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1955 Hunter Valley floods

The Hunter Valley Floods (also known as the Maitland Flood) of 23 February 1955 was a major flood on the Hunter River in New South Wales, Australia. They were one of the most devastating natural disasters in Australia's history.

The flood overwhelmed rivers on both sides of the Great Dividing Range, creating an inland sea the size of England and Wales. Worst hit was the inland city of Maitland, which is sited precariously on low-lying land on the Hunter, and which on this occasion was completely inundated by floodwaters. A total of 25 lives were claimed during a week of flooding that washed away 58 homes and damaged 103 beyond repair. In Maitland alone, 2,180 homes were invaded by water.

Background
Heavy rain owing to the influence of La Niña had been occurring over the catchment of the Hunter River since October 1954 when, on 23 February 1955, an extremely intense monsoonal depression developed over southern Queensland and north-east New South Wales and moved southwards. The very strong and extremely moist northeasterly airflow meant that over the basin of the Hunter and parts of the Darling River, rainfall amounts for a 24‑hour period were the highest since instrumental records began around 1885. Around Coonabarabran, as much as 327 millimetres (over 13 inches) fell in a single day, whilst falls in the upper part of the Hunter Basin the following day were generally around 200 mm.

Flooding
With such heavy rain on already very wet ground the Hunter, along with tributaries of the Darling (Castlereagh, Namoi and Macquarie especially). reached levels quite unprecedented since measurements were first taken about 100 years earlier. For instance, the Namoi's discharge, normally only about 25 m3/s, reached a massive 9000 m3/s, whilst the Macquarie peaked at around 6100 m3/s.

In Maitland the Hunter exceeded its August 1952 record height by nearly a metre, flooding as many as 5,000 homes with as much as five metres of muddy water. 15,000 people were evacuated, most by boat or helicopter, whilst 31 homes were never rebuilt. In Dubbo, four thousand residents were evacuated as the main street was under more than a metre of turgid, muddy water, and the same thing occurred all along the Macquarie River, and at Gilgandra, a third of the buildings were completely destroyed. A hole torn in the main street was later found to contain two large semi-trailers.

The floods took altogether the lives of 25 people. Some 2,000 cattle and many thousands of head of other livestock were drowned. The damage to bridges, roads, railways and telephone lines took months to repair. There also were millions of pounds worth of crops destroyed.

Timeline
Below in a timeline of the six days over which Maitland was ravaged by floodwaters:

 * 24 February 1955 – Torrential rain covers the Hunter Valley. Flights are cancelled at Williamtown Airport. First lives are lost as floodwaters submerge Singleton, stranding 600 people at the railway station and convent. People living in low-lying areas of Maitland are warned of imminent evacuation as water rises across the valley and an emergency declared. During the night, Muswellbrook in the Upper Hunter goes under water and a mail train crashes into floodwaters at Togar.
 * 25 February 1955 – 1,100 people stand stranded on the platform at Singleton Railway Station as the Hunter River begins to overflow in the Maitland suburb of Bolwarra. The main crossing over the river, the Belmore Bridge, is closed at 8:30am and evacuation of the city begins. The Mayor of Maitland warns of an approaching "wall of water" at 11 am as the first major levee failures occur, first at Oakhampton where homes are instantly ripped from their foundations. Before nightfall, water is 2 m deep on the city's main thoroughfare, High Street. Five men are swept to their deaths across the city, three at the railway station. During the night, floodwaters thunder through the city. 21 homes are washed away on one residential street alone, many occupants still inside or clinging to rooftops. Only female victim of the flood, Elizabeth Dickson is swept to her death in pitch darkness.
 * 26 February 1955 – Australian Army DUKWs and Surf Life Saving Australia surfboats rescued over 1,000 people across the city, many stranded on rooftops. A Royal Australian Navy Bristol Sycamore helicopter hits power lines in Maitland – four people who were being taken to safety while they dangled from a rope were electrocuted and another died after falling; the helicopter crashed and exploded, killing two of the crew. An army DUKW carrying military, police and ambulance personnel at Louth Park struck live power lines; the resulting electrical strike instantly killed two soldiers and caused the later death of a Sydney Water Police Constable. Nearby Raymond Terrace is hit hard while flooding extends across the valley. The entire township of Hexham, situated between Maitland and Newcastle on the Hunter River, is completely submerged and every resident evacuated. Floodwaters affect Newcastle and bring disruptions to industry and bring about evacuations in several suburbs, particularly Birmingham Gardens. 23 people were rescued by Royal Australian Navy helicopters, one of which crashed while rescuing people at Maitland railway station.
 * 27 February 1955 – Thousands homeless, refugees taken to Greta migrant camp and homes all over the Hunter Valley as water levels remain at a historic high. The Royal Australian Air Force air drops 4,000 food parcels.
 * 28 February 1955 – Water begins to subside, leaving thick layers of stinking silt and debris. Clean-up begins as areas begin to emerge from the floodwaters. Samuel Upton is found drowned in his Maitland home while refugees continue to be moved to Greta by the thousands.
 * 1 March 1955 – Joseph Murray drowns; the last victim of the flood.

Resulting flood-warning system
At the time of the Hunter Valley flood, there was no system in place to monitor and predict the height of rivers, the likelihood of flooding, nor was there an effective system for disseminating this information. Some of these functions were done by State governments, but they were not nationally coordinated. The 1955 flood provided the political impetus for the federal Bureau of Meteorology to develop a national flood monitoring and forecasting service.

title: 1955 Hunter Valley floods


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List of mountain passes in Switzerland

This is a list of mountain passes in Switzerland. They are generally situated in the Jura Mountains or in the Swiss Alps.

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

title: List of mountain passes in Switzerland


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2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division

The 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, also known as the Dagger Brigade, is a maneuver brigade combat team in the 1st Infantry Division of the U.S. Army stationed in Fort Riley, Kansas.

World War I
The 2nd Brigade was first constituted on 24 May 1917 as Headquarters, 2nd Infantry Brigade of the 1st Expeditionary Division, which was later designated as the 1st Division.
 * 2nd BDE 1st ID.png Headquarters, 2nd Infantry Brigade
 * 26th INF DUI.svg 26th Infantry Regiment
 * 028-Inf-Rgmt-DUI.png 28th Infantry Regiment
 * 2nd BDE 1st ID.png 3rd Machine Gun Battalion

The 2nd Brigade deployed to France in December 1917 with the rest of the 1st Infantry Division as part of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF), as the American military was known in World War I. The brigade participated in many campaigns, including the Meuse-Argonne Offensive and the Battle of Saint-Mihiel.

The brigade redeployed at the end of World War I in August 1918.

Commanders 2nd Infantry Brigade

 * 1917
 * 1) 7 June COL Robert L. Bullard
 * 2) 28 June BG Robert L. Bullard
 * 3) 22 July Col. Charles A. Doyen, USMC (ad interim)
 * 4) 9 August BG Robert L. Bullard
 * 5) 14 August Col. Charles A. Doyen, USMC (ad interim)
 * 6) 19 August BG Robert L. Bullard
 * 7) 26 August Col. Charles A. Doyen, USMC (ad interim)
 * 8) 29 August BG Robert L. Bullard
 * 9) 4 September BG Beaumont B. Buck
 * 10) 1 November COL Ferdinand W. Kobbe (ad interim)
 * 11) 10 November BG Beaumont B. Buck

 * 1918
 * 1) 27 August BG Frank E. Bamford
 * 2) 12 October COL George C. Barnhardt (ad interim)
 * 3) 17 October BG George C. Barnhardt
 * 4) 26 October BG Francis C. Marshall

 * 1919
 * 1) 2 February COL Fredrik L. Knudson (ad interim)
 * 2) 17 February BG Francis C. Marshall
 * 3) 29 May COL Robert A. Brown (ad interim)
 * 4) 6 June BG Frank E. Bamford
 * 5) 11 July COL Robert A. Brown (ad interim)
 * 6) 16 July BG Frank E. Bamford
 * 7) 24 July COL Robert A. Brown (ad interim)
 * 8) 2 August COL Adolphe H. Huguet (ad interim)
 * 9) 9 August to 4 September COL Robert A. Brown

World War II
At the start of World War II, the 2nd Brigade was stationed at Fort Ontario at Oswego, New York. When the United States Army reorganized from the square division to the triangular division each division lost one regiment, (the 28th Infantry) and the brigade structure. The brigade was relieved from assignment to the 1st Infantry Division on 16 October 1939, and moved to Pierrepont, New York as a Separate Infantry Brigade on 29 March 1940. The 2nd Infantry Brigade remained at Pierrepont, New York until 1 June 1940, when they returned to Fort Ontario; the 2nd Infantry Brigade was inactivated on the same day.

After the army's conversion to the triangular division, only two separate brigades were formed during World War II, the 1st Airborne Infantry Brigade and the 2nd Airborne Infantry Brigade both formed in 1943. The 2nd Airborne Infantry Brigade was formed at Camp Mackall, North Carolina on 20 June 1943 and included the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment and the 508th Infantry Regiment.

Order of battle
The 2nd Airborne Brigade deployed to Northern Ireland in January 1944 under the command of Brigadier General George Howell. In order to increase the strength of Major General Matthew Ridgway's 82nd "All American" Airborne Division that had one of its regiments (the 504th Parachute Infantry) still deployed in Italy, the 2nd Brigade had its two regiments assigned to the 82nd, the Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC) also transferring to the 82nd. The 2nd Airborne Brigade was disbanded on 15 January 1945 in Europe.
 * 2nd BDE 1st ID.png Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC)
 * 507th Infantry Regiment DUI.png 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment (507th PIR)
 * US Army 508th Inf Reg DUI.png 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment (508th PIR)

Cold War
On 15 February 1958 the 2nd Infantry Brigade was re-activated at Fort Devens, Massachusetts as the Pentomic 2nd Infantry Brigade with its own shoulder sleeve insignia. It spent the next five years training in northern Massachusetts and Cape Cod. The Brigade was prepared to support the Marines landing in the 1958 Lebanon crisis but did not deploy.

Order of battle

 * 2nd BDE 1st ID.png Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC)
 * 4th Infantry Regiment DUI.svg 1st Battle Group, 4th Infantry
 * 60th Infantry Regiment insigna.jpg 2nd Battle Group, 60th Infantry
 * 76 FA Rgt DUI.jpg 1st Battalion, 76th Artillery
 * 34 Arm Regt DUI.svg Company F, 34th Armor
 * 34 Arm Regt DUI.svg Company G, 34th Armor
 * 5thcav.png Troop F, 5th Cavalry
 * US Army Quartermaster Regimental DUI.gif Brigade Trains
 * US-Engineers-Regimental Insignia.png 2 Engineer Companies

It was inactivated on 19 February 1963 at Fort Devens; in 1962 when it was reflagged as 2nd Brigade, 5th Infantry Division. It was reactivated on 23 October 1963 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division and moved (with the rest of the Division) to Fort Riley, Kansas in January 1964.

Vietnam
On 12 July 1965, the 2nd Brigade landed at Cam Ranh Bay and Vũng Tàu, making it the first element of an Infantry Division to arrive in Vietnam. On 30 July 1969, the unit was visited by President Richard Nixon on his visit to South Vietnam. He met with the troops in Di An. The brigade returned to Fort Riley, Kansas in April 1970.

Gulf War
The Dagger Brigade deployed from Fort Riley, Kansas to Saudi Arabia in December 1990 as part of the United States' offensive buildup. The brigade was commanded by Colonel Anthony Moreno. The brigade was composed of 2d Battalion, 16th Infantry; 3d Battalion, 37th Armor; and 4th Battalion, 37th Armor, plus supporting units. The brigade redeployed to Fort Riley in May 1991.

Bosnia and Herzegovina
On 15 February 1996 the Dagger Brigade was relocated with the rest of the 1st Infantry Division to Europe. The Dagger Brigade replaced the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division's Raider Brigade in Schweinfurt, Germany.

Also in February 1996 the Dagger Brigade deployed units to Bosnia and Herzegovina to participate in Operation Joint Endeavor with the US 1st Armored Division.

On 7 October 1996, the Brigade Combat Team deployed to Bosnia to cover the US 1st Armored Division's redeployment to Germany. The brigade participated in Operation Joint Endeavor and Operation Joint Guard, and served as a stabilization force. The brigade redeployed to Schweinfurt in May 1997, except for the 1st Battalion, 77th Armor task force, which stayed in Bosnia until November 1997.

Kosovo
The Dagger Brigade served in Kosovo in 1999–2000 and again in 2002–03. The Dagger Brigade deployed to the Balkans twice in 1999, first as part of Task Force Sabre in Macedonia, then in Kosovo as part of Task Force Falcon. Task Force Falcon served as the U.S. component of the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR) with the mission of conducting peacekeeping operations in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia'a Serbian Kosovo province.

TF Falcon was under the command of the 1st Infantry Division and included elements from the 1st Armored Division. The Dagger Brigade entered the war-torn province of Kosovo on 12 June 1999. TF Falcon headquartered at Camp Bondsteel, and grew into a Multi-National Brigade, including units from Greece, Russia, Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania, and the UK.

Initial efforts focused on monitoring and verifying the withdrawal of former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (now Serbia and Montenegro) forces and later the demilitarization and transformation of the Kosovo Liberation Army.

The Dagger Brigade rotated to Kosovo again in 2002, this time focused on maintaining the secure environment established by coalition forces.

Operation Iraqi Freedom II
In January 2003, elements of the Dagger Brigade deployed to Turkey to support Operation Iraqi Freedom. Initial efforts were to prepare the way for the U.S. 4th Infantry Division to invade Iraq from the north. When the Turkish government denied access through their border, the 2nd brigade returned to Germany.

In February 2004, the Dagger Brigade deployed to northern Iraq to serve as part of the occupation force. The Brigade Combat Team included:
 * 2nd BDE 1st ID.png Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC)
 * 18 Infantry Regiment DUI.png 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment
 * 26th INF DUI.svg 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment
 * 108th Infantry DUI.png 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry Regiment
 * 1-77 AR DUI (Transparent).svg 1st Battalion, 77th Armor Regiment
 * 4CavalryRegtDUI.jpg Troop E, 4th Cavalry Regiment (Brigade Recon Troop)
 * 7 FA Rgt DUI.jpg 1st Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment
 * 9 Eng Bn DUI.jpg 9th Engineer Battalion
 * 299 Spt Bn DUI.png 299th Forward Support Battalion (299th BSB)
 * 121st Signal Battalion

Operation Iraqi Freedom 06-08
In August 2006 the 2nd Brigade Combat Team again deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from their home station in Schweinfurt, Germany. Task Force 1–26 (BLUE SPADERS) was sent ahead of the main body in an effort to curb the growing violence in Adamiyah, Shab and Uhr in North East Baghdad, Iraq. The Dagger BCT followed in September 2006 and assumed the mission as the CENTCOM reserve, positioned in Kuwait. Shortly after arrival in Kuwait, TF 1–77 AR (STEEL TIGERS) was deployed to Ramadi and TF 1–18 IN (VANGUARDS) was deployed to FOB Falcon, in the Rashid District of Baghdad, Iraq. The BCT Headquarters along with the 9th Engineers (GILAS), 1–7 FA (FIRST LIGHTNING), the 299th Forward Support Battalion (LIFELINE) and the BCT's four separate companies, were deployed to Camp Liberty, Baghdad.

The DAGGER BCT assumed responsibility for Coalition force activities in northwest Baghdad in late October 2006 following Operation Together Forward II. The BCT assumed command of 3 task forces already in Sector; TF 1–22 (REGULARS) in the Abu Ghraib area west of Baghdad, TF 8–10 CAV (ROUGH RIDERS) in the Ameriyah district and TF 1-23IN (TOMAHAWK), a Stryker infantry task force which operated mainly in the Ghazaliyah and Shulla districts of Baghdad.

Throughout the BCT's tour of duty, they effectively integrated and employed a total of nine attached task forces including TF 1-22IN, TF 8-10CAV, TF 1-23IN, TF 2-8CAV, TF 2–12 CAV, TF 1-325AIR, TF 1-5CAV, TF 2-32FA and TF 1–64 AR.

TF 1-22IN (1st BCT, 4th ID) transitioned the Abu Ghraib district to TF 2-8CAV (1st BCT, 1st CAV). TF 8–10 CAV (4th BCT, 4th ID) transitioned Ameriyah and Khadra to TF 1–5 CAV (2nd BCT, 1st CAV). TF 1-23IN (3/2 STRYKER) transitioned Ghazaliyah to TF 2-12CAV (4th BCT, 1st CAV) and the Tomahawks assumed responsibilities in Hurriyah and Khadamiyah. TF 1-325AIR (2nd BCT, 82nd) arrived as part of the surge and assumed responsibilities for Khadamiyah, Hurriyah and some of the most dangerous Shia zones in Baghdad. TF 1-64AR (3ID) relieved TF 1-5CAV for Khadra and Mansour, enabling TF 1-5CAV to fully focus efforts against Sunni extremists in Ameriyah. TF 2-32FA (4th BCT, 1st ID) assumed responsibilities for Yarmouk and Hateen, completing the DAGGER BCT stance for OIF 06-08. For the bulk of its deployment, DAGGER BCT employed five maneuver task forces, from five different BCTs from five different installations in the Continental United States.

Throughout the tour, 1-7FA was attached to the Victory Base Defense Force, but provided fire support to the Dagger BCT's efforts across Northwest Baghdad. The 9th Engineers established a route clearing capability dubbed "DAGGER IRON CLAW" which served to clear more than 50% of the routes in support of BCT, division and corps level efforts in Baghdad. The 299th Forward Support Battalion established a vital logistics support area in support of MND-Baghdad, and sustained the BCT and all attached and detached formations while concurrently operating the division detainee holding area annex.

Dagger BCT ultimately established 14 joint security stations, multiple safe neighborhoods and formally partnered with the Iraqi Security Forces in the Khadamiyah and Mansour Security Districts. Under Dagger BCT OPERATION MARBLE ARCH, sectarian violence was significantly reduced as the BCT fought to stop the expansion of Shia and Sunni criminals and extremists from the North East and West/South West respectively.

The BCT and ISF leadership joined forces with the Arrowhead Stryker BCT for OPERATION ARROWHEAD STRIKE 9, which enabled a true combined forces approach to eliminating Sunni extremist from critical areas across the Mansour and Khadamiyah security districts. These combined efforts fully integrated Coalition, ISF and Iraqi municipal service efforts and enabled the rapid expansion of safe neighborhoods and increased Iraqi civilian participation in the security and services efforts.

Under Dagger BCT OPERATION SEVENTH VEIL, corrupt ISF and governmental officials' influence was significantly reduced with several key, senior-level officials arrested. SEVENTH VEIL was conducted in full partnership with the leadership of the Kharkh Area Command. OPERATION SWITCHBLADE enabled the effective integration of volunteer security forces into the combined security plan of the Dagger BCT and partnered units of the Iraqi Kharkh Area Command, to include the combined units of the Khadamiyah and Mansour Security Districts. OPERATION OUR TOWN effectively linked the security apparatus with the essential services apparatus and served as a nexus for positive, real economic and essential service growth across northwest Baghdad.

The BCT effectively transitioned Coalition force responsibilities to the 2nd BCT of the 101st in November 2007 and the Brigade re-deployed to Schweinfurt, Germany. 61 soldiers from the brigade died during the deployment.

Return to CONUS
On 16 March 2008, 1st Infantry Division's presence in Europe formally ended when the 2nd (Dagger) Brigade in Schweinfurt, Germany reflagged as the 172nd Infantry Brigade. As part of the Grow the Army Plan announced 19 Dec 2007, the 172nd is one of two infantry brigades that will be activated and retained in Germany until 2012 and 2013. The other brigade is the 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division in Baumholder, Germany, which was reflagged to 170th Infantry Brigade on 15 July 2009. On 28 March 2008, the 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division (HBCT) inactivated at Fort Riley. The soldiers and equipment currently assigned were reflagged as 2d (Dagger) Brigade, 1st Infantry Division (HBCT), aligning all units on Fort Riley under the 1st Infantry Division.

Return to Iraq
In 2008, the 2nd Brigade Combat Team was composed of:
 * 2nd BDE 1st ID.png Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC)
 * 4CavalryRegtDUI.jpg 5th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment
 * 63dArRegmt.png 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment
 * 70 Arm Rgt DUI.png 2nd Battalion, 70th Armor Regiment
 * 18_Infantry_Regiment_DUI.png 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment
 * 7_FA_Rgt_DUI.jpg Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment
 * 299_Spt_Bn_DUI.png 299th Brigade Support Battalion (299th BSB)
 * Special_Troops_Battalion,_2BDE,_1ID_DUI.png Special Troops Battalion (STB)

On 30 September 2008, the Dagger Brigade Combat Team held its deployment ceremony on the Cavalry Parade Field at Fort Riley, KS. In October 2008 the Dagger Brigade deployed to North West Baghdad in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, they returned to Fort Riley September 2009 and then received the Meritorious Unit Commendation for their efforts in the support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Operation New Dawn
In November 2010, the Dagger Brigade deployed to Baghdad, Iraq in support of Operation New Dawn as an advise and assist brigade. The brigade was the only maneuver brigade in Baghdad and partnered with 7 Iraqi Army and Federal Police divisions and 2 corp level commands, which constituted half of the Iraqi government's security forces. They redeployed in November 2011.

AFRICOM
In 2013, the brigade was designated as the main force for Africom.

Operation Atlantic Resolve
The 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division has deployed to EUCOM as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve in September 2017.

Current Organization

 * 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team (2nd ABCT) (Dagger Brigade)
 * 2nd BDE 1st ID.png Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC)
 * 4CavalryRegtDUI.jpg 5th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment
 * 18 Infantry Regiment DUI.png 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment Vanguards
 * 63dArRegmt.png 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment Dragons
 * 70 Arm Rgt DUI.png 2nd Battalion, 70th Armor Regiment Thunder Bolts
 * 7 FA Rgt DUI.jpg 1st Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment (1-7th FAR) First Lightning
 * 82 Eng Bn DUI.jpg 82nd Brigade Engineer Battalion (82nd BEB)
 * 299 Spt Bn DUI.png 299th Brigade Support Battalion (299th BSB) Lifeline

Distinctive unit insignia
On 11 December 1980 the 2nd Brigade was authorized their own distinctive unit insignia (DUI). It is described as "a silver device 1$1⁄4$ inches in height overall consisting of a blue arrowhead on which is superimposed a silver lion."

The blue arrowhead and silver lion come from the brigade's two original regiments, the 26th Infantry Regiment ("Blue Spades") and the 28th Infantry Regiment ("Black Lions"). Since both the 1st and 2nd Brigades of the 1st Infantry Division were formed before the division, they are authorized their own DUI.

Lineage

 * Constituted 24 May 1917 in the Regular Army as Headquarters, 2nd Infantry Brigade, and assigned to the 1st Expeditionary Division (later redesignated as the 1st Division)
 * Organized 8 June 1917 at New York City
 * Reorganized and redesignated 1 April 1921 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Infantry Brigade
 * Redesignated 23 March 1925 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Brigade
 * Redesignated 24 August 1936 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Infantry Brigade
 * Relieved 11 October 1939 from assignment to the 1st Division
 * Inactivated 1 June 1940 at Fort Ontario, New York
 * Redesignated 30 June 1943 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Airborne Infantry Brigade, and activated at Camp Mackall, North Carolina
 * Disbanded 15 January 1945 in Europe
 * Reconstituted 12 February 1958 in the Regular Army as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Infantry Brigade
 * Activated 15 February 1958 at Fort Devens, Massachusetts
 * Inactivated 19 February 1962 at Fort Devens, Massachusetts
 * Redesignated 23 October 1963 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division
 * Activated 2 January 1964 at Fort Riley, Kansas

Campaign participation credit

 * World War I
 * 1) Montdidier-Noyon
 * 2) Aisne-Marne
 * 3) St. Mihiel
 * 4) Meuse-Argonne
 * 5) Lorraine 1917
 * 6) Lorraine 1918
 * 7) Picardy 1918
 * World War II
 * 1) Normandy
 * Vietnam
 * 1) Defense
 * 2) Counteroffensive
 * 3) Counteroffensive, Phase II
 * 4) Counteroffensive, Phase III
 * 5) Tet Counteroffensive
 * 6) Counteroffensive, Phase IV
 * 7) Counteroffensive, Phase V
 * 8) Counteroffensive, Phase VI
 * 9) Tet 69/Counteroffensive
 * 10) Summer-Fall 1969
 * 11) Winter-Spring 1970
 * Southwest Asia
 * 1) Defense of Saudi Arabia
 * 2) Liberation and Defense of Kuwait
 * 3) Cease-Fire

Decorations
December 1990- May 1991
 * Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for VIETNAM 1969
 * Army Superior Unit Award for 1996–1997
 * Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm for VIETNAM 1965–1968
 * Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal, First Class for VIETNAM 1965–1970
 * Valorous Unit Award for Desert Shield / Desert Storm
 * Valorous Unit Award for SAMARRA October 2004 – November 2004
 * Valorous Unit Award for IRAQ February 2004 – February 2005 ( not on HRC Site )
 * Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 06-08
 * Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 08-09
 * Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) OPERATION NEW DAWN 10–11
 * Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) OPERATION INHERENT RESOLVE 15-16


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Oligospermia

Terms oligospermia, oligozoospermia, and low sperm count refer to semen with a low concentration of sperm and is a common finding in male infertility. Often semen with a decreased sperm concentration may also show significant abnormalities in sperm morphology and motility (technically oligoasthenoteratozoospermia). There has been interest in replacing the descriptive terms used in semen analysis with more quantitative information.

Diagnosis
The diagnosis of oligozoospermia is based on one low count in a semen analysis performed on two occasions. For many decades sperm concentrations of less than 20 million sperm/ml were considered low or oligospermic, recently, however, the WHO reassessed sperm criteria and established a lower reference point, less than 15 million sperm/ml, consistent with the 5th percentile for fertile men. Sperm concentrations fluctuate daily and oligozoospermia may be temporary or permanent.

The diagnosis of oligozoospermia requires a work-up via semen analysis (listed in Male infertility).

Causes
There are many causes for oligospermia including:

Pre-testicular causes
Pre-testicular factors refer to conditions that impede adequate support of the testes and include situations of poor hormonal support and poor general health including:

 * Hypogonadism due to various causes
 * Drugs, alcohol, smoking
 * Strenuous riding (bicycle riding, horseback riding)
 * Medications, including androgens.

Testicular factors
Testicular factors refer to conditions where the testes produces semen of poor quality despite adequate hormonal support and include:

Mast cells releasing inflammatory mediators appear to directly suppress sperm motility in a potentially reversible manner, and may be a common pathophysiological mechanism for several of the above-mentioned factors.
 * Age
 * Genetic defects on the Y chromosome
 * Y chromosome microdeletions
 * Abnormal set of chromosomes
 * Klinefelter syndrome
 * Neoplasm, e.g. seminoma
 * Cryptorchidism
 * Varicocele (14% in one study)
 * Trauma
 * Hydrocele
 * Mumps
 * Malaria
 * Defects in USP26 enzyme in some cases

Post-testicular causes
Post-testicular factors decrease male fertility due to conditions that affect the male genital system after testicular sperm production and include defects of the genital tract as well as problems in ejaculation:

 * Vas deferens obstruction
 * Lack of Vas deferens, often related to genetic markers for cystic fibrosis
 * Infection, e.g. prostatitis
 * Ejaculatory duct obstruction

Idiopathic oligospermia (oligoasthenoteratozoospermia)
In about 30% of infertile men no causative factor is found for their decrease in sperm concentration or quality by common clinical, instrumental, or laboratory means, and the condition is termed "idiopathic" (unexplained). A number of factors may be involved in the genesis of this condition, including age, infectious agents ( such as Chlamydia trachomatis), Y chromosome microdeletions, mitochondrial changes, environmental pollutants, and "subtle" hormonal changes.

A review in 2013 came to the result that oligospermia and azoospermia are significantly associated with being overweight (odds ratio 1.1), obese (odds ratio 1.3) and morbidly obese (odds ratio 2.0), but the cause of this is unknown. It found no significant relation between oligospermia and being underweight.

DNA damage
The human breast cancer susceptibility gene 2 (BRCA2) is employed in homologous recombinational repair of DNA damages during meiosis. A common single-nucleotide polymorphism of BRCA2 is associated with severe oligospermia.

Men with mild oligospermia (semen concentration of 15 million to 20 million sperm/ml) were studied for an association of sperm DNA damage with life style factors. A significant association was found between sperm DNA damage and factors such as age, obesity and occupational stress.

Treatment
Treatment takes place within the context of infertility management and needs also to consider the fecundity of the female partner. Thus the choices can be complex.

In a number of situations direct medical or surgical intervention can improve the sperm concentration, examples are use of FSH in men with pituitary hypogonadism, antibiotics in case of infections,  or operative corrections of a hydrocele, varicocele, or vas deferens obstruction.

In most cases of oligospermia including its idiopathic form there is no direct medical or surgical intervention agreed to be effective. Empirically many medical approaches have been tried including clomiphene citrate, tamoxifen, HMG, FSH, HCG, testosterone, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, anti-oxidants, carnitine, acetyl-L-carnitine, zinc, high-protein diets. In a number of pilot studies some positive results have been obtained. Clomiphene citrate has been used with modest success. The combination of tamoxifen plus testosterone was reported to improve the sperm situation.

The use of carnitine showed some promise in a controlled trial in selected cases of male infertility improving sperm quality and further studies are needed.

In many situations, intrauterine inseminations are performed with success. In more severe cases IVF, or IVF - ICSI is done and is often the best option, specifically if time is a factor or fertility problems coexist on the female side. The Low dose Estrogen Testosterone Combination Therapy may improve sperm count and motility in some men including severe oligospermia.

Fertility
Achieving a pregnancy naturally may be a challenge if the male has a low sperm count. However, chances are good if the female partner is fertile; many couples with this problem have been successful. Prognosis is more limited if there is a combination of factors that include sperm dysfunction and reduced ovarian reserve.

title: Oligospermia


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Talk:Sparta Rotterdam

The away kit of Sparta (and of PSV) for 2005/2006 are azure blue shirts,white shorts and white socks.(I dont know if that V shaped thing is in the away shirt)
 * That V shaped thing is still in the jersey, although it is a bit more V-like now. See also http://www.sparta-rotterdam.nl/default.aspx?tabid=73

"2023–24 Sparta Rotterdam season" listed at Redirects for discussion
The redirect [//en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2023%E2%80%9324_Sparta_Rotterdam_season&redirect=no 2023–24 Sparta Rotterdam season] has been listed at redirects for discussion to determine whether its use and function meets the redirect guidelines. Readers of this page are welcome to comment on this redirect at  until a consensus is reached. Steel1943 (talk) 19:10, 21 June 2023 (UTC)

title: Talk:Sparta Rotterdam


text:
Jayant Narlikar

Jayant Vishnu Narlikar  (born 19 July 1938) is an Indian astrophysicist and emeritus professor at the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA). He developed with Sir Fred Hoyle the conformal gravity theory, known as Hoyle–Narlikar theory. It synthesises Albert Einstein's theory of relativity and Mach's principle. It proposes that the inertial mass of a particle is a function of the masses of all other particles, multiplied by a coupling constant, which is a function of cosmic epoch.

Early life
Narlikar was born in Kolhapur, India, on 19 July 1938, into a family of scholars. His father, Vishnu Vasudev Narlikar, was a mathematician and theoretical physicist who served as Professor and Head of Department of Mathematics at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, and mother, Sumati Narlikar, was a scholar of Sanskrit. His wife was mathematician Mangala Narlikar and they have three daughters. His maternal uncle was the distinguished statistician V. S. Huzurbazar.

Career
Narlikar completed his school education from Central Hindu College [now Central Hindu Boys School]. He received his BSc degree from Banaras Hindu University in 1957. He then began his studies at Cambridge University at Fitzwilliam College like his father, where he received a BA (Tripos) degree in mathematics in 1959 and was Senior Wrangler. In 1960, he won the Tyson Medal for astronomy. During his doctoral studies at Cambridge, he won the Smith's Prize in 1962. After receiving his PhD degree in 1963 under the guidance of Fred Hoyle, he served as a Berry Ramsey Fellow at King's College in Cambridge and earned a master's degree in astronomy and astrophysics in 1964. He continued to work as a Fellow at King's College until 1972. In 1966, Fred Hoyle established Institute of Theoretical Astronomy in Cambridge, and Narlikar served as the founding staff member of the institute during 1966–72. In 1972, Narlikar took up Professorship at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) in Mumbai, India. At the TIFR, he was in charge of the Theoretical Astrophysics Group. In 1988, the Indian University Grants Commission set up the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) in Pune, and Narlikar became the Founder-Director of IUCAA. In 1981, Narlikar became a founding member of the World Cultural Council. Narlikar is known for his work in cosmology, especially in championing models alternative to the popular Big Bang model. During 1994–1997, he was the President of the Cosmology Commission of the International Astronomical Union. His research work has involved Mach's principle, quantum cosmology, and action-at-a-distance physics. Narlikar was part of a study which cultured microorganisms from stratospheric air samples obtained at 41 km. He was appointed as the chairperson of The Advisory Group for Textbooks in Science and Mathematics, the textbook development committee responsible for developing textbooks in Science and Mathematics, published by NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training).

Honours
Narlikar has received many national and international awards and honorary doctorates. India's second-highest civilian honour, Padma Vibhushan, was awarded to him in 2004 for his research work. Prior to this, in 1965, he was conferred Padma Bhushan. He was awarded 'Rashtra Bhushan' in 1981 by FIE Foundation, Ichalkaranji. He received Maharashtra Bhushan Award for the year 2010. He is a recipient of Bhatnagar Award, M.P. Birla Award, and the Prix Jules Janssen of the Société astronomique de France (French Astronomical Society). He is an Associate of the Royal Astronomical Society of London, and a Fellow of the three Indian National Science Academies and the Third World Academy of Sciences. Apart from his scientific research, Narlikar has been well known as a communicator of science through his books, articles, and radio & television programs. For these efforts, he was honoured in 1996 by UNESCO with the Kalinga Prize. He was featured on Carl Sagan's TV show Cosmos: A Personal Voyage in the late 1980s. In 1989, he received the Atmaram Award by Central Hindi Directorate. He received the Indira Gandhi Award of the Indian National Science Academy in 1990. He also served on the Physical Sciences jury for the Infosys Prize in 2009. In 2014, he received a Sahitya Akademi Award for his autobiography in Marathi, Chaar Nagarantale Maze Vishwa. He presided over the 94th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan held at Nashik in January 2021.

Books
Besides scientific papers and books and popular science literature, Narlikar has written science fiction, novels, and short stories in English, Hindi, and Marathi. He is also the consultant for the Science and Mathematics textbooks of NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training, India).

Non-fiction
In English: In Marathi:
 * Facts and Speculations in Cosmology, with G. Burbridge, Cambridge University Press 2008, ISBN 978-0-521-13424-8
 * Current Issues in Cosmology, 2006
 * A Different Approach to Cosmology: From a Static Universe through the Big Bang towards Reality, 2005
 * Fred Hoyle's Universe, 2003
 * Scientific Edge: The Indian Scientist from Vedic to Modern Times, 2003
 * An Introduction to Cosmology, 2002
 * A Different Approach to Cosmology, with G. Burbridge and Fred Hoyle, Cambridge University Press 2000, ISBN 0-521-66223-0,
 * Quasars and Active Galactic Nuclei: An Introduction, 1999
 * From Black Clouds to Black Holes, 1996
 * From Black Clouds to Black Holes (Third Edition), 2012,
 * Seven Wonders of the Cosmos, 1995
 * Philosophy of Science: Perspectives from Natural and Social Sciences, 1992
 * The extragalactic universe: an alternative view, with Fred Hoyle and Chandra Wickramasinghe, Nature 346:807–812, 30 August 1990
 * Highlights in Gravitation and Cosmology, 1989
 * The Primeval Universe, 1988
 * Violent Phenomena in the Universe, 1982
 * The Lighter Side of Gravity, 1982
 * Physics-Astronomy Frontier (co-author Sir Fred Hoyle), 1981
 * The Structure of the Universe, 1977
 * Creation of Matter and Anomalous Redshifts, 2002
 * Absorber Theory of Radiation in Expanding Universes, 2002
 * आकाशाशी जडले नाते
 * नभात हसरे तारे

Fiction
In English: In Marathi:
 * The Return of Vaman, 1989
 * The Adventure
 * The Comet
 * वामन परत न आला
 * यक्षांची देणगी
 * अभयारण्य
 * व्हायरस
 * प्रेषित
 * अंतराळातील भस्मासूर
 * टाईम मशीनची किमया
 * उजव्या सोंडेचा गणपती

In Hindi:

 * पार नज़र के

Personal life
Narlikar married mathematics researcher and professor, Mangala Narlikar (née Rajwade). The couple have three daughters: Geeta, a biomedical researcher at the University of California, San Francisco, Girija and Leelavati who are in computer science. He is the uncle of the Cambridge University social sciences academic Amrita Narlikar.

title: Jayant Narlikar


text: User talk:70.25.231.154

title: User talk:70.25.231.154


text:
Anna Dalassene

Anna Dalassene (Ἄννα Δαλασσηνή; ca. 1025/30 – 1 November 1100/02) was an important Byzantine noblewoman who played a significant role in the rise to power of the Komnenoi in the eleventh century. She exercised great influence over her son, the Emperor Alexios I Komnenos, who gave her the title Augusta. She also administered the empire as regent during his many absences from Constantinople on long military campaigns during the early part of his reign. As empress-mother, she exerted more influence and power than the empress-consort, Irene Doukaina, a woman whom she hated because of past intrigues with the Doukai.

Early life and family
Anna was the daughter of Alexios Charon, and a lady of the noble Dalassenos family. Her maternal grandfather was named Adrianos Dalassenos, evidently a son of the magistros and doux of Antioch, Theophylact Dalassenos. Very little is known about her father, who was an obscure imperial official in Italy. Her mother's family, the Dalassenoi, were a distinguished family of the Byzantine military aristocracy, beginning with Theophylact's father Damian Dalassenos in the late 990s.

The date of Anna's birth is unknown, but is placed around the years 1025–1030. Likewise the date of her marriage to John Komnenos is variously placed in c. 1040, or c. 1044/45. The couple had eight children, five sons and three daughters. These were, by order of birth, Manuel Komnenos (c. 1045), Maria Komnene (c. 1047), Isaac Komnenos (c. 1050), Eudokia Komnene (c. 1052), Theodora Komnene (c. 1054), Alexios I Komnenos (1057), Adrianos Komnenos (c. 1060), and Nikephoros Komnenos (c. 1062).

In 1057, John's elder brother Isaac, at the head of a group of generals, rebelled against Michael VI and forced him off the throne. At the time of the revolt, John held the post of doux, but after his brother's victory, he was raised to the rank of kouropalates and appointed as domestikos ton scholon of the West. This event evidently whetted Anna's ambition; her seals from this time show her using the feminine form of her husband's titles, kouropalatissa and domestikissa. Isaac's reign was cut short by his clash with the powerful Patriarch of Constantinople, Michael Keroularios, who had been instrumental in securing Michael VI's abdication, and the powerful civil aristocracy of the capital. Keroularios and his supporters led the opposition against Isaac's stringent economizing policies. Although Keroularios was deposed, Isaac resigned on 22 November 1059 and withdrew to the Stoudios Monastery. The crown then passed to Constantine X Doukas ((r. 1059 – 1067)), although Nikephoros Bryennios the Younger, who married Anna's granddaughter Anna Komnene, asserts that it was first offered to John. Despite the vehement opposition of Anna, who stressed the benefits to their children, John refused the crown. Anna tried hard to persuade John to become emperor and did everything she could, even to "tears and groans" to make John change his mind, but to no avail. According to the historian Konstantinos Varzos, this version of events is suspect, and may well be a post-fact attempt at legitimizing the eventual usurpation of the throne by Anna's son, Alexios Komnenos. At any rate, Anna remained implacably opposed to the Doukas family thereafter.

Rivalry with the Doukai
Widowed on 12 July 1067, she guided her family's fortunes over the next decades with the sole purpose of paving her children's path to the throne. In May of the same year, Constatine X Doukas had died, and Anna allied herself with his widow, the Empress-regent Eudokia Makrembolitissa. To strengthen her family's position, she took care to arrange marriage alliances with the leading aristocratic families. Thus her daughter Maria married Michael Taronites, while Eudokia married Nikephoros Melissenos. Anna also allied herself closely with Eudokia Makrembolitissa's second husband, Romanos IV Diogenes ((r. 1068 – 1071)), supporting him in his struggle against the members of the intrigues of the Doukas family. Her youngest daughter Theodora married Romanos' son Constantine, and her eldest son Manuel was one of the favourite generals of Romanos and was named kouropalates and protostrator. When he died of an ear infection in early 1071, Anna hurried to his deathbed in Bithynia. As soon as he was buried, she tried to put forward her third son Alexios to replace him, but he was judged too young.

The Doukai returned to power after the defeat and capture of Romanos IV by the Seljuk Turks at the Battle of Manzikert on 19 August 1071. The Caesar John Doukas, brother of Constantine X, engineered a coup that sidelined Empress Eudokia Makrembolitissa and raised to the throne Eudokia's oldest son Michael VII Doukas ((r. 1071 – 1078)) instead. When Romanos was released from captivity, the Caesar's sons even led troops against him. After he was captured, the Caesar ordered the former emperor to be blinded. During this time, Anna was accused of maintaining a secret correspondence with the deposed emperor and brought to trial. She defended herself with courage, and Bryennios states that at one point, she produced a crucifix from under her cloak and proclaimed her innocence and that "Here is my judge and yours. Think of him before deciding and take heed that your decision is worthy of the supreme judge, who knows the secrets of men's hearts". The judges were divided, with some wanting to set her free, but others fearing the Caesar's wrath. She was therefore exiled along with her sons to the island of Prinkipos in early 1072. It is possible that she was tonsured as well, if that had not happened earlier, as her seals bear the titles monache ("nun") as well as kouropalatissa. Alternatively this may have happened later, in 1081 (see below).

After the death of Romanos IV on 9 August 1072, the Komnenoi were allowed to return from exile to the imperial court. Although her enmity of the Doukai continued unabated, it appears that Michael VII tried to win her over and consented to the marriage of Anna's eldest surviving son, Isaac, with Irene, the cousin of Michael's empress-consort Maria of Alania. In September 1077, despite her initial firm opposition, she relented to the marriage of her second surviving son, Alexios, to Irene Doukaina, the granddaughter of the Caesar John Doukas. The marriage probably took place early in 1078, when the bride was only twelve years old.

Role in the Komnenian revolt
Anna was to play a prominent role in the Komnenian coup d'état of 1081, along with the current empress, Maria of Alania. First married to Michael VII Doukas and secondly to Nikephoros III Botaneiates ((r. 1078 – 1081)), Maria was preoccupied with the future of her son by Michael VII, Constantine Doukas. Nikephoros III intended to leave the throne to one of his close relatives, and this resulted in Maria's alliance with the Komnenoi. The real driving force behind this political alliance was Anna Dalassene.

Already closely connected to the Komnenoi through her cousin Irene's marriage to Isaac Komnenos, the Komnenoi brothers were able to see the empress under the pretense of a friendly family visit. Furthermore, to aid the conspiracy Maria had adopted Alexios as her son, though she was only five years older than he. Maria was persuaded to do so on the advice of her own "Alans" and her eunuchs, who had been instigated to do his by Isaac Komnenos. Knowing Anna's tight hold on her family, it must have been with her implicit approval that he was adopted. As a result, Alexios and Constantine, Maria's son, were now adoptive brothers and both Isaac and Alexios took an oath that they would safeguard his rights as emperor. By secretly giving inside information to the Komnenoi, Maria was an invaluable ally.

Just as on previous occasions, the betrothal of her granddaughter to a relative of Botaneiates' did not stop Anna's intrigues against the new regime. As stated in the Alexiad, when Isaac and Alexios left Constantinople in mid-February 1081 to raise an army against Botaneiates, Anna quickly and surreptitiously mobilized the remainder of the family and took refuge in the Hagia Sophia. From there she negotiated with the emperor for the safety of family members left in the capital, while protesting her sons' innocence of hostile actions.

Under the falsehood of making a vesperal visit to worship at the church, she deliberately excluded the grandson of Botaneiates and his loyal tutor, met with Alexios and Isaac and fled for the forum of Constantine. The tutor found them missing and eventually found them on the palace grounds but she was able to convince him that they would return to the palace shortly. Then to gain entrance to both the outer and inner sanctuary of the church the women pretended to the gatekeepers that they were pilgrims from Cappadocia who had spent all their funds and wanted to worship before starting their return trip. However, before they were to gain entry into the sanctuary, Straboromanos and royal guards caught up with them to summon them back to the palace. Anna then protested that the family was in fear for their lives, her sons were loyal subjects (Alexios and Isaac were discovered absent without leave), and had learned of a plot by enemies of the Komnenoi to have them both blinded and had, therefore, fled the capital so they may continue to be of loyal service to the emperor.

She refused to go with them and demanded that they allow her to pray to the Mother of God for protection. This request was granted and Anna then manifested her true theatrical and manipulative capabilities: "She was allowed to enter. As if she were weighed down with old age and worn out by grief, she walked slowly and when she approached the actual entrance to the sanctuary made two genuflections; on the third she sank to the floor and taking firm hold of the sacred doors, cried in a loud voice: "Unless my hands are cut off, I will not leave this holy place except on one condition: that I receive the emperor's cross as guarantee of safety".

Nikephoros III Botaneiates was forced into a public vow that he would grant protection to the family. Straboromanos tried to give her his cross, but for Anna this was not sufficiently large enough so that all bystanders could witness the oath. She also demanded that the cross be personally sent by Botaneiates as a vow of his good faith. He obliged, sending a complete assurance for the family with his own cross. At the emperor's further insistence, and for their own protection they took refuge at the convent of Petrion, where eventually they were joined by Irene Doukaina's mother, Maria of Bulgaria.

Botaneiates allowed them to be treated as refugees rather than guests. They were allowed to have family members bring in their own food and were on good terms with the guards from whom they learned the latest news. Anna was highly successful in three important aspects of the revolt: she bought time for her sons to steal imperial horses from the stables and escape the city, she distracted the emperor and gave her sons time to gather and arm their troops and she gave a false sense of security to Botaneiates that there was no real treasonous coup against him.

Rise to power
Isaac and Alexios Komnenos entered the capital victoriously on 1 April 1081. However, even this fortunate turn of events did not deter Anna from preventing the Doukas family from sharing the imperial coronation - she had never approved of the marriage of Alexios and Irene Doukaina, and the situation became acute now that the teenage Irene would become Augusta. Although Alexios' candidature for the throne had been agreed upon by the Doukai and the Komnenoi at the army camp at Schiza, the elder Isaac still had supporters.

The fact that Alexios was crowned on April 4 while Irene was crowned a full week later is highly suspicious. It is likely that Anna and Maria of Alania had planned for Irene's departure and wanted to rule with Alexios as "both" mothers and wife. The latter was already an empress mother twice-over and far more experienced than the naive, teenaged, childless Irene who was yet to have any children. In her own account of this event, Anna Komnene asserts that the Komnenoi refused to drive Maria from the palace because of her many kindnesses and because "she was in a foreign country, without relatives, without friends, with nobody whatever of her own folk'.

However, Irene was finally crowned by the patriarch Cosmas. Anna Dalassene however was allowed to choose the next patriarch, Eustratius Garidas as a compensation.

Life during Alexios' reign
From the Komnenian seizure of power in 1081 until either her banishment or death, she was to play a very public role in administering the military and civil services of the empire. Her son Alexios was for many years under her influence. She was however constantly at odds with her daughter-in-law Irene and had, perhaps egregiously, assumed total responsibility for the upbringing and education of her granddaughter Anna Komnene.

Given the culture and traditions of medieval Greek Byzantium, it is unusual that Anna wielded such power over her son as well as the empire. Though he needed a reliable advisor, and essentially owed his mother for his accession to the throne because of her intrigues to stay in a powerful position for fifteen years after his succession until he was in his mid-forties defies credulity. As middle age approached, Alexios was determined to rule in his own right. After the military campaigns of the 1080s, he was able to stay in the capital and became frustrated over of Anna's tight hold on the administration, however productive this seemed to be. Anna, always one to sense the changing winds of fortune sensed his frustration, and decided to leave before she was forced out and retired to her private apartments attached to her monastic foundation of the Christ Pantepoptes. The germs of his discontent may have started as early as 1089 when in an imperial communication he complained of Anna's generosity to the monastery of Docheiariou.

Sources are conflicted concerning the year of Anna's retirement and death. Anna Komnene is strangely silent about her disappearance from court and this may suggest that her grandmother may have been involved in something questionable, perhaps a heretical sect such as the Bogomils. However, we know that she was wielding her power when the First Crusade passed through the city in late 1096 or early 1097, perhaps retiring after their departure. Since we are not sure of the date and reason of retirement, Zonaras records that she resided 'imperially with honor' at her foundation for several years, dying in extreme old age just over a year before her son, Isaac. Most ironically, she died on the day forecast by an Athenian astrologer for Alexios himself. She died on a 1 November between 1100 and 1102.

Under the Komnenian dynasty, women continued to not only retain their roles set by previous empresses but made great strides in founding monasteries, patronizing churchmen, theologians and literary figures and being more assertive in imperial administration: most prominent in such roles were Anna Dalassene and her contemporary, Maria of Alania.

Legacy
Anna Dalassena is memorialized in Judy Chicago's The Dinner Party.

title: Anna Dalassene


text:
User:Finanzer

Please contact me on my User page in german wikipedia (w:de:Benutzer:Finanzer). There i'm administrator and very active. I will use this account to make interwikilinks and to add sometimes informations to artticles.

title: User:Finanzer


text:
Talk:Wanda Jackson

Untitled
I removed these lyrics as I believe they violate copyright laws.

You can say I'm crazy Stone deaf and dumb But I can cause destruction Just like the atom bomb! 'Cause I'm a Fujiyama Mama And I'm just about to blow my top!

-- 12:14, July 17, 2005 (UTC)
 * OK. So, I guess those are supposed to be the "many references to the atomic bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima". I don't see it. Defenders? Steve Pastor 01:02, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
 * I found a sound clip and an on line article with lines not in the link to lyrics, and also a sample h Steve Pastor 01:13, 10 March 2007 (UTC)

You're well intentioned but they ould not violate copyright, a sample falls under fair use. Above all, when the lyrics are quoted to support or refute a political claim there are all sorts of special protections for political speech. You have to be able to support assertions, after all. Otherwise somebody could say, for instance, "Obama made bigoted remarks in his book" and never have to support the claim. "Can't tell you what he wrote. Copyright law, you know." Profhum (talk) 19:51, 31 May 2008 (UTC)

I just tried to restore the quote, for the reason above, and some self described "gnome" pulled them out. I took them out again because I haven't time to give this self important person a course on copyright. I've been a member of the Council of Editors of Learned Journals and edited books and magazines, but Wikipedia is run by amateurs with LOTS of spare time. And it shows. I don't let my classes quote it anymore.Profhum (talk) 20:03, 31 May 2008 (UTC)

First female rock n roll singer?
that's a very absolutist way of putting it; especially since there were plenty of WAY earlier women in WAY earlier rock like sister rosetta tharpe (who actually played an instrument: one of the first women to play an electric guitar) who aren't getting mentioned here

Something different:

When exactly was 'Let's have a party' released? In the article, I found 1958, 1959 and 1960. Unfortunately, I have no sources myself to look it up.

According to the liner notes of the "Right Or Wrong" boxed set, the song was recorded in 1958, and released as a single in 1960.

Somebody should correct the discography, as the "albums" section is riddled with inaccuracies.

WikiProject class rating
This article was automatically assessed because at least one WikiProject had rated the article as start, and the rating on other projects was brought up to start class. BetacommandBot 03:36, 10 November 2007 (UTC)

Early Influence?
Wanda Jackson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as an "Early Influence." She certainly deserves to be in the Hall--- but (even though she was way ahead of her time) she's not all that early. She is only two or three years older than The Beatles, for example. Timothy Horrigan (talk) 01:12, 14 July 2009 (UTC)

Case for making B-class
1. The article is suitably referenced. YES 2. The article reasonably covers the topic, and does not contain obvious omissions or inaccuracies. I don't think it has all the categories suggested by the Musician project. For the purposes of WPOK, I think it qualifies. 3. The article has a defined structure. YES 4. The article is reasonably well-written. YES 5. The article contains supporting materials where appropriate. YES 6. The article presents its content in an understandable way. YES

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 * Wanda Jackson.jpg

Hard Headed Woman
A little rant here, from this particular hard headed woman. Wanda Jackson and Elvis were basically kids together and talents together, asking her father's permission to date and all that. She did the country rockabilly hits at least as well as he did. But Wikipedia's article on Hard Headed Woman is a real open and shut case of holding back the one for the wrong chromosomes. Not that getting the Elvis treatment was good for him of course. But even today here is Wikipedia saying that the song was basically an Elvis hit ( he didn't write it of course) and everybody else connected to the song like Wanda are incidental characters. When I was growing up, it's only the Wanda Jackson version of Hard Headed Woman that I heard about a million times playing on the radio, not the Elvis version. It's kind of funny IMO that the Hard Headed Woman Wikipedia article in almost 2023 is a perfect example of what Wanda faced in the late 1950's. I mean the pop culture significance of the Elvis version in terms of commercial success. In my ears, Wanda Jackson basically was the sister musically in every way of Jerry Lee, Little Richard and Elvis, and she had to be all that with minimal encouragement or positive guidance - although I'm sure you could make the same case for Little Richard -. But I think in terms of not being taken seriously....Wanda would have been taken by the industry as a bit of a freak show and not just as a person with a love for a certain art. The proof is in the listening.Harborsparrow (talk) 16:06, 29 November 2022 (UTC)

 * I recently updated the Hard Headed Woman article. So far so good, it hasn't been vandalized.  Elvis got a #1 hit out of it, but it's Wanda's version from about the same time that everybody remembers and that gets on diner playlists.Harborsparrow (talk) 15:29, 21 December 2022 (UTC)

title: Talk:Wanda Jackson


text:
Anna of Constantinople

Anna of Constantinople may refer to:

 * Anna of Constantinople (888–912), daughter of Leo VI the Wise, and wife of Louis the Blind
 * Anna Porphyrogenita (963–1011), sister of Basil II, and wife of Vladimir the Great

title: Anna of Constantinople


text:
User:Pecunia

I'm not quite sure what to write here, but here goes:

I'm a 22-year-old girl/woman (when does one stop being a girl?) from the Netherlands. I study computer science at the VU in Amsterdam. In my spare time, I like to play city-building games, though I hardly have any time for them nowadays, since my volunteer work at HeavenGames is eating up quite some time.

title: User:Pecunia