replaced by the villainess Spydra. In addition, the chief, Strombolli had a "fax tie" that exploded after the mission was read, continuing the running gag from the original series in which Chief Quimby would get blown up by an exploding message.

Gadget Boy's Adventures in History
Two years later, in 1997, Gadget Boy & Heather spawned an educational spinoff, Gadget Boy's Adventures in History, which aired on The History Channel. This series marked the last time Don Adams would perform a voice role for an animated Gadget series two years before his retirement from voicing an animated Gadget in 1999 and eight years before his death in 2005.

Inspector Gadget's Field Trip
In 1996, Gadget took students around the world in this series of 50 field trips, mainly created to market to stations to fulfill the FCC E/I requirements. The show put an animated Inspector Gadget on top of live-action filming of the locations that Gadget guided viewers through. Don Adams returned as Gadget's voice while Penny, Brain, Chief Quimby (although mentioned by Gadget in some episodes), Capeman and Dr. Claw are entirely absent.

Gadget & the Gadgetinis
In 2002, the French studio SIP Animation (Saban International Paris), in cooperation with DiC, produced 52 episodes of the then-new TV series Gadget and the Gadgetinis. The series debuted on Channel 5 in the UK in August 2002, followed by French channel M6 in September 2002 and then on Fox Kids channels across Europe from 2003. It was planned to air in the United States on Fox Family, but after the Channel was acquired by Disney in 2001 it never did and so it has never aired in the United States.

Inspector Gadget (again voiced by Maurice LaMarche) is now a member of an organization called "WOMP" (World Organization of Mega Powers) and is now, Lieutenant Gadget. He is still aided in his work by Penny (who is now twelve years old), as well as the new robot characters Digit and Fidget, the titular Gadgetinis invented by Penny, due to Brain running away. It follows the same plot as the original series, with the dim-witted Gadget attempting to fight crime on his own, while Penny and her helpers secretly do all the work. Dr. Claw, now with the first name George, returns as the main villain, with his relatives introduced in some episodes. In some stories, he is replaced by other villains.

The production values of this series were higher than any of the previous revivals and spinoff series. Also, the original creators of Inspector Gadget were all involved: Andy Heyward was one of the executive producers; Jean Chalopin wrote or co-wrote all the episodes, in addition to being credited as the new show's creator; whereas Bruno Bianchi directed and produced the series.

Inspector Gadget (2015)
A new computer-animated Inspector Gadget TV series had been in development since at least the start of 2012, possibly earlier. It was commissioned by Teletoon Canada, which aired the show, and put into preproduction by The Cookie Jar Company. In January 2012, the then-in-development show was mentioned by Ray Sharma, the CEO of XMG Studio, which produced the hit mobile game "Inspector Gadget: M.A.D. Dash". Sharma described how the success of the game had resulted in a new TV series having been in the making: "We did 1 million downloads in a week, and it's reinvigorated the TV brand with a new TV series in production."

In September 2012, Cookie Jar issued a short press release about the then-upcoming series, as part of the advertising for it during the MIPCOM market that October, stating: "Cookie Jar Entertainment is celebrating Inspector Gadget’s 30th anniversary with the launch of a brand-new series with its Canadian broadcast partner TELETOON. The series will again revolve around the iconic bionic bumbling detective." On June 9, 2013, Teletoon officially announced the reboot show with two press pictures of Gadget's new look as well as a press release: "MAD Agents, look out! Criminals, beware! Bystanders … take cover! Inspector Gadget is back to battle Dr. Claw with all-new gadgets – and all-new gadget-related chaos. But the loveable, bumbling, accidentally-destructive Inspector is not alone in the fight to take down MAD. His ever trusty police-dog, Brain, is still by his side and he's getting extra crime-fighting help from his new partner, Inspector-in-training Penny (voiced by Tara Strong). With MAD more powerful than ever and with the arrival of Dr. Claw's evil-genius (and totally crush-worthy) nephew Talon, Penny and Brain will need to use every ounce of their training to keep the world safe from Dr. Claw … and Gadget."

Unlike the other shows, Penny is more of the protagonist and Dr. Claw is as incompetent and useless as Gadget (if not more so). The series was produced by DHX Media, which purchased Cookie Jar in 2012. According to a DHX Media distribution catalogue released as a PDF on January 15, 2014, the show premiered in 2015 on Netflix.

On December 4, 2014, it was announced that the series has 26 episodes and that it would air on Boomerang's international channels in 2015. The series premiered on Boomerang in Australia on January 5, 2015.

Live action
Inspector Gadget was adapted into a 1999 live action film by Walt Disney Pictures, starring Matthew Broderick as the title character and Rupert Everett as Dr. Claw. As opposed to the animated series, where Gadget is bumbling and clueless and Dr. Claw's face is never shown, Gadget appears to be more reliable and competent in detective work and Dr. Claw's face appears many times in the film. In addition, Gadget and Dr. Claw were also given civilian names; Jonathan "John" Brown and Sanford Scolex, respectively.

A second film, Inspector Gadget 2 featured many changes from the first one, such as Doctor Bradford no longer assisting Gadget or being his romantic interest, instead being replaced by a well-meaning and upbeat scientist named Baxter and a new romantic interest named G2 and Gadget and Claw's civilian names are no longer mentioned. Being a year later in the movie's timeline, Gadget had begun displaying his cartoon namesake's glitches by receiving the wrong gadget when he calls out a specific device. He falls in love with his intended replacement: the fully robotic G2. Furthermore, none of the cast from the first film returned to their roles except D.L. Hughley.

Reboot
In May 2015, it was announced that a new film with a rebooted version of the character is in the works. Like the live-action films, it will be done by Disney, with Dan Lin producing it. In October 2019, Mikey Day and Streeter Seidell were hired to write the film.

Inspector Gadget: Gadget's Greatest Gadgets
Released on VHS by Buena Vista Home Video in March 2000 to coincide with Disney's live action theatrical film, Inspector Gadget: Gadget's Greatest Gadgets takes the format of a clip show in which Gadget has a flashback to his past adventures in the original TV series, using footage from the episodes "The Capeman Cometh", "Prince of the Gypsies", and "Gadget's Gadgets"; as well as some stock footage from Inspector Gadget's Field Trip for the present-day segments. Maurice LaMarche did Inspector Gadget's voice in the modern segments, marking his first cartoon voice appearance as Gadget, who had previously been voiced by Don Adams. Original series actors Cree Summer and Frank Welker reprised their roles as Penny, Brain and Dr. Claw in the modern segments.

Inspector Gadget's Last Case
In 2002, as part of the DIC Movie Toons series of movies, DIC released a full-length animated television film called Inspector Gadget's Last Case, directed by Michael Maliani. It premiered on television on October 6, 2002, on Nickelodeon and was released on DVD and VHS shortly afterward by MGM Home Entertainment.

The film is about Inspector Gadget giving up his beloved but aging Gadgetmobile, while his archenemy Dr. Claw uses a competing crime fighter to discredit Gadget and cost him his badge. Penny and Brain make appearances as minor supporting characters. In this, Gadget is more competent, yet he is still bumbling, similar to his persona in the pilot episode and his Matthew Broderick counterpart. Even though the film uses the same character designs as the concurrent Gadget & The Gadgetinis TV series, SIP Animation wasn't involved with the production of this movie. Maurice LaMarche reprised the role of Gadget in this film and Jaleel White voiced the Gadgetmobile. In most European regions, the movie aired on Disney Channel or Toon Disney. In Germany, the film aired on Cartoon Network.

Inspector Gadget's Biggest Caper Ever
2005's Inspector Gadget's Biggest Caper Ever was the first Inspector Gadget animated production to be completely rendered using 3D computer animation. It returned Gadget to his familiar trenchcoat from the original series. Brain is also back in his old role, while Penny is now 16 years old. Gadget is again voiced by Maurice LaMarche, and Penny and Claw are once again voiced by Tegan Moss and Brian Drummond, respectively, while Bernie Mac voices the Gadgetmobile. The plot features Dr. Claw breaking out of jail with the help of a specially hired Scottish agent named Bombaboy. He and Bombaboy seek out a prehistoric dragon-like creature to get revenge on his captors and launch yet another scheme to conquer the world. Production on the film was announced in May 2004, under the working title Inspector Gadget Saves the Day... Maybe, and the film was released on September 6, 2005, by Lions Gate Home Entertainment.

Gadget Girl
In November 1992, DIC announced they would be developing a spin-off titled Gadget Girl, featuring a female protagonist. In 1994, Bohbot Entertainment acquired US-syndication rights for airing on their Amazin' Adventures block. However, the series would never see the light of day.

During the development of fellow Gadget spin-off Gadget Boy, it was confirmed by staff that Gadget Girl was one of the many ideas in what would become Gadget Boy.

GI Gadget
In 1999, DIC announced they would be co-producing a new Inspector Gadget series to cash-in on the success of the live-action movie tentatively titled GI Gadget, which would be co-produced with French-animation studio Arles Animation. GI Gadget have featured the titular character joining an elite army commando unit. The series was planned to start with a TV Movie in 2000 and the full series in 2001, but nothing else was mentioned of the series and was silently canceled not long after. Arles Animation would later be purchased by BKN International in June of that year.

Unnamed 2009 series
In April 2008, a new Inspector Gadget series was announced to premiere in Spring 2009 to celebrate the franchise's 25th anniversary. The series would have taken a darker tone than the other Inspector Gadget series, featuring a 2D/3D animesque art style with cinematic camera angles and dramatic musical cues, as well as new villains alongside Dr. Claw. The series was never produced, and was canceled likely due to DIC's purchase by Cookie Jar Entertainment in July 2008.

Video games
The first game developed based on the series was Inspector Gadget and the Circus of Fear developed by Beam Software and scheduled for release by Melbourne House in the UK in 1987 for the Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum. It resembled the arcade title Metro-Cross and was a left-to-right scrolling racing/jumping game with a quasi-isometric forced 3d perspective. Although the game was completed, and preview copies were reviewed (unfavourably) in the computing press, it was scrapped on the verge of release. The game featured a cameo by the titular character from the Horace series of games. An adventure game based on the series, Inspector Gadget: Mission 1 – Global Terror! was eventually released on the PC in 1990 by a company called Azeroth.

An LCD Electronic Inspector Gadget developed by Bandai was released in 1984.

An NES game was planned for release by Hudson Soft, but was quietly cancelled. Instead, Hudson released an SNES game in 1993 simply called Inspector Gadget. The game features a rare glimpse of Dr. Claw's face.

In March 2000, it was announced that Ubi Soft had teamed with Light & Shadow Production to release an Inspector Gadget game for the PlayStation. That game was revealed as Inspector Gadget: Gadget's Crazy Maze, with a Game Boy Color title Inspector Gadget: Operation Madkactus, following as well.

After this partnership, Light and Shadow Production released three Inspector Gadget titles on their own - Inspector Gadget: Advance Mission for Game Boy Advance (Published by DreamCatcher Interactive in the United States) and two European-exclusive titles - Inspector Gadget: Mad Robots Invasion for the PlayStation 2 and Inspector Gadget Racing for the Game Boy Advance.

After Light & Shadow Production was purchased by Hip Games, the latter company released Gadget & Gadgetinis for the PlayStation 2 and PC in Europe.

Inspector Gadget's MAD Dash was released for iOS devices, iPhone and iPod Touch, by XMG Studio in 2010. It features Shuki Levy's original theme music and also includes original voices from the show. In the same game, Doctor Claw reveals his face and is once again given the first name George.

On April 27, 2023, publisher Microids announced a party game, Inspector Gadget – Mad Time Party, which was released on September 14, 2023 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and Windows. In this game, MAD has taken over Metro City, to which Professor Von Slickstein creates a time machine to prevent this from happening, however Gadget accidentally destroyed it and inadvertently summoned his ancestors from different eras in time. In order to fix this, Inspector Gadget and his ancestors compete in challenges to collect parts to repair the time machine, capture disguised MAD agents, and save Metro City from the rule of Dr. Claw.

Music
The original Inspector Gadget theme song was composed by American composer Shuki Levy (who also wrote the themes for Power Rangers and Digimon), and was based on Edvard Grieg's "In the Hall of the Mountain King".

Several early rap records sampling the Inspector Gadget theme song were released in 1985. The Kartoon Krew also released "Inspector Gadget" on ZYX Music, which contains vocal samples and quotes from the popular cartoon series, reenacted by the rap group for the song. East New York rap group Bad Boys & K-Love released a record on Starlite Records, "Bad Boys", featured on the UK hip hop compilation Street Sounds Electro 9. Following the trend, Slick Rick and Doug E. Fresh used samples from the Inspector Gadget theme song on their single "The Show". The theme song has been heavily sampled in the years since then. California-based punk band Lagwagon recorded a short instrumental cover of the theme song on their 1992 album Duh.

The new (2015) theme was composed by Canadian film and TV composers Stephen Skratt and Asher Lenz, "once again using In the Hall of the Mountain King as inspiration".

Books
A new Inspector Gadget comic book, based on the original 1983 TV series, was launched in the U.S. by Viper Comics in 2011. A preview issue was published as part of Free Comic Book Day on May 7, 2011; the entire story was then released officially in August as a 48-page comic book titled "Inspector Gadget: Gadget on the Orient Express". The comic book was written by Dale Mettam and illustrated by José Cobá. No follow-up issues have been released to date.

Other appearances
On a 1989 episode of The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!, another DiC production, a live-action bumper segment titled "Defective Gadgetry" had a guest appearance by Inspector Gadget, in which he came to the Mario Bros. for help in repairing him. This was his first live-action appearance predating the 1999 live action film that was released ten years later. Maurice LaMarche (who would assume the voice role in "Inspector Gadget: Gadget's Greatest Gadgets" ten years later) plays Gadget in this segment. A second live-action segment, "Treasure of the Sierra Brooklyn" had Gadget returning to help the Mario Bros. find a lost treasure.

The Robot Chicken episode "Adoption's an Option" featured a sketch featuring the Inspector Gadget characters in a parody of The Terminator. In this sketch, Gadget replaces a faulty part with a Cyberdyne part, only to be turned into an unstoppable killing machine when Skynet goes online. The sketch goes on to revolve around Penny and Brain trying to avoid being killed by the now-evil Gadget, eventually killing him in a factory. Meanwhile, Mad Cat dies of leukemia; at the end of the show, Dr. Claw blames Gadget for Mad Cat's death. Ironically, Dr. Claw claims that he somehow found out it was Penny and Brain who were behind all of Gadget's successful missions, and planned to gain control of Inspector Gadget via Skynet, and use him to kill them using the Cyberdyne technology that gained control of him. (Penny is voiced by Cree Summer and Brain & Dr. Claw by Frank Welker, who were the original voice actors for the characters.)

The 2019 video game Tales of the Neon Sea features a reference to Inspector Gadget in the form of a character called "Detective Gadget of Starlight City", who joined the police force on the 6th of September 2117 and was killed in action on August 5, 2126, protecting civilians.

In 2022, Gadget and Brain made a brief cameo appearance in a Renault Clio commercial made for France and Spain, featuring "Video Killed the Radio Star" by The Buggles.

title: Inspector Gadget