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Ego psychology

Ego psychology is a school of psychoanalysis rooted in Sigmund Freud's structural id-ego-superego model of the mind.

An individual interacts with the external world as well as responds to internal forces. Many psychoanalysts use a theoretical construct called the ego to explain how that is done through various ego functions. Adherents of ego psychology focus on the ego's normal and pathological development, its management of libidinal and aggressive impulses, and its adaptation to reality.

Early conceptions of the ego
Sigmund Freud initially considered the ego to be a sense organ for perception of both external and internal stimuli. He thought of the ego as synonymous with consciousness and contrasted it with the repressed unconscious. In 1910, Freud emphasized the attention to detail when referencing psychoanalytical matters, while predicting his theory to become essential in regards to everyday tasks with the Swiss psychoanalyst, Oscar Pfister. By 1911, he referenced ego instincts for the first time in Formulations on the Two Principles of Mental Functioning and contrasted them with sexual instincts: ego instincts responded to the reality principle while sexual instincts obeyed the pleasure principle. He also introduced attention and memory as ego functions.

Freud's ego psychology
Freud later argued that not all unconscious phenomena can be attributed to the id, and that the ego has unconscious aspects as well. This posed a significant problem for his topographic theory, which he resolved in The Ego and the Id (1923).

In what came to be called the structural theory, the ego was now a formal component of a three-way system that also included the id and superego. The ego was still organized around conscious perceptual capacities, yet it now had unconscious features responsible for repression and other defensive operations. Freud's ego at this stage was relatively passive and weak; he described it as the helpless rider on the id's horse, more or less obliged to go where the id wished to go.

In Inhibitions, Symptoms, and Anxiety (1926), Freud revised his theory of anxiety as well as delineated a more robust ego. Freud argued that instinctual drives (id), moral and value judgments (superego), and requirements of external reality all make demands upon an individual. The ego mediates among conflicting pressures and creates the best compromise. Instead of being passive and reactive to the id, the ego was now a formidable counterweight to it, responsible for regulating id impulses, as well as integrating an individual's functioning into a coherent whole. The modifications made by Freud in Inhibitions, Symptoms, and Anxiety formed the basis of a psychoanalytic psychology interested in the nature and functions of the ego. This marked the transition of psychoanalysis from being primarily an id psychology, focused on the vicissitudes of the libidinal and aggressive drives as the determinants of both normal and psychopathological functioning, to a period in which the ego was accorded equal importance and was regarded as the prime shaper and modulator of behavior.

Systematization
Following Sigmund Freud, the psychoanalysts most responsible for the development of ego psychology, and its systematization as a formal school of psychoanalytic thought, were Anna Freud, Heinz Hartmann, and David Rapaport. Other important contributors included Ernst Kris, Rudolph Loewenstein, René Spitz, Margaret Mahler, Edith Jacobson, Paul Federn, and Erik Erikson.

Anna Freud
Anna Freud focused her attention on the ego's unconscious, defensive operations and introduced many important theoretical and clinical considerations. In The Ego and the Mechanisms of Defense (1936), Anna Freud argued the ego was predisposed to supervise, regulate, and oppose the id through a variety of defenses. She described the defenses available to the ego, linked them to the stages of psychosexual development during which they originated, and identified various psychopathological compromise formations in which they were prominent. Clinically, Anna Freud emphasized that the psychoanalyst's attention should always be on the defensive functions of the ego, which could be observed in the manifest presentation of the patient's associations. The analyst needed to be attuned to the moment-by-moment process of what the patient talked about in order to identify, label, and explore defenses as they appeared. For Anna Freud, direct interpretation of repressed content was less important than understanding the ego's methods by which it kept things out of consciousness. Her work provided a bridge between Freud's structural theory and ego psychology.

Heinz Hartmann
Heinz Hartmann (1939/1958) believed the ego included innate capacities that facilitated an individual's ability to adapt to his or her environment. These included perception, attention, memory, concentration, motor coordination, and language. Under normal conditions, which Hartmann called "an average expectable environment," these capacities developed into ego functions with autonomy from the libidinal and aggressive drives; that is, they were not products of frustration and conflict as Freud (1911) believed. Hartmann recognized, however, that conflicts were part of the human condition and that certain ego functions may become conflicted by aggressive and libidinal impulses, as witnessed by conversion disorders (e.g., glove paralysis), speech impediments, eating disorders, and attention-deficit disorder.

A focus on ego functions and how an individual adapts to his or her environment led Hartmann to create both a general psychology and a clinical instrument with which an analyst could evaluate an individual's functioning and formulate appropriate therapeutic interventions. Hartmann's propositions imply that the task of the ego psychologist was to neutralize conflicted impulses and expand the conflict-free spheres of ego functions. Through such effects, Hartmann believed, psychoanalysis facilitated an individual's adaptation to his or her environment. He claimed, however, that his aim was to understand the mutual regulation of the ego and environment rather than to promote adjustment of the ego to the environment; additionally, he proposed that diminishing conflict in an individual's ego would help him or her to respond actively to, and shape rather than passively react to, the environment.

Mitchell and Black (1995) wrote: "Hartmann powerfully affected the course of psychoanalysis, opening up a crucial investigation of the key processes and vicissitudes of normal development. Hartmann's contributions broadened the scope of psychoanalytic concerns, from psychopathology to general human development, and from an isolated, self-contained treatment method to a sweeping intellectual discipline among other disciplines" (p. 35).

David Rapaport
David Rapaport played a prominent role in the development of ego psychology, and his work likely represented its apex. In the influential monograph The Structure of Psychoanalytic Theory (1960), Rappaport organized ego psychology into an integrated, systematic, and hierarchical theory capable of generating empirically testable hypotheses. He proposed that psychoanalytic theory—as expressed through the principles of ego psychology—was a biologically based general psychology that could explain the entire range of human behavior. For Rapaport, this endeavor was fully consistent with Freud's attempts to do the same (e.g., Freud's studies of dreams, jokes, and the "psychopathology of everyday life".)

Other contributors
While Hartmann  was the principal architect of ego psychology, he collaborated closely with Ernst Kris and Rudolph Loewenstein.

Subsequent psychoanalysts interested in ego psychology emphasized the importance of early-childhood experiences and socio-cultural influences on ego development. René Spitz (1965), Margaret Mahler (1968), Edith Jacobson (1964), and Erik Erikson studied infant and child behavior, and their observations were integrated into ego psychology. Their observational and empirical research described and explained early attachment issues, successful and faulty ego development, and psychological development through interpersonal interactions.

Spitz identified the importance of mother-infant nonverbal emotional reciprocity; Mahler refined the traditional psychosexual developmental phases by adding the separation-individuation process; and Jacobson emphasized how libidinal and aggressive impulses unfolded within the context of early relationships and environmental factors. Finally, Erik Erikson provided a bold reformulation of Freud's biologic, epigenetic psychosexual theory through his explorations of socio-cultural influences on ego development. For Erikson, an individual was pushed by his or her own biological urges and pulled by socio-cultural forces.

Decline
In the United States, ego psychology was the predominant psychoanalytic approach from the 1940s through the 1960s. Initially, this was due to the influx of European psychoanalysts, including prominent ego psychologists like Hartmann, Kris, and Loewenstein, during and after World War II. These European analysts settled throughout the United States and trained the next generation of American psychoanalysts.

By the 1970s, several challenges to the philosophical, theoretical, and clinical tenets of ego psychology emerged. The most prominent of which were: a "rebellion" led by Rapaport's protégés (George Klein, Robert Holt, Roy Schafer, and Merton Gill); object relations theory; and self psychology.

Modern conflict theory
Charles Brenner (1982) attempted to revive ego psychology with a concise and incisive articulation of the fundamental focus of psychoanalysis: intrapsychic conflict and the resulting compromise formations. Over time, Brenner (2002) tried to develop a more clinically based theory, what came to be called “modern conflict theory.” He distanced himself from the formal components of the structural theory and its metapsychological assumptions, and focused entirely on compromise formations.

Heinz Kohut developed self psychology, a theoretical and therapeutic model related to ego psychology, in the late 1960s. Self psychology focuses on the mental model of the self as important in pathologies.

Ego functions

 * Reality testing: The ego's capacity to distinguish what is occurring in one's own mind from what is occurring in the external world. It is perhaps the single most important ego function because negotiating with the outside world requires accurately perceiving and understanding stimuli. Reality testing is often subject to temporary, mild distortion or deterioration under stressful conditions.  Such impairment can result in temporary delusions and hallucination and is generally selective, clustering along specific, psychodynamic lines.  Chronic deficiencies suggest either psychotic or organic interference.
 * Impulse control: The ability to manage aggressive and/or libidinal wishes without immediate discharge through behavior or symptoms. Problems with impulse control are common; for example: road rage; sexual promiscuity; excessive drug and alcohol use; and binge eating.
 * Affect regulation: The ability to modulate feelings without being overwhelmed.
 * Judgment: The capacity to act responsibly. This process includes identifying possible courses of action, anticipating and evaluating likely consequences, and making decisions as to what is appropriate in certain circumstances.
 * Object relations: The capacity for mutually satisfying relationship. The individual can perceive himself and others as whole objects with three dimensional qualities.
 * Thought processes: The ability to have logical, coherent, and abstract thoughts. In stressful situations, thought processes can become disorganized.  The presence of chronic or severe problems in conceptual thinking is frequently associated with schizophrenia and manic episodes.
 * Defensive functioning: A defense is an unconscious attempt to protect the individual from some powerful, identity-threatening feeling. Initial defenses develop in infancy and involve the boundary between the self and the outer world; they are considered primitive defenses and include projection, denial, and splitting.  As the child grows up, more sophisticated defenses that deal with internal boundaries such as those between ego and super ego or the id develop; these defenses include repression, regression, displacement, and reaction formation.  All adults have, and use, primitive defenses, but most people also have more mature ways of coping with reality and anxiety.
 * Synthesis: The synthetic function is the ego's capacity to organize and unify other functions within the personality. It enables the individual to think, feel, and act in a coherent manner.  It includes the capacity to integrate potentially contradictory experiences, ideas, and feelings; for example, a child loves his or her mother yet also has angry feelings toward her at times.  The ability to synthesize these feelings is a pivotal developmental achievement.

Reality testing involves the individual's capacity to understand and accept both physical and social reality as it is consensually defined within a given culture or cultural subgroup. In large measure, the function hinges on the individual's capacity to distinguish between her own wishes or fears (internal reality) and events that occur in the real world (external reality). The ability to make distinctions that are consensually validated determines the ego's capacity to distinguish and mediate between personal expectations, on the one hand, and social expectations or laws of nature on the other. Individuals vary considerably in how they manage this function. When the function is seriously compromised, individuals may withdraw from contact with reality for extended periods of time. This degree of withdrawal is most frequently seen in psychotic conditions. Most times, however, the function is mildly or moderately compromised for a limited period of time, with far less drastic consequences' (Berzoff, 2011).

Judgment involves the capacity to reach “reasonable” conclusions about what is and what is not “appropriate” behavior. Typically, arriving at a “reasonable” conclusion involves the following steps: (1) correlating wishes, feeling states, and memories about prior life experiences with current circumstances; (2) evaluating current circumstances in the context of social expectations and laws of nature (e.g., it is not possible to transport oneself instantly out of an embarrassing situation, no matter how much one wishes to do so); and (3) drawing realistic conclusions about the likely consequences of different possible courses of action. As the definition suggests, judgment is closely related to reality testing, and the two functions are usually evaluated in tandem (Berzoff, 2011).

Modulating and controlling impulses is based on the capacity to hold sexual and aggressive feelings in check without acting on them until the ego has evaluated whether they meet the individual's own moral standards and are acceptable in terms of social norms. Adequate functioning in this area depends on the individual's capacity to tolerate frustration, to delay gratification, and to tolerate anxiety without immediately acting to ameliorate it. Impulse control also depends on the ability to exercise appropriate judgment in situations where the individual is strongly motivated to seek relief from psychological tension and/or to pursue some pleasurable activity (sex, power, fame, money, etc.). Problems in modulation may involve either too little or too much control over impulses (Berzoff, 2011).

Modulation of affect The ego performs this function by preventing painful or unacceptable emotional reactions from entering conscious awareness, or by managing the expression of such feelings in ways that do not disrupt either emotional equilibrium or social relationships. To adequately perform this function, the ego constantly monitors the source, intensity, and direction of feeling states, as well as the people toward whom feelings will be directed. Monitoring determines whether such states will be acknowledged or expressed and, if so, in what form. The basic principle to remember in evaluating how well the ego manages this function is that affect modulation may be problematic because of too much or too little expression. As an integral part of the monitoring process, the ego evaluates the type of expression that is most congruent with established social norms. For example, in white American culture it is assumed that individuals will contain themselves and maintain a high level of personal/vocational functioning except in extremely traumatic situations such as death of a family member, very serious illness or terrible accident. This standard is not necessarily the norm in other cultures (Berzhoff, Flanagan, & Hertz, 2011).

Object relations involves the ability to form and maintain coherent representations of others and of the self. The concept refers not only to the people one interacts with in the external world but also to significant others who are remembered and represented within the mind. Adequate functioning implies the ability to maintain a basically positive view of the other, even when one feels disappointed, frustrated, or angered by the other's behavior. Disturbances in object relations may manifest themselves through an inability to fall in love, emotional coldness, lack of interest in or withdrawal from interactions with others, intense dependency, and/or an excessive need to control relationships (Berzhoff, Flanagan, & Hertz, 2011).

Self-esteem regulation involves the capacity to maintain a steady and reasonable level of positive self-regard in the face of distressing or frustrating external events. Painful affective states, including anxiety, depression, shame, and guilt, as well as exhilarating emotions such as triumph, glee, and ecstasy may also undermine self-esteem. Generally speaking, in dominant American culture a measured expression of both pain and pleasure is expressed; excess in either direction is a cause for concern. White Western culture tends to assume that individuals will maintain a consistent and steadily level of self-esteem, regardless of external events or internally generated feeling states (Berzhoff, Flanagan, & Hertz, 2011).

Mastery when conceptualized as an ego function, mastery reflects the epigenetic view that individuals achieve more advanced levels of ego organization by mastering successive developmental challenges. Each stage of psychosexual development (oral, anal, phallic, genital) presents a particular challenge that must be adequately addressed before the individual can move on to the next higher stage. By mastering stage-specific challenges, the ego gains strength in relations to the other structures of the mind and thereby becomes more effective in organizing and synthesizing mental processes. Freud expressed this principle in his statement, “Where id was, shall ego be.” An undeveloped capacity for mastery can be seen, for example, in infants who have not been adequately nourished, stimulated, and protected during the first year of life, in the oral stage of development. When they enter the anal stage, such infants are not well prepared to learn socially acceptable behavior or to control the pleasure they derive from defecating at will. As a result, some of them will experience delays in achieving bowel control and will have difficulty in controlling temper tantrums, while others will sink into a passive, joyless compliance with parental demands that compromises their ability to explore, learn, and become physically competent. Conversely, infants who have been well gratified and adequately stimulated during the oral stage enter the anal stage feeling relatively secure and confident. For the most part, they cooperate in curbing their anal desires, and are eager to win parental approval for doing so. In addition, they are physically active, free to learn and eager to explore. As they gain confidence in their increasingly autonomous physical and mental abilities, they also learn to follow the rules their parents establish and, in doing so, with parental approval. As they master the specific tasks related to the anal stage, they are well prepared to move on to the next stage of development and the next set of challenges. When adults have problems with mastery, they usually enact them in derivative or symbolic ways (Berzhoff, Flanagan, & Hertz, 2011).

Conflict, defense and resistance analysis
According to Freud's structural theory, an individual's libidinal and aggressive impulses are continuously in conflict with his or her own conscience as well as with the limits imposed by reality. In certain circumstances, these conflicts may lead to neurotic symptoms. Thus, the goal of psychoanalytic treatment is to establish a balance between bodily needs, psychological wants, one's own conscience, and social constraints. Ego psychologists argue that the conflict is best addressed by the psychological agency that has the closest relationship to consciousness, unconsciousness, and reality: the ego.

The clinical technique most commonly associated with ego psychology is defense analysis. Through clarifying, confronting, and interpreting the typical defense mechanisms a patient uses, ego psychologists hope to help the patient gain control over these mechanisms.

Cultural influences

 * The classical scholar E. R. Dodds used ego psychology as the framework for his influential study The Greeks and the Irrational (1951).
 * The Sterbas relied on Hartmann's conflict-free sphere to help explain the contradictions they found in Beethoven's character in Beethoven and His Nephew (1954).

Criticisms
Many authors have criticized Hartmann's conception of a conflict-free sphere of ego functioning as both incoherent and inconsistent with Freud's vision of psychoanalysis as a science of mental conflict. Freud believed that the ego itself takes shape as a result of the conflict between the id and the external world. The ego, therefore, is inherently a conflicting formation in the mind. To state, as Hartmann did, that the ego contains a conflict-free sphere may not be consistent with key propositions of Freud's structural theory.

Ego psychology, and 'Anna-Freudianism', were together seen by Kleinians as maintaining a conformist, adaptative version of psychoanalysis inconsistent with Freud's own views. Hartmann claimed, however, that his aim was to understand the mutual regulation of the ego and environment rather than to promote adjustment of the ego to the environment. Furthermore, an individual with a less-conflicted ego would be better able to actively respond and shape, rather than passively react to, his or her environment.

Jacques Lacan was if anything still more opposed to ego psychology, using his concept of the Imaginary to stress the role of identifications in building up the ego in the first place. Lacan saw in the "non-conflictual sphere...a down-at-heel mirage that had already been rejected as untenable by the most academic psychology of introspection'.

title: Ego psychology


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Sean McCann (actor)

William Leonard Sean McCann (September 24, 1935 – June 13, 2019) was a Canadian actor and was in the business for over 55 years. He was best known for his roles as Lt. Jim Hogan in the 1985 CTV television drama series Night Heat (1985–1989), Frank Rittenhauer in the comedy film Tommy Boy (1995) and the Judge in Chicago (2002).

A recipient of the Earle Grey Award for his lifetime achievement in television, Sean McCann appeared in over 150 movies, television programs and plays.

Early life
Sean McCann was born in Windsor, Ontario, on September 24, 1935, to Alta (née Tobin) and Jack McCann.

Notable roles and awards
McCann was in The Law of Enclosures, with Sarah Polley and Diane Ladd. He appeared with Meryl Streep (...First Do No Harm), Nick Nolte (Affliction) and Chris Farley (Tommy Boy). He shared screen time with Brenda Fricker and Miranda Richardson in Swann (for which McCann received a Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role Genie nomination), Nicolas Cage in Trapped in Paradise, Kevin Bacon in The Air Up There, Sam Waterston in A House Divided, Peter Weller and Judy Davis in Naked Lunch (which garnered a National Film Critics Society award), Brooke Shields and the late Al Waxman in What Makes a Family, and Kurt Russell in Miracle. He appeared in the movie Hank Williams: The Show He Never Gave (made for Canadian TV, December, 1980).

In 1980, he starred in the second season of the nationally syndicated American situation comedy, The Baxters. On the series, McCann played Jim Baxter, a middle-class father of three children living in a suburb of St. Louis. Originally produced by Norman Lear in its first season, the series was the first "interactive sitcom" of its kind, wherein the first half of each 30-minute episode presented a vignette dramatizing the events in the lives of the Baxter family, and the second half was an "instant analysis" talk show segment, giving a live studio audience and guests an opportunity to express their opinions about the topic being presented that week.

In 1999, he won a Gemini Award for Best Guest Actor in a Series for Power Play. McCann was twice nominated for a Gemini Award for Best Performance in a Pre-School Series, for 1998's beloved Noddy as Grandpa Noah Tomten. McCann was singled out at the 1987 Gemini Awards with a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his recurring role in Night Heat. McCann also starred in Robert Lepage's Genie-award winning Possible Worlds, and appeared in the Golden Globe-nominated Small Sacrifices with Farrah Fawcett. In addition, McCann worked with such legendary directors as Sidney Lumet, Ken Russell, David Green, Paul Schrader and David Cronenberg.

In 1988, he took on a role he spoke of most fondly - Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King in The King Chronicle. Directed by the renowned Canadian documentarian Donald Brittain, the mini-series was a 6-hour CBC and NFB co-production that aired to great popular and critical acclaim. One year later, McCann joined the ranks of such celebrated performers as Lorne Greene, Kate Reid and Gordon Pinsent, when he won the Earle Grey Award.

He also appeared in the Toronto Fringe Festival production of Bad Skater, Good Hands written by Gregor M. Robinson.

Other interests
McCann studied at St. Peter's Seminary in London, Ontario to prepare himself for the priesthood.

A baseball fan since the days of his youth, McCann served as an amateur Associate Scout with the Toronto Blue Jays since their early years, spoke often about baseball to professional organizations, and was named to the Board of Directors of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.

McCann ran as an Ontario Liberal Party candidate in the 1977 Ontario general election, against Roy McMurtry in the electoral district of Eglinton.

Personal life
From 1968 until his death in 2019, he was married to Andrée Paquet for 51 years, and he had five children.

Death
McCann died on June 13, 2019, in Toronto, Ontario, at the age of 83 from heart failure brought about by a heart disease he had suffered through most of his life.

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

title: Sean McCann (actor)


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Jill Thompson

Jill Thompson (born November 20, 1966) is an American illustrator and writer who has worked for stage, film, and television. Well known for her work on Neil Gaiman's The Sandman characters and her own Scary Godmother series, she has worked on The Invisibles, Swamp Thing, and Wonder Woman as well.

Early life
Thompson attended The American Academy of Art in Chicago, graduating in 1987 with a degree in Illustration and Watercolor.

Career
Jill Thompson began her comics career working for such publishers as First Comics and Now Comics in the 1980s. She became the artist of DC Comics' Wonder Woman series in 1990. Her work on the "Chalk Drawings" story in Wonder Woman #46 (Sept. 1990) drew praise from writer George Pérez who stated "It was a good, quiet story, and I think Jill and I worked really well together on that one." Thompson illustrated the Brief Lives story arc in The Sandman issues #41–49, and the story "The Parliament of Rooks" in issue #40 (part of the Fables and Reflections collection). Within this tale she created the characters Li'l Death and Li'l Morpheus, childlike versions of two of the Endless based on classic comic characters Sugar and Spike.

She has since written and illustrated several stories featuring the Sandman characters. These include the manga-style book Death: At Death's Door, one of DC's best selling books of 2003, set during the events of Season of Mists, and The Little Endless Storybook, a children's book using childlike versions of the Endless. In 2005 Thompson wrote and illustrated the Dead Boy Detectives, an original graphic novel based on two minor characters from Season of Mists.

Thompson designed the ring attire for WWE wrestler Daniel Bryan.

Thompson created the comic book series Scary Godmother, originally published by Sirius Entertainment and later by Dark Horse Comics. The books spawned two television specials: Scary Godmother Halloween Spooktacular, which aired in foreign countries in 2003 before being picked up by Cartoon Network in 2004. This was followed by Scary Godmother: The Revenge of Jimmy in 2005. Both were animated using CGI. Thompson did scripting for the project and maintained a measure of creative control. In 2003, the merchandising rights to Scary Godmother reverted to Thompson, allowing her to proceed with plans to create a Scary Godmother fashion doll for which she promoted a successful Kickstarter campaign.

Thompson was a body model for other comics artists, and uses herself as the basis for several characters in her work, most notably as the original model for Scary Godmother. Her likeness has been used by P. Craig Russell in his graphic novel The Magic Flute, and many other works by Russell. In a 2012 interview, she said,"For his Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight story "Hothouse", I was this evil doctor, or someone who was manipulating Poison Ivy...He used me for operas and things, like Brunhilda and Ring of the Nibelung." Alex Ross used her likeness for the character Duela Dent in Kingdom Come.

Thompson is a featured interview in the film Ringers: Lord of the Fans, a documentary about The Lord of the Rings fandom. She was also interviewed for the film She Makes Comics, a documentary about the history of women in the comics industry.

In 2015, Thompson was ranked fourth in the "Top 50 Female Comic Book Artists" poll conducted by Comic Book Resources.

In April 2022, Thompson was among the more than three dozen comics creators who contributed to Operation USA's benefit anthology book, Comics for Ukraine: Sunflower Seeds, a project spearheaded by editor Scott Dunbier, whose profits would be donated to relief efforts for Ukrainian refugees resulting from the February 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

In The Sandman: Act III audiobook adaptation of the graphic novel series, Jill Thompson performed the role of Etain, a character she drew in the comic book series.

Personal life
Thompson studied improvisation comedy at Chicago's The Players Workshop and The Second City Training Center. She performed for four years with the Cleveland Improv Troupe.

Thompson is an avid gardener and holds a Master Gardener Certificate from the Chicago-based Extension program.

Thompson was formerly married to writer Brian Azzarello, but Azzarello mentioned in a 2021 interview that they were no longer together.

Awards and honors
Thompson has won multiple Eisner Awards, including in 2001 for best painter for Scary Godmother, 2004 for "Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (interior art)" for her work on The Dark Horse Book of Hauntings, and in 2005 for "Best Short Story" for Unfamiliar (from The Dark Horse Book of the Dead) with Evan Dorkin. In 2011 the National Cartoonist Society named her Best Comic Book Artist for Beasts of Burden.

She was nominated for Lulu of the Year in 1998 and won in 1999.

National Cartoonists Society Award Eisner Awards:
 * 2011 Best Comic Book Artist Beasts of Burden
 * 2000 Best Humor Publication Bart Simpson's Treehouse of Horror (group award) 2000
 * 2001 Best Painter/Multimedia Scary Godmother (interior art)
 * 2001 Best Title for a Younger Audience Scary Godmother: The Boo Flu
 * 2004 Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (interior art) "Stray" The Dark Horse Book of Hauntings
 * 2005 Best Short Story, "Unfamiliar" The Dark Horse Book of Witchcraft Evan Dorkin and Jill Thompson 2005
 * 2007 Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (interior art) "A Dog and His Boy" The Dark Horse Book of Monsters (etc.)

Eisner Award nominations:
 * 1998 Talent Deserving of Wider Recognition
 * 1998 Best Graphic Album-New Scary Godmother
 * 1998 Best Publication Design Scary Godmother
 * 2000 Best Painter/Multimedia Scary Godmother: The Mystery Date
 * 2004 Best Anthology The Dark Horse Book Of Hauntings (group award)

Comico

 * The Elementals #13, 20, 23–25, 27–29 (1987–1988)
 * Fathom #1–3 (1987)

First Comics

 * Classics Illustrated: The Scarlet Letter (artist 1989)
 * The Chronicles of Corum (artist 1989)

DC Comics

 * Wonder Woman vol. 2 #45–48, 50–51, 53–55, 57–59, 61–64, Special #1 (1990–1992)
 * The Sandman #40–49 (1992–1993)
 * "The Parliament of Rooks" in Fables and Reflections
 * Brief Lives
 * Black Orchid vol. 2 #1–6 (1993–1994)
 * The Invisibles #5–9, 13–15 (1995)
 * Swamp Thing vol. 2 #159 (1995)
 * Seekers into the Mystery #11–14 (1996–1997)
 * The Dreaming #13–14 (1997)
 * The Books of Magic vol. 2 #42 (1997)
 * Challengers of the Unknown vol. 3 #10, 13 (1997–1998)
 * Finals #1–4 (1999)
 * The Invisibles vol. 3 #3–4 (2000)
 * Transmetropolitan: Filth of the City #1 (2001)
 * Bizarro Comics HC (writer/artist 2001)
 * The Little Endless Storybook (writer/artist 2001)
 * 9-11: The World's Finest Comic Book Writers & Artists Tell Stories to Remember, Volume Two (2002)
 * Looney Tunes #100 (2003)
 * Death: At Death's Door (writer/artist 2003)
 * Batman: Gotham Knights #44 ("Batman Black and White" backup story) (writer/artist 2003)
 * Masks: Too Hot for TV #1 (2004)
 * Dead Boy Detectives (writer /artist 2005)
 * Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall: "Fair Division"
 * Fables #59 (2007)
 * House of Mystery vol. 2 #2 (2008)
 * Delirium's Party: A Little Endless Storybook (writer/artist 2011)
 * The Unexpected vol. 2 #1 (2011)
 * Shade vol. 2 #8 (2012)
 * The Dark Knight III: The Master Race #1 (variant cover art 2016)

Marvel Comics

 * Shadows and Light #2 (Spider-Man) (1998)
 * X-Men Unlimited #32 ("Dazzler – Beyond the Music") (2001)
 * Girl Comics vol. 2 #2 (2010)

Topps Comics

 * The X-Files: Afterflight

Dark Horse Comics

 * The Badger: Shattered Mirror
 * The Dark Horse Book of...:
 * Hauntings: "Stray" (2003)
 * Witchcraft: "The Unfamiliar" (2004)
 * The Dead: "Let Sleeping Dogs Lie" (2005)
 * Monsters: "A Dog and His Boy" (2006)
 * Beasts of Burden #1–4 (2009)
 * Hellboy/Beasts of Burden (2010)
 * Beasts of Burden: Neighborhood Watch (2012)
 * Beasts of Burden: Hunters and Gatherers (2014)
 * Beasts of Burden: What the Cat Dragged In (2016)

Sirius Entertainment

 * Scary Godmother books (all creator/writer/illustrator):
 * Scary Godmother (1997)
 * The Revenge of Jimmy (1998)
 * The Mystery Date (1999)
 * The Boo Flu (2000)
 * Scary Godmother comics:
 * Scary Godmother: My Bloody Valentine (1998)
 * Scary Godmother Holiday Spooktakular (1998)
 * Scary Godmother Activity book (2000)
 * Scary Godmother: Wild About Harry (2000)
 * Scary Godmother: Ghoul’s Out for Summer (2000–2001)

Bongo Comics

 * Bart Simpson's Treehouse of Horror (writer 2000)
 * Bart Simpson's Treehouse of Horror (artist 2002)

Caliber Comics

 * The Bandyman (artist 1999)

Scholastic

 * Goosebumps Graphix: Terror Trips – One Day at HorrorLand (as illustrator)

Harper Collins Children's Books
Created by, written and illustrated by Thompson:
 * Magic Trixie (2008)
 * Magic Trixie Sleeps Over (2008)
 * Magic Trixie and the Dragon (2009)
 * The Curse of the Royal Ruby: A Rinnah Two Feathers Mystery (as illustrator)
 * The Secret of Dead Man's Mine: A Rinnah Two Feathers Mystery (as illustrator)
 * ''Mick Foley's Halloween Hijinx (as illustrator)
 * Tales from Wrescal Lane (as illustrator)

Stageplay
Adaptation/ co-writer, art director, set designer:
 * Scary Godmother 2001 at the Athanaeum Theatre in Chicago with Runamuck Productions

Film
Actor, "Aunt Lindsay":
 * Meet Me There 2014 film from Greenless Studios

Scary Godmother Animated Specials
With Mainframe Entertainment:

 * Scary Godmother: Halloween Spooktakular co-writer, editor, art director, background painter, prop designer, executive creative director
 * Scary Godmother: The Revenge of Jimmy creative consultation, executive producer, prop and character designer

title: Jill Thompson


text:
John Miller Adye

General Sir John Miller Adye, GCB (1 November 1819 – 26 August 1900) was a British soldier and amateur artist.

Military career
Adye was the son of Major James P. Adye, born at Sevenoaks, Kent, on 1 November 1819. He studied at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, entered the Royal Artillery in 1836, was promoted to captain in 1846, and served throughout the Crimean War as brigade-major and assistant adjutant-general of artillery (awarded CB, brevets of major and lieutenant-colonel).

In the Indian rebellion of 1857 he served on the staff in a similar capacity. Promoted brevet-colonel in 1860, he was specially employed in 1863 in the Northwest frontier of the India campaign, and was Deputy-Adjutant-General, Bengal, from 1863 to 1866, when he returned home. From 1870 to 1875 Adye was Director of Artillery and Stores at the War Office. He was made a KCB in 1873, and was promoted to be major-general and appointed governor of the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, in 1875, and Surveyor-General of the Ordnance in 1880. In 1882 he was chief of staff and second in command of the expedition to Egypt, and served throughout the campaign (awarded GCB and thanks of Parliament). He was Governor of Gibraltar from 1883 to 1886 where he was noted for his artwork (see below) and in keeping a good balance between the needs of Gibraltar being a military fortress and of the needs of the civilian population to make a living. The military got rooms for recreation and the civilians enjoyed relaxed trade laws.

He was appointed Colonel Commandant of the 4th and 26th (Royal Arsenal) Kent Rifle Volunteer Corps and Honorary Colonel of their successor the 3rd Volunteer Battalion, Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment.

Later life
After his retirement in 1886, he unsuccessfully contested Bath in the Liberal interest in 1892.

At some time in his career he became good friends with both William Armstrong and Stuart Rendel, so much so that his daughter, Winifreda, married the former's grand-nephew and heir, William Henry Watson-Armstrong in 1889. His other daughter, Evelyn Violet, was to become John Meade Falkner's wife on 18 October 1899. His son, Sir John Adye, would become a major-general. His son, John Adye married Clara Joan Williams in 1899.

Adye was also a writer and artist, describing his experiences in such works as A Review of the Crimean War (1859), Sitana: a Mountain Campaign on the Borders of Afghanistan in 1863, and Recollections of A Military Life (1895). His paintings of Gibraltar are available in the Victoria and albert Museum and two of India are in the National Army Museum.

Published works

 * Sir General John Miller Adye. Recollections of a Military Life (London: 1895, Smith, Elder & Co.)
 * Sir General John Miller Adye. Recollections of a Military Life (London: 1895, Smith, Elder & Co.)

title: John Miller Adye


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Nickey Chevrolet

Nickey Chevrolet (also called Nickey Chicago) was a Chevrolet automobile dealership located in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Founded in 1925 by brothers E.J. and Jack Stephani, Nickey Chevrolet became one of the largest factory dealerships, specializing in high performance muscle car sales and services.

Nickey Chevrolet was originally established at 4120 Irving Park Road. When the Northwest Expressway (completed on 5 November, 1960, and later renamed the Kennedy Expressway) was constructed, Nickey Chevrolet moved to 4501 W. Irving Park Road in Chicago. Nickey Chevrolet eventually grew to a 200000 sqft facility.

The service department specialized in engine swaps, transplanting 427 cubic inch displacement (CID) "Big Block" Chevy engines into the very first 1967 Camaros, and soon after into Novas, Chevelles, Impalas, and Corvettes.

Nickey Chevrolet modified cars to their customers’ specifications. Because of their rarity, many of these dealer-modified cars are maintained in museums or private collections and are rarely seen in public.

The dealership was sold in 1973 and became Keystone Chevrolet. The new speed shop and automobile conversion centre was named "Nickey Chicago", and closed in 1977.

In 2002, a muscle car collector and enthusiast, Stefano Bimbi, purchased the legal rights and trademarks for the Nickey brand. The new company, Nickey Performance, now located at 6927 N Alpine Road in Loves Park, Illinois, builds, sells, and services vehicles branded as Nickey Super Cars, and has also taken steps to establish a registry for Nickey-modified cars.

title: Nickey Chevrolet


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User talk:YeahRight

===I will revert all edits to all articles on my watchlist by the LaRouche cult "editor" Cognition, or any other recognisable LaRouche editor. I will do this until either the LaRouche cultists are banned from Wikipedia or I am. I don't much care which, since an encyclopaedia which allows crackpot cultists to edit its articles is not worth writing for.=== Adam 14:17, 12 July 2005 (UTC)

Blocked

 * Since the sole purpose of this account seems to be to pursue the revert war of user:Cognition I have blocked the account for eighteen hours, the amount of time remaining in Cognition's block. -Willmcw 23:41, July 12, 2005 (UTC)
 * I had nothing to do with this user. Check the IPs. Cognition 04:31, 15 July 2005 (UTC)

 * What is the significance of IPs? -Willmcw 04:42, July 15, 2005 (UTC)
 * Everyone was accusing me at the time of creating a sockpuppet for the purpose of revert warring, but I obeyed my block. Checking IPs would prove that it was not me. BTW, I saw your discussion with SlimVirgin on the admin's noticeboard, and I'd like to add that I am not Hershel in California, Florida, or anywhere. Checking the IP of HK's recent edits would confirm this too. Cognition 04:44, 15 July 2005 (UTC)

 * I don't understand. How can looking at the IPs prove that you are a separate persons? I change IPs everytime I call up my internet service provider. The more direct approach is to review behavior. YeahRight acted like a sockpuppet. -Willmcw 04:52, July 15, 2005 (UTC)
 * He was probably someone who didn't like the idea of the blantant unfairness. It could have been anyone. And minor changes in IP address are one thing, but checking my account and Herschel's will be the difference between California and Florida. Cognition 04:54, 15 July 2005 (UTC)

 * Could have been anyone - yeah right. And IPs do not prove location as it isn't hard to bounce them around, like a ventriloquist throwing his voice. You're going to have to do better than that. -Willmcw 05:02, July 15, 2005 (UTC)
 * No, you can check the IPs and assume good faith. However, it is a farce to hold me accountable for things that I did not do. Cognition 05:05, 15 July 2005 (UTC)
 * I extended considerable good faith to HK until it was found that he was a plagiarizing sockpuppet. Because he was proven to engage in sockpuppetry he has poisoned the well for LaRouche adherents. An editor claim to be "Mary Sue" in Timbuktu, but if she edited the same way as HK/WeedHarper/CColden then I'd doubt her word. -Willmcw 05:16, July 15, 2005 (UTC)
 * No it doesn't. A personal dispute between two editors months before I became a user has nothing to do with me, and I see nothing in the policy page Assume good faith saying anything about you being above the rules in your dealings with me. Cognition 05:18, 15 July 2005 (UTC)

It wasn't a personal dispute. It was a determination by the ArbCom that HK had engaged in activities that were harmful to the encyclopedia, in particular promoting LaRouche's theories. The guideline (not policy) that calls on us to assume good faith makes it clear that it applies only when possible. There are occasions, like trolling, fraud, sockpuppeting, when editors act in such clear bad faith that it would be foolish for others to continue to assume good faith. Since HK was utterly unrepentant there is no reason to think that he would not try again, using the same techniques of sockpuppetry that he perfected before. Maybe if he actually apologized and admitted wrongdoing then we'd view his/your contributions with good faith again. -Willmcw 05:58, July 15, 2005 (UTC)

title: User talk:YeahRight


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Demi-cannon

The demi-cannon was a medium-sized cannon, similar to but slightly larger than a culverin and smaller than a regular 42 lb cannon, developed in the early 17th century. A full cannon fired a 42-pound shot, but these were discontinued in the 18th century as they were seen as too unwieldy. The lower tiers of 18th century English warships were usually equipped with demi-cannons.

Ships featuring demi-cannons included HMS Sovereign of the Seas, HMS Resolution and HMS James, which fought in the Anglo-Dutch naval wars. Demi-cannons were also used on HMS Stirling Castle, the wreck of which was discovered in the Goodwin Sands. Several examples of this weapon were recovered from the site.

The barrels of demi-cannon were typically 11 ft long, had a calibre of 6 in and could weigh up to 5600 lb. It required 18 lb of black powder to fire a 32 lb round shot. The demi-cannon had an effective range of 1600 ft.

These 32-pounders were used during the 18th century on first-rate ships of the line which carried up to 100 guns. Though powerful, the naval demi-cannons were inaccurate, except at close range, which allowed warships to cause as much damage as possible. Sometimes a single broadside was enough to cripple the enemy vessel.

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Talk:Keizō Obuchi

Page needs work
This page needs to be brought up to standard. If anyone agrees with me, please post. —This unsigned comment was added by 68.50.203.175 (talk • contribs).

I agree, page needs improvement, especially since it is about a (former) head of government of a major country.

129.12.200.49 22:00, 1 May 2006 (UTC)

Duplicate pictures
Is it really necessary to have the same picture twice on this page? BigHaz - Schreit mich an (Review me) 23:49, 28 September 2006 (UTC)

Copyright violation
"File:Keizo Obuchi UN.jpg" is a copyright violation because it is copyrighted and not published under a free license.

Daffy123 uploaded this file on 13:00, November 8, 2011 (UTC). But this file is a copyright violation because it comes from: United Nations Photo. This website managed by the United Nations. Please read this page about the copyright policy of the United Nations. --Nnkrkrhhdi (talk) 15:53, 12 November 2011 (UTC)

title: Talk:Keizō Obuchi


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User:AJHalliwell

Working on the "Flags of Summit County" Project: adding public domain images (.svg) for all the communities of Summit County, Ohio.

Communities that Need Flags on their Wikipedia Article
 * And the rest.

title: User:AJHalliwell


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Doug Wildey

Douglas Samuel Wildey (May 2, 1922 – October 4, 1994) was an American cartoonist and comic book artist best known for originally conceptualizing and co-creating the classic 1964 American animated television series Jonny Quest for Hanna-Barbera Productions.

Early life and career
Wildey was born and raised in Yonkers, New York, adjacent to New York City. He did World War II military service at Naval Air Station Barbers Point in Hawaii, where he began with his artistic talent and creative animation career as a cartoonist for the base newspaper. He recalled his professional start as freelancing for the magazine and comic book company Street & Smith in 1947. Because comic book writer and artist credits were not routinely given during this era, the earliest confirmed Wildey works are the two signed pieces in this publisher's Top Secret #9 (June 1949): a one-page house ad and the 10-page adventure story "Queen in Jeopardy", by an unknown writer.

He went on to draw primarily Western stories for Youthful Magazines comics including Buffalo Bill, Gunsmoke (unrelated to the later television series), and Indian Fighter. He also contributed to the publishers Master Comics, Story Comics, Cross Publications and possibly others, puckishly observing that he'd worked for every publisher except EC, "the good one".

In 1952, Wildey moved, with his whole family—wife Ellen and oldest daughter, Debbie and —to Tucson, Arizona. Two years later, he began a regular stint at Atlas Comics, the 1950s forerunner of Marvel Comics, where he drew dozens of Western stories through 1957, primarily four- to five-page tales in such titles as Frontier Western. His art also appeared in the Atlas horror-fantasy comics Journey into Unknown Worlds, Marvel Tales, Mystery Tales, Mystic, Strange Tales, Uncanny Tales, and others.

Animation historian Ken Quattro favorably describes Wildey's most "noteworthy" Western classic style as the 19-issue Atlas Comics series Outlaw Kid, "his take on the classic Western antihero", in which Wildey had creatively illustrated a three- to four-story arc per comic book issue: "In concept, it was typical of all the Stan Lee-created Kids (Colt, Rawhide, Two-Gun, Ringo, etc.). What set it apart was Wildey's art. . . . The Outlaw Kid was a monthly opportunity for Wildey to hone and develop his burgeoning art skills. Using Outlaw Kid #11 (May 1956) as an example of his work well into the series, the influence of cinema on his work is evident. Though he may have had this influence all along, now it is readily apparent, with panels staged like film scenes. The characters have a realistic, illustrative look to them. . . . Most significantly, his artwork finally had the consistent luster of professionalism. Wildey varied his inking from the fine stroke of an etching to the bold use of solid blacks to attain dramatic chiaroscuro effects."

Much of this work was reprinted by Marvel from 1970 through 1974, exposing Wildey's work to a younger generation.

After an Atlas Comics retrenchment in 1957—during which the company mixed a trove of inventory stories by Wildey and many others with new material for about two to three years—Wildey freelanced on a small number of standalone anthology stories for two other publishers: Harvey Comics, in the science fiction/fantasy titles Alarming Tales #3-5 (Jan.-Sept. 1958), and Black Cat Mystic #62 (March 1958), Hi-School Romance #73 (March 1958) and Warfront #34 (Sept. 1958); and DC Comics, in Tales of the Unexpected #33 & 35 (Nov. 1958, March 1959), House of Secrets #17 (Feb.1959), My Greatest Adventure #28 & 32 (November 1958 & June 1959), and House of Mystery #89 (Aug. 1959). He also later drew the first issue of Dell Comics' TV series spin-off Dr. Kildare (a.k.a. 4 Color #1337, June 1962).

In either 1959 or 1961 (sources vary) he took over the art for writer Leslie Charteris' long-running New York Herald Tribune Syndicate comic strip The Saint. Some of their strips were inked by Dick Ayers as the deadlines of producing a daily and Sunday strip proved daunting. The strip ended in 1962. Adding credence to the latter date is Wildey spending part of 1960, possibly only a month, penciling his idol Milton Caniff's famed Steve Canyon comic strip and trying unsuccessfully to launch his own syndicated strip.

Two such proposed strips would help provide a character name and some narrative background to Wildey's later animated television series, Jonny Quest. As he described in 1986, "I once tried an automobile comic strip. Because this whole country runs on the automobile economy, right? . . . In my case, my guy was sort of an automobile designer. He raced cars. He had this glamorous European background, and raced on American tracks. I called him Stretch Bannon. . . . Then, later on, I tried another strip about a writer-artist team that traveled the world getting into adventures. The name was Race Dunhill. So I put the Race and the Bannon together and that's where Race Bannon came from."

Television Animation Work
Following the end of The Saint comic strip in 1962, Wildey found, through an ad in the National Cartoonists Society newsletter, what was initially a one-week television animation job in Los Angeles, California, working under artist Alex Toth on Cambria Productions' 1962 animated series Space Angel. Wildey eventually worked on the animated series for about 12 to 14 weeks, after which, he then recalled and carried on and over in 1986.

"I had applied to Universal [Studios] (which was called something else at the time) as sort of a storyboard [artist] / production designer. [Producer] Stanley Kramer's office got interested in my stuff, so I figured, rather than move back to Arizona, where my family lives, maybe I could latch onto Stanley Kramer. [The animation studio] Hanna-Barbera was up the street from there, so I simply crossed the street, went up to Hanna-Barbera, and said, 'Look, I'm an artist' and so forth. A couple of people there had read some of my comic strips and comic books, so they said, 'Come in and see [Joe] Barbera.' The following day, or maybe even the same day, Barbera called me up and said, 'Can you design, in your style, a show [starring the radio drama adventure character] Jack Armstrong?'"

Wildey also wrote and drew a presentation, using such magazines as Popular Science, Popular Mechanics, and Science Digest "to project what would be happening 10 years hence", and devising or fancifully updating such devices as a "snowskimmer" and hydrofoils. When Hanna-Barbera could not obtain the rights to Jack Armstrong, the studio had Wildey rework the concept. Wildey "went home and wrote Jonny Quest that night — which was not that tough." For inspiration he drew on Jackie Cooper and Frankie Darrow movies, Milton Caniff's comic strip Terry and the Pirates, and, at the behest of Hanna-Barbera, the James Bond movie Dr. No. Hanna-Barbera refused to give him a "created by" credit, Wildey said in 1986, and he and studio "finally arrived on 'Based on an idea created by', and that was my credit."

The prime-time TV animated series Jonny Quest originally debutted on ABC on September 18, 1964. And as American comics historian Daniel Herman then wrote: "Wildey's designs on Jonny Quest gave the cartoon a distinctive look, with its heavy blacks [i.e. shading and shadow] and its Caniff-inspired characters. . . . The show was an action/adventure story involving the feature's namesake, a young brave and brilliant 11-year-old boy. The cast of characters included Jonny's kid sidekick, named Hadji, Jonny's globetrotting and brilliant scientist dad, Dr. Benton Quest and the groups' handsome bodyguard, secret agent Race Bannon, who looks as if he stepped out of the pages of [Caniff's comic strip] Steve Canyon. . . . The look of Jonny Quest was unlike any other cartoon television show of the time, with its colorful backgrounds, and its focus on the characters with their jet packs, hydrofoils, and lasers. Wildey would work on other animation projects, but it was with his work on Jonny Quest that he reached his widest audience, bringing a comic book sense of design and style to television cartoons."

Although, Wildey did not design the more cartoonishly drawn comic relief pet dog, Bandit, which was otherwise designed by animator Dick Bickenbach.

Wildey then went on to work on several other animated series including Herculoids, Jana of the Jungle, Return to the Planet of the Apes (1975), The Godzilla Power Hour (1978), Mister T (1983), and Chuck Norris: Karate Kommandos (1986).

Return to Comics
In the mid-1960s, Wildey eventually returned to comic books, drawing stories for the premiere issues of Harvey Comics' Thrill-O-Rama, Unearthly Spectaculars (both October 1965 series) and Double-Dare Adventures (December 1965). Most significantly during this time, he collaborated with writer Gaylord DuBois on Gold Key Comics' licensed series Tarzan when that long-running comic, which had been reprinting stories drawn by Russ Manning, began producing new work beginning with issue #179 (September 1968). The duo's work appeared through issue #187 (September 1969).

After a short hiatus from comic books, broken only by 3 1971 stories for Skywald's black-and-white horror-comics magazines Psycho and Nightmare, plus the Haunted Tank story "The Armored Ark" in DC Comics' G.I. Combat #153 (May 1972), Wildey created the comic strip Ambler, which ran from 1972 to 1975. Syndicated to newspapers by the Chicago Tribune New York News Syndicate, the contemporary strip chronicled the adventures of an itinerant folk musician.

Afterwards, Wildey then returned to comic books to do stories for Archie Comics' horror-humor anthology series Mad House, Gold Key's Mystery Comics Digest, and DC's Our Army at War and Sgt. Rock, among other titles. Returning to his Western roots, he drew the feature "Jonah Hex" in DC's Weird Western Tales #26 (February 1975) and co-created with writer Larry Lieber the feature "Kid Cody, Gunfighter" in Atlas/Seaboard Comics' Western Action #1 (February 1975).

As both writer and comic book artist, Wildey also created his own Western feature, "Rio", that ran in Eclipse Comics' Eclipse Monthly #1-10 (Aug. 1983 - July 1984), and he returned to his most prominent creation that decade with a Jonny Quest comic book series published by Comico. Wildey wrote and drew the stories in Jonny Quest #1 (July 1986) and Jonny Quest Classics #1-3 (May 1987 — July 1987), and provided several covers. Comico also reprinted several of his Rio stories in a June 1987 one-shot, and Wildey produced new Rio stories for Dark Horse Comics' two-issue miniseries Rio at Bay (July 1992 — August 1992).

Wildey's last original comics work was the painted art for the short 8-page Western tale "The End of the Time of Leinard" by writers Faye Perozich and Harlan Ellison in Dark Horse's Harlan Ellison's Dream Corridor Special (January 1995).

Death
Wildey died of a congenital heart failure in Las Vegas, Nevada, on October 4, 1994. He was around 72 years old at the time of his death. He was surrounded by numerous family members and working colleagues by his side.

title: Doug Wildey


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Aston Manor

Aston Manor was a local government district of Warwickshire in what is now northern Birmingham, from the 19th century to 1911, when it was added to Birmingham.

The Aston Manor Local Board of Health was formed in 1869, from part of the ancient parish of Aston. It became an urban sanitary district in 1875, and then under the Local Government Act 1894 became an urban district with a directly elected council. Aston Manor covered the area today known as Aston, including Aston Park, along with Lozells. It was immediately to the north of the county borough of Birmingham. There were extensive manufacturing facilities, including those of motors and cycles with their accessories, also paper-mills, breweries, etc. The population then was largely industrial. The district contained the now publicly owned Aston Hall.

Aston Manor was granted a charter of incorporation to become a municipal borough in 1903. The census of 1911 recorded a population of around 75,000 in the borough, enough for it to become a county borough in its own right. It instead was added to the county borough of Birmingham that year.

Notable people

 * Victor Johnson (1883–1951) was a track cycling racer who, in 1908, won a gold medal at the Olympics. He became World Amateur Sprint Champion in Germany and the British National Quarter-mile Champion.

title: Aston Manor


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Fusiliers marins

The Fusiliers marins (lit. "Sailor Riflemen") are specialized sailors of the Marine nationale (French Navy). The Fusiliers marins serve primarily as the Navy’s security forces, providing protection for naval vessels and naval installations on land. Created in 1856 and with a modern strength of about 1,800 personnel, the Fusiliers marins should not be confused with the larger Troupes de Marine of the Armée de terre (French Army) whom are often referred to as the French ‘marines.’

Missions
The Fusiliers marins are tasked with:
 * the protection of sensitive sites of the Navy (Naval bases, French Naval Aviation, transmission stations etc.);
 * reinforcement of protection duties provided by Naval forces (maintaining order on board ship and the protection of naval vessels against attack).

Creation of a specialized corps in 1856
These companies lacked specialized personnel trained for combat on land.

An Imperial decree dated 5 June 1856, created the Fusiliers marins, whose formation and training were undertaken by a battalion stationed at Lorient, Brittany. This specialized corps was put under the command of the captains and sergeants-at-arms of the various naval vessels of the French fleet, and was the direct ancestor of the modern Fusiliers.

Since that date, the Fusiliers have participated the following conflicts:

 * The military colonial campaigns of the end of the 19th century,
 * The expeditions in China, Cochinchina, Tonkin and Madagascar,
 * The European conflicts in 1870, 1914–1918 and 1939–1945.

During the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, following the disaster of Sedan, several brigades of Fusiliers marins and naval artillerymen were engaged in combat at Bapaume and subsequently participated in the defense of Paris, notably at the Bourget and at L'Haÿ-les-Roses. This force formed part of the Government Armée versaillaise (armée versaillaise) employed in the suppression of the Paris Commune in 1871.

A detachment of Fusiliers marins defended the French Legation (diplomatic mission) in Peking during the Boxer Rebellion of 1900. Amongst their officers was enseigne de vaisseau Paul Henry and Pierre Alexis Ronarc'h, who, in 1914, would serve as Counter-Admiral and Commandant of the Brigade de Fusiliers Marins BFM attached to the 32nd Army Corps.

The Brigade de Fusiliers marins distinguished themselves at Dixmude, on the Yser, at Longewaede, Hailles and Laffaux during the early stages of World War I. Three French ships have been named after Dixmude.

The Fusiliers marins participated in the campaigns of Free France. They initially formed a battalion then the 1er Régiment de Fusiliers Marins 1e RFM at the corps of the 1st Free French Division (1er DFL) and the 1er Bataillon de Fusiliers Marins Commandos (1er BFMC) who served in 10 (Inter-Allied) Commando. The 177 Commandos Kieffer who disembarked on 6 June in Normandy, were Fusiliers Marins forming part of the Free France Forces. Other Fusiliers Marins, drawn from the former Armée de Vichy, formed the Régiment Blindé de Fusiliers-Marins (RBFM) which served efficiently as part of the 2nd Armored Division. On 30 April 1945 the Fusiliers marins played a role in the liberation of the Île d'Oléron. Disembarked at 0620 at Gatseau, an FM detachment advanced slowly through forested terrain facing stern resistance. In 1945, the Far Eastern Marine Brigade (BMEO) was created with personnel from the RBFM and the 1er RFM, and was part of the French Far East Expeditionary Corps. The Marine Brigade formed riverine brigades (flottilles fluviales) in 1945–1946. They became the Dinassaut, which were created by General Leclerc in 1947 in order to replace the flottilles fluviales created by Jaubert, and operated in Tonkin and Cochinchina from 1947 to 1954. In 1956, with operational cadres serving in Algeria, the Demi-Brigade of Fusiliers Marins (DBFM) was created to play a leading role in securing the borders between Algeria and Morocco until 1962. This demi-brigade was under the command of Vessel Commander (CV) Ponchardier.

Uniforms
The Sailor Riflemen wear a dark blue beret with their combat uniforms, pulled right with their own distinctive badge worn over the left eye or temple. Along with the Naval Commandos, they are unique among French forces in wearing the beret this way. When wearing regular dress uniforms, the sailor cap is worn by junior ratings and the peaked cap by senior petty officers and officers.

Weapons used
Assault rifles
 * Famas G2 assault rifle
 * HK416 assault rifle

Sniper rifles
 * HK G3-SG1
 * FR F2 sniper rifle

Shotguns
 * Valtro PM5 M2 shotgun

Pistols
 * HK Marine semi-automatic pistol

Non-lethal
 * Alsetex "Cougar" 56mm grenade launcher (used for riot control and other such purposes)
 * X26 Taser weapon

Machine guns
 * Browning machine gun Cal.50 M-2HB
 * NF-1 machine gun

Rocket launchers
 * AT4CS Anti-tank weapon

Inflatable boats

 * Zodiac Hurricane 630 IO EDOP
 * Zodiac Futura Mark II
 * Zodiac Futura Mark III

Ground vehicles

 * Light tactical vehicle Land Rover Defender 90 Td5
 * ACMAT VT 4

Notable Fusiliers marins

 * Admiral Philippe de Gaulle, son of General Charles de Gaulle
 * Lieutenant Commander Henri de Pimodan, famous resistant, died in deportation
 * Lieutenant Commander Robert Detroyat, first commandant of the legendary 1st battalion of Fusilier marins, died during operation Exporter in Syria (1941)
 * Quarter-master Theo "Dudu" Dumas, a popular figure who appears in the film Taxi for Tobruk played by Lino Ventura
 * Quarter-master Constant Duclos, the first French soldier to execute a parachute jump on 17 November 1915
 * Lieutenant Georges Hébert, a pioneering French physical educator, theorist, and instructor
 * Sub-Lieutenant Paul Henry, Fusilier marin officer, died defending the legation quarter of Peking (1900)
 * Lieutenant Pierre Guillaume, a famous Fusilier officer of the French Indochina war, inspired the character of "Drummer Crab", the hero of the French film Le Crabe-tambour.
 * Actor Jean Gabin made his military service in the Fusiliers marins in 1924.
 * Mercenary Bob Denard served as a fusilier marin during the First Indochina War
 * Actor Alain Delon served as a fusilier marin during the First Indochina War.

title: Fusiliers marins


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Electric catfish

Electric catfish or Malapteruridae is a family of catfishes (order Siluriformes). This family includes two genera, Malapterurus and Paradoxoglanis, with 21 species. Several species of this family have the ability to generate electricity, delivering a shock of up to 350 volts from its electric organ. Electric catfish are found in tropical Africa and the Nile River. Electric catfish are usually nocturnal and carnivorous. Some species feed primarily on other fish, incapacitating their prey with electric discharges, but others are generalist bottom foragers, feeding on things like invertebrates, fish eggs, and detritus. The largest can grow to about 1.2 meters (3 ft) long, but most species are far smaller.

Description

The Malapteruridae are the only group of catfish with well-developed electrogenic organs; however, electroreceptive systems are widespread in catfishes. The electrogenic organ is derived from anterior body musculature and lines the body cavity. Electric catfish do not have dorsal fins or fin spines. They have three pairs of barbels (the nasal pair is absent). The swim bladder has elongate posterior chambers, two chambers in Malapterurus and three in Paradoxoglanis.

Malapterurus have been conditioned by means of reward to discharge on signal. As reported in the New York Times, April 2, 1967, a researcher, Dr. Frank J. Mandriota of City College, New York, conditioned an M. electricus to discharge on a light signal for a reward of live worms delivered automatically. This is the first conditioning that modified neither glandular nor muscular responses.

The largest can grow to about 1.2 meters (3 ft) and 20 kg. Most Malapterurus and all Paradoxoglanis species are much smaller, reaching less than 30 cm long.

Relationship to humans

The electric catfish of the Nile was well known to the ancient Egyptians. The Egyptians reputedly used the electric shock from them when treating arthritis pain. They would use only smaller fish, as a large fish may generate an electric shock from 300 to 400 volts. The Egyptians depicted the fish in their mural paintings and elsewhere; the first known depiction of an electric catfish is on a slate palette of the predynastic Egyptian ruler Narmer about 3100 BC.

An account of its electric properties was given by an Arab physician Abd al-Latif al-Baghdadi of the 12th century; then as now, the fish was known by the suggestive name of الرعد el raad, which means "thunder".

The shock of these catfish is used to stun prey and in defense. It is not known to be fatal to humans, but large electric catfish can stun an adult person. In small electric catfish, the generated current is far less and only feels like a tingle to humans.

title: Electric catfish


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Military animal

Military animals are trained animals that are used in warfare and other combat related activities. As working animals, different military animals serve different functions. Horses, elephants, camels, and other animals have been used for both transportation and mounted attack. Pigeons were used for communication and photographic espionage. Many other animals have been reportedly used in various specialized military functions, including rats and pigs. Dogs have long been employed in a wide variety of military purposes, more recently focusing on guarding and bomb detection, and along with dolphins and sea lions are in active use today.

For transportation and hauling

 * The horse was the most widely used animal throughout the recorded history of warfare. Early mounts could pull a chariot or carry lightly armored skirmishing forces. With the appearance of heavier mounts and the invention of the stirrup, the horse-mounted cavalry became the most prestigious combat arm in Europe for several centuries. A knight's warhorse was trained to bite and kick. The combination of the horse-mounted warrior armed with a bow made the steppe people's armies the most powerful military force in Asian history. Horse-drawn war wagons were used by the Hussites during the Hussite Wars. With the appearance of modern ranged weapons and motor vehicles, horse use for military purposes fell into decline. However, horses and mules are still used extensively by various armies today for transport in difficult terrain.
 * While elephants are not considered domesticable, they can be trained to serve as mounts, or for moving heavy loads. Sanskrit hymns record their use for military purposes as early as 1,100 B.C. A group of elephants was employed by Hannibal during the Second Punic War. They were employed as recently as World War II by both the Japanese and Allies. Elephants could perform the work of machines in locations where vehicles could not penetrate, so they found use in the Burma Campaign.
 * Camels have typically seen use as mounts in arid regions (camel cavalry). They are better able to traverse sandy deserts than horses, and require far less water. Camels were employed in both world wars. Camels are used by the Indian Army and Border Security Force for patrolling in the desert regions of Rajasthan.

 * In World War II, many military units of the Soviet Red Army, sometime after the Battle of Stalingrad, took to using camels in the southern theatre of the war in order to transport ammunition, fuel for tanks and aircraft, food, water for kitchens, fuel, and even wounded Red Army soldiers. The use of these animals as means of transport was made necessary by the Kalmyk steppes' open terrain, its primitive roads and lack of water, as well as a shortage of adequate auxiliary vehicles in the Soviet armed forces. A case that became famous was that of the Bactrian camel named Kuznechik ("grasshopper") that followed the Soviet Red Army in practically all its advance towards Germany.

 * Mules were used by the U.S. Army, the British Army, and the British Indian Army during World War II to carry supplies and equipment over difficult terrain. Pack animals that are innately patient, cautious, and hardy, mules could carry heavy loads of supplies where Jeeps and even pack horses could not travel. Mules were used in North Africa, Burma, and in Italy. They are also used for transporting supplies in mountainous regions.

 * Oxen have been used widely in war as beasts of burden, especially to transport heavy or siege artillery through heavy terrain.
 * Both Sweden and, later, the Soviet Union, attempted to utilize moose as deep-snow cavalry. Moose were discovered to be unsuitable for warfare, as they easily contracted livestock diseases, were difficult to feed, and fled the battleground.  The Soviets later trained moose not to be gun-shy, but were unable to make use of their cavalry because of the Soviet-Finnish War and World War II.

As fighters or mounts

 * The Sumerians used hybrid donkeys to pull their war chariots around 2500 BCE.
 * Dogs were used by the ancient Greeks for war purposes, and they were undoubtedly used much earlier in history. The Roman Empire, starting with Marcus Aurelius, also used dogs in combat. The Romans trained the Molossian dog (or Canis Molossus) specifically for battle, often coating them in protective spiked metal collars and mail armour, and arranging them into attack formations. During their conquest of Latin America, Spanish conquistadors used Alaunts to kill warriors in the Caribbean, Mexico and Peru. Mastiffs, as well as Great Danes, were used in England during the Middle Ages, where their large size was used to scare horses to throw off their riders or to pounce on knights on horseback, disabling them until their master delivered the final blow.
 * Ramses II had a pet lion which fought with him during the Battle of Kadesh.
 * Pliny the Elder wrote about the use of pigs against elephants. As he relates it, elephants became scared by the squeal of a pig and would panic, bringing disaster to any soldiers who stood in their path of flight.
 * It is unsubstantiated that rhinoceros were used for war functions. By analyzing Albrecht Dürer's famous 1515 woodcut Dürer's Rhinoceros, it is possible that the liberties taken with the rhino's design were in fact designs for a suit of armour created for the rhinoceros's fight in Portugal. However, rhinos' apparently 'thick' or 'plated' skin is actually susceptible and the animals have poor eyesight, heavily limiting their ability to run in a specific direction. Their overly aggressive nature would make them unsuitable for use in mounted combat.
 * War elephants were widely used in most parts of South Asia and North Africa, and were also employed by the Diadochi kingdoms, the Kingdom of Kush and the Roman Empire. They were usually equipped with armour and tusk swords and carried a howdah with soldiers and were controlled by a mahout. The Khmer Empire used ballista elephants, war elephants equipped with ballista-like weapons.
 * Cattle, in some instances, saw use in battle through manmade stampedes of panicking herds that were driven towards the enemy. This was often a dangerous tactic to those that released them, especially following the invention of gunpowder. In both the Battle of Tondibi and Henry Morgan's siege of Panama, herds of cattle were released onto the battlefield, but stampeded back into their own army's lines due to gunfire from the opposing army.
 * During the Warring States period of Chinese history, Qi general Tian Dan is said to have had 1,000 oxen dressed and painted like dragons, then their tails lit on fire and sent against the opposing Yan army.

As living bombs

 * Historical accounts of incendiary pigs were recorded by the military writer Polyaenus and by Aelian. Both writers reported that Antigonus II Gonatas' siege of Megara in 266 BC was broken when the Megarians doused some pigs with combustible pitch, crude oil or resin, set them alight, and drove them towards the enemy's massed war elephants. The elephants bolted in terror from the flaming, squealing pigs, often killing great numbers of their own soldiers by trampling them to death.
 * According to Pr. Shi Bo, monkeys were used in the beginning of the Southern Song Dynasty, in a battle between rebels of the Yanzhou (Yasuo) province and the Chinese Imperial Army, led by Zhao Yu. The monkeys were used as live incendiary devices. The animals were clothed with straw, dipped in oil and set on fire. They were set loose into the enemy's camp, thereby setting the tents on fire, and driving the whole camp into chaos.
 * In 1267, the sheriff of Essex was accused of plotting to release flying cockerels carrying bombs over London.
 * Anti-tank dogs – a Soviet, World War II weapon that had mixed success. Canines with explosives strapped to their backs were used as anti-tank weapons.
 * Project Pigeon – a proposed U.S. World War II weapon that used pigeons to guide bombs.
 * Bat bomb, a U.S. project that used Mexican free-tailed bats to carry small incendiary bombs.
 * Animal-borne bombs have been used by modern terrorists and insurgents in the Middle East, who have affixed explosives to animals, sometimes left wandering alone, and other times ridden by suicide bombers, in modern insurgent attacks in the Middle East.

To conceal explosive devices

 * Exploding rat – dead rats were prepared for use by the British Special Operations Executive in World War II against Germany. Rat carcasses were filled with plastic explosives, to be left in locations such as factories where, it was hoped, the stoker tending a boiler would likely dispose of the unpleasant discovery by shoveling it into the furnace, causing it to explode. The rats contained only a small amount of explosive; however, a puncture of a high-pressure boiler could trigger a devastating boiler explosion.
 * Animals' carcasses have been used to camouflage roadside improvised explosive devices during the Iraqi insurgency.

Deception and psychological warfare

 * In the Battle of Pelusium (525 BCE) between the Achaemenid Empire and Ancient Egypt, Polyaenus claimed that the Achaemenid forces held cats in front of them as psychological tactic against the Egyptians, whose archers did not shoot for fear of harming what they considered to be sacred animals.
 * In the Battle of Ager Falernus (217 BCE), Hannibal Barca had torches attached to the horns of bulls before being set alight during nightfall and allowing them to run amok. The Romans, believing the torchlight was from fleeing Carthaginian soldiers, pursued the cattle and were caught in an ambush.

In communications
Homing pigeons have seen use since medieval times for carrying messages. They were still employed for a similar purpose during World War I and World War II. In World War II, experiments were also performed in the use of the pigeon for guiding missiles, known as Project Pigeon. The pigeon was placed inside so that they could see out through a window. They were trained to peck at controls to the left or right, depending on the location of a target shape.

Some dogs also saw use as messengers.

For morale
There is a long-standing tradition of military mascots – animals associated with military units that act as emblems, pets, or take part in ceremonies.

For espionage
In the years before the First World War pigeon photography was introduced to military intelligence gathering. Although employed during major battles like at Verdun and Somme, the method was not particularly successful. Various attempts in this direction were made during the Second World War as well. A CIA pigeon camera dating from the 1970s is displayed in the CIA Museum; details of CIA missions using this camera are still classified. During the Cold War, the CIA began using ravens and crows for surveillance.

The Acoustic Kitty was a CIA project to use surgically modified cats to spy on the Kremlin and Soviet embassies in the 1960s. Despite expenditure of around $10 million, the project failed to produce practical results and was cancelled in 1967. Documents about the project were declassified in 2001. In 2006, The Independent ran a story that the "Pentagon develops brain implants to turn sharks into military spies".

In 2007, Iranian authorities captured 14 squirrels, which were allegedly carrying spying equipment. The story was widely dismissed in the West as "nuts".

A number of spying scares in the Middle East involved birds. According to Israeli ornithologist Yossi Leshem, Sudanese authorities detained an Egyptian vulture in the late 1970s, and a white pelican in the early 1980s, both carrying Israeli equipment used for animal migration tracking. A more mediatized event was the 2011 capture by a Saudi farmer of a griffon vulture, which was eventually released by the Saudi authorities after they determined that the Israeli equipment it carried was used for scientific purposes. This was followed by international mockery and criticism of the Arab media outlets which uncritically had reported on the bird's alleged role in espionage. In 2012, a dead European bee-eater tagged with an Israeli leg band was found by villagers near the south-eastern Turkish city of Gaziantep. The villagers worried that the bird may have carried a micro-chip from Israeli intelligence to spy on the area. Turkish authorities examined the corpse of the bee-eater and assured villagers that it is common to equip migratory birds with rings in order to track their movements.

For locating hazards
Dogs have been used for detecting mines; they were trained to spot trip wires, as well as mines and other booby traps. They were also employed for sentry duty, and to spot snipers or hidden enemy forces.

On land, giant pouched rats such as the Gambian giant pouched rat have been tested with considerable success as specialised mine detecting animals, as their keen sense of smell helps in the identification of explosives and their small size prevents them from triggering land mines.

Chickens were used during the Gulf Wars to detect poisonous gases in an operation called Kuwaiti Field Chicken (KFC); the designation of the US Marines for chickens used in this role was Poultry Chemical Confirmation Devices. The plan was put on hold after 41 of 43 chicken used for such purposes died within a week of arrival in Kuwait.

Beginning during the Cold War, research has been done into the uses of many species of marine mammals for military purposes. The U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program uses military dolphins and sea lions for underwater sentry duty, mine clearance, and object recovery.

Other specialized functions
Ship's cats were used in the Royal Navy to control vermin on board ships. Able seacat Simon of HMS Amethyst received the Dickin Medal.

During the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939), Nationalist pilots attached fragile supplies to live turkeys, which descended flapping their wings, thus serving as parachutes which could also be eaten by the defenders of the monastery of Santa Maria de la Cabeza.

Furthermore, use of military chickens was proposed in the British Blue Peacock project. The scheme involved burying nuclear bombs in the ground for later detonation should occupied (West) Germany be overrun by Warsaw Pact forces. The primitive electronic devices of the 1950s were unreliable in frozen ground, and the chickens were considered as a source of biogenic heat. This story has often been reported as an April Fool's joke, but when it was declassified and proven to be a true story on 1 April 2004 (April Fool's Day), the head of education and interpretation at the UK National Archives said, "It does seem like an April Fool but it most certainly is not. The Civil Service does not do jokes."

title: Military animal


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RKF

RKF may refer to:
 * Runge-Kutta-Fehlberg Method
 * RKFDV

title: RKF


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Simbach am Inn

Simbach am Inn (Simbach on the Inn) is a town on the River Inn in the Rottal-Inn district of Bavaria, Germany. The Austrian city Braunau am Inn lies on the opposite side of the river from Simbach.

History
Simbach was one of the first places in which electricity was used. For example, Simbach had electrical power three years before Munich.

One of the reasons for Simbach's growth is that it lies on the railway from Munich to Vienna.

Timeline

 * 927 - Simbach first appears in historical records as "Sunninpah."
 * 1743 - Simbach is nearly destroyed during the War of the Austrian Succession.
 * 1833 - Simbach becomes an independent municipality.
 * 1951 - Simbach is raised to city status, making it the youngest city in the Rottal-Inn district.
 * 1972 - The municipalities Kirchberg, Eggstetten and Erlach are added to Simbach.

Schellenberg
Schellenberg is a hill north of town. At over 549 meters in height, it is the tallest hill between the Inn and Rott. The hill provides views of the Inn Valley, the neighbouring Upper Austria and (on clear days) the distant Alps.

Maria Himmelfahrt Parish Church
This church, in the Erlach district, ranks among the most important church buildings in the region. It holds an elaborate high altar.

Rathaus (City Hall)
The Rathaus, built in Art Nouveau style, was restored in 1987.

Festivals
Pfingstdult is a popular annual festival. Every year, it is accompanied by an industrial exhibition.

The annual City festival takes place last Sunday in June.

The "Angling celebration" takes place each year on the first weekend in September.

"Leonhardiritt" is a horse pro assignment and takes place each year in October.

The Advent season is celebrated in a ceremony spanning nine days with 1000 participants.

Twin Cities

 * Since 1982, Simbach is twinned with the town of Skipton in North Yorkshire, United Kingdom.
 * Since 2001, Simbach is twinned with the town of Tolmezzo in the Friaul region of Italy.

Geothermal power
Forty MW of electricity is generated from geothermal heat sources tapped 2,000 meters beneath the earth. Both Simbach and Braunau make use of this renewable resource.

Census statistics
Simbach has approximately 10,000 residents. Nearly 15% of them are younger than 18 years, 45% are between 18 and 50 years old, and 40% are older than 50 years.

Politics
The mayor of Simbach is Klaus Schmid (CSU). There are twenty-five seats on the town council; a total of four parties are represented. With 15 seats, the CSU is the biggest party in the town council. The SPD, Alliance '90/The Greens and free voters divide the remaining ten seats.

Transport
Simbach lies near the incomplete highway A94. There are train connections at the Simbach (Inn) station to Munich, Vienna, Salzburg, and Passau.

The closest major airports are the Munich International Airport and the Salzburg Airport, each about a one-hour drive by car.

International relations
Simbach am Inn is twinned with:
 * Skipton, England
 * Tolmezzo, Italy

title: Simbach am Inn


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Maritime Gendarmerie

The Maritime Gendarmerie (Gendarmerie maritime) is a component of the French National Gendarmerie under operational control of the chief of staff of the French Navy. It employs 1,157 personnel and operates around thirty patrol boats and high-speed motorboats distributed on the littoral waterways of France. Like their land-based colleagues the Gendarmes Maritime are military personnel carry out policing operations in addition to their primary role as a coast guard service. They also carry out provost duties within the French Navy.

The uniforms and insignia of the Gendarmerie Maritime are very similar to those of the French Navy, but the ranks used are those of the rest of the Gendarmerie (which are the same as the traditional ranks of the French Cavalry).

Mission
The mission of the Maritime Gendarmerie is as follows:
 * Maritime safety and of general police force duties in the territorial waters and EEZ, under the authority of the maritime prefect.
 * Criminal Investigation Department under the authority of public prosecutor.
 * Protection of the naval shore establishments.
 * Search and rescue.

Organisation
The Maritime Gendarmerie is commanded by a colonel who is assisted by a staff located in Paris. The coastguard is articulated in 3 groupings, 7 companies and 64 units (brigades of research, brigades of monitoring of the littoral, group of safety of the protected zones, group of monitoring of intervention and reinforcement, patrol craft, coastal high-speed motorboats of maritime surveillance) whose geographical distribution is as follows:

 * Metropolitan France :
 * grouping of the English Channel and the North Sea in Cherbourg (2 companies)
 * grouping of the Atlantic in Brest (4 companies);
 * grouping of the Mediterranean in Toulon (2 companies);
 * company from Paris to the Career-on-Seine (under the authority of the headquarters);
 * national instruction center of the GM (C.N.I.G.M) in Toulon.
 * Overseas:
 * Guadeloupe: 1 patrol craft; (Violette)
 * French Guiana: 2 high-speed 20-metre motorboats (Charente and Organabo);
 * Mayotte: 1 patrol craft (20-metre high-speed motorboat - Odet);
 * French Polynesia: 1 patrol craft (Jasmin) and a brigade;
 * New Caledonia: 1 high-speed motorboat of 20 meters (Dumbéa) and 2 brigades;
 * Réunion: 1 high-speed 20-metre patrol boat (Verdon), forward deployed in Mayotte as of early 2023

Personnel
Commissioned officers are recruited from holders of a master's degree; non-commissioned officers from holders of a high school diploma giving access to university studies; auxiliary gendarmes are recruited without any specific educational prerequisite. Members of the maritime gendarmerie are recruited among officers, nco's and auxiliary gendarmes with a few years of general gendarmerie service. Certificate of competency for sea or inland water navigation and training in scuba diving is a merit for those who wants to join. Within the maritime gendarmerie there exists further specializations such as coxswain, mechanic, diver, underwater investigation technician, maritime and port security operative and watch-keeping officer.

title: Maritime Gendarmerie


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Ibrahim Baylan

Ibrahim Baylan (born 15 March 1972) is a Swedish politician who served as Minister for Schools from 2004 to 2006, as Minister for Energy from 2014 to 2019, Minister for Policy Coordination from 2016 to 2019 and as Minister for Business, Industry and Innovation from 2019 to 2021.

He has been a member of the Swedish Riksdag since 2006, and was deputy chairman in the education committée and spokesperson of educational issues for the Swedish Social Democratic Party from 2012 to 2014.

Early life and career
Ibrahim Baylan was born in Salah, a village in the Mardin Province of Southeast Turkey, and his family belongs to the Assyrian Christian people group in Turkey.

He studied economics at Umeå University and was engaged in student politics. In 1997 he became the chair of the Swedish Social Democratic Youth League in Umeå. The same year, he was elected chair of the Umeå Union of Students and also became a member of the municipal school board.

From 2000 Baylan worked as an ombudsman for the Swedish Union of Commercial Salaried Employees. He ran unsuccessfully on the Social Democratic ballot for the 2004 European Parliament election. Later in the same year, he was appointed to be Minister for School by Prime Minister Göran Persson, becoming the first non-European immigrant to become a member of a Swedish government cabinet. 2007 he was elected chairman of the Swedish parliamentary committee of transportation and communication. 2009 he became secretary general of the Swedish Social Democratic party. He resigned in March 2011.

As school minister he was involved in a controversy about a report from the Swedish National Agency for Education that was withdrawn after criticism from minister Baylan. He was reported to the Swedish Committee on the Constitution and called to a hearing on 12 April 2005.

Baylan was appointed energy minister with placement in the Ministry of the Environment at the change of government after the parliamentary elections 2014. In June 2016, he presented an agreement between the government, Moderate Party, Centre Party and the Christian Democrats on Sweden's long-term energy policy. In a government reshuffle in 2016, Baylan was also appointed coordination minister.

In September 2021, Baylan announced that he would be stepping down as minister in the autumn. He expressed it was time to try something else.

Personal life
Baylan married Anna Nilsson in Luleå in June 2006. He has two children.

title: Ibrahim Baylan


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Vladimir Yevtushenkov

Vladimir Petrovich Yevtushenkov (Владимир Петрович Евтушенков; born 25 September 1948) is a Russian billionaire business oligarch. He is the majority owner (49.2%) and former сhairman of Sistema. As a member of the Russian-Saudi Economic Council and as chairman since 2002 of both the Russian side of the Russian-Saudi and Russian-Arab Business Councils which are part of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI), he maintains very close ties to both Saudi Arabia and the Arab world.

Early life
Yevtushenkov has master's degrees in chemistry (1973, from D. Mendeleev Moscow Chemical Engineering Institute) and economics (1980), and a PhD in economics (1986). Yevtushenkov worked as an engineer at Karacharovo Plastics Works until 1982, and as chief engineer and first deputy general director of the Polymerbyt Scientific and Production Association until 1987, when he was appointed as the head of the Department of Science and Technology for the Moscow city government.

One year after Yuri Luzhkov became mayor of Moscow, Yevtushenkov resigned from the Moscow city government in 1993 to establish Sistema from his small city department known as the Moscow Committee on Science and Technology.

He is allegedly close to Serhiy Taruta, Viktor Yanukovych and Mykola Bilokon.

Career
The first firm he gained control was Moscow City Telephone Network (MGTS) purchasing a 55% stake in MGTS during privatization. In 1993, he gained control of the Moscow Bank for Reconstruction and Development that became a designated bank for the Government of Moscow which greatly increased cash flows through the bank and, in February 2018, MTS Bank became the sole operator for five years on the Mayor of Moscow's website mos.ru. Нe is the major shareholder and since 1995 was chairman of the board of the Russian investment holding company Sistema(together with another Top Managers such as Evgeny Novitsky ). In April 2022, Yevtushenkov reduced his stake in Sistema below control (49.2%) and stepped down from the Corporation’s board of directors. Sistema was an early shareholder in Russian mobile telecommunications pioneer VimpelCom, and sold its stake when the company was the first Russian company to list on the New York Stock Exchange in November 1996. Yevtushenkov took Sistema public in February 2005, in a $1.35 billion IPO that was Russia's largest ever at the time. Sistema decided as early as October 2022 to sell its stake in EWUB. etc.

In 2009, Sistema purchased oil and gas companies in the Republic of Bashkortostan. This would be the foundation of the oil and gas company Bashneft.

Currently, Yevtushenkov owns 49.2% of the total conglomerate. In 2014, according to Forbes, he was Russia's 15th richest businessman with a fortune of around US$9 billion. On the Forbes 2016 list of the world's billionaires, he was ranked #722 with a net worth of US$2.4 billion. By February 2018 his assets had fallen to US$2 billion, and his rank plunged to #1215; by November 2018, Yevtushenkov was Russia's 62nd wealthiest man with his total means amounting US$1.4 billion and dropping to #1541 in the world's billionaires ranking.

Sanctions
In 2014, Vladimir Yevtushenkov was charged in the "Bashneft case". In 2016, the Investigative Committee terminated the prosecution as they did not find any elements of a crime in Yevtushenkov's actions. 7 April 2022 Yevtushenkov was included in the sanctions list of Australia.

The United Kingdom imposed sanctions in April 2022, freezing his assets in the UK as Yevtushenkov handed his son 10% of Sistema, reducing his personal holding to 49.2%. Sanctioned by the UK government in 2022 in relation to Russo-Ukrainian War.

On September 1, 2022, the High Anti-Corruption Court of Ukraine ruled to confiscate Yevtushenko's assets. These are 17 real estate objects with an area of more than 100 thousand square meters, as well as shares in Ukrainian enterprises. Meanwhile, Vladimir Yevtushenkov stated that he is unaware of any assets belonging to him that could have been confiscated in Ukraine since he does not have any there.

Personal life
He and his wife Natalya Nikolayevna (Наталья Николаевна), live in the Odintsovo city district of Moscow at Zhukovka (Жуковка). He is Jewish.

Vladimir Yevtushenkov has two children:

 * Son Felix (born 1978) is a Russian entrepreneur and investor. Senior Managing Partner of AFK Sistema, since 2019 till April 2023 — Chairman of the Board of Directors of MTS.
 * Daughter Tatiana Yevtushenkova (born 1976). At the age of 26, Tatiana was "invited to MTS OJSC for the position of Vice President for Investments and Securities", later she was a member of the MTS Board of Directors. In 2008 — Advisor to the President of Sberbank of Russia. In 2015, she managed the investment fund Redline Capital.

title: Vladimir Yevtushenkov