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Union for Traditional Judaism

The Union for Traditional Judaism, founded in 1984, is a traditional, Halakhic Jewish outreach and communal service organization. It initially called itself "The Union for Traditional Conservative Judaism" but dropped "Conservative" from its title when it broke with the Conservative movement. In 1985 Rabbi Ronald D. Price was tapped to lead the organization as executive director and later as Executive Vice President. He served in that capacity for 26 years until his retirement in 2011. He was succeeded by Rabbi David Bauman and then Rabbi Gerald Sussman who is currently (2018) the executive director. In 1988 after attempting to affect change within Conservative Judaism, the UTJ membership voted to drop the word 'Conservative' from its title. Following a two-year period of negotiations, the Rabbinic Fellowship of the UTJ absorbed a modern Orthodox rabbinic organization, the Fellowship of Traditional Orthodox Rabbis. The merged rabbinic body is known today as MORASHAH (acronym for מועצת רבנים שומרי ההלכה). Some of the UTJ leaders at various times called themselves Conservative, Modern Orthodox or trans-denominational. The UTJ's Institute of Traditional Judaism (ITJ) (המתיבתא ללימודי היהדות) granted semikhah to a number of rabbis, though there are no current semikhah students. The UTJ's Panel of Halakhic Inquiry has published three volumes of responsa titled "Tomeikh kaHalakhah." The UTJ produced the educational curriculum "Taking the MTV Challenge—Media and Torah Values" designed to provide high-school students with tools to respond to the electronic media. The UTJ is often viewed as representing a denomination or inhabiting an ideological space between Conservative and Orthodox Judaism.

Origins
The Union for Traditional Judaism, originally known as the Union for Traditional Conservative Judaism, was founded in the Fall of 1984 by a group of laypeople and rabbis who were disaffected with the perceived shift within Conservative leadership, particularly at the Jewish Theological Seminary, away from commitment to Halakhic Process. Its antecedent was a group of traditionalist Conservative rabbis, led by former Jewish Theological Seminary of America Talmud professor David Weiss Halivni, who broke with the movement because of ideological differences, including the approach to changes in Halakha and the manner in which the issue of admitting women to the rabbinate was addressed.

Rabbi Halivni and other traditionalists claimed that in this and other areas of Jewish Law, the Conservative movement had made decisions to change from traditional practices in a legislative rather than a judicial fashion, by poll or majority vote. Traditionalists believed that halakhic decision-making should be made by Talmud and Halakha scholars following a process of legal reasoning.

One of the most prestigious Talmudic scholars of the 20th and 21st century, Rabbi Halivni had written a responsum that could permit a more limited role of women as rabbis, although by a more gradual process than the one approved by the Conservative movement. Halivni withdrew this responsum prior to leaving the Conservative movement and founding the UTJ. The UTJ issued a responsum opposing the ordination of women as part of its first volume of responsa.

The Union originally intended to form the elements of a separate denomination, including an association of rabbis, a rabbinical school, and an association of synagogues. The organization subsequently described itself as being trans-denominational in character.

Beliefs and practices
The Union for Traditional Judaism attempts to combine modern approaches to studying Judaism's sacred texts, including the use of critical methods and the study of approaches such as the Documentary hypothesis, with what it regards as classical approaches to interpreting and making decisions regarding Jewish law. As such, it stands in between Modern Orthodox Judaism, which retains a belief that the current written Torah and Oral Torah were transmitted in an unbroken tradition from what was received by Moses on Mount Sinai through Divine revelation, and Conservative Judaism, which in the UTJ's view has sometimes permitted personal views to override classical halakhic scholarship. The Union endorsed women's prayer groups. The Metivta, its rabbinical school, does not ordain women as rabbis.

David Weiss Halivni, one of the Union founders and the head of its rabbinical school, has written extensively on an approach to harmonizing the perspectives of contemporary biblical criticism (as well as critical study of the Talmud) with traditional religious belief. In his books Peshat and Derash and Revelation Restored, he developed the concept he called Chate'u Israel ("Israel sinned"), in which he argued that the biblical texts were originally given to Moses on Mount Sinai, but they subsequently became irretrievably corrupted and the texts we currently have were redacted by editors in an effort to restore them.

Relationship to Conservative Judaism
Major differences between UTJ and USCJ exist due to UTJ rabbis generally choosing halakhic options with regards to issues related to women, or in the use of siddurim. For instance, UTJ synagogues follow the practice of having separate seating for men and women, and women not acting as a shaliach tzibbur, both positions considered halakhically valid by Conservative rabbis.

In Jewish Choices (Bernard Melvin Lazerwitz et al.) The Union for Traditional Judaism is viewed as a denomination within Conservative Judaism, p. 8.

When describing the creation of the UTJ Stefan Reif refers to the founding members of the UTJ as "traditionalists" within the Conservative movement.

Many other sources, however, describe the Union for Traditional Judaism as a new religious movement positioned between Orthodoxy and the Conservative movement.

The Institute of Traditional Judaism/The Metivta
The Institute of Traditional Judaism, also known as The Metivta, was the rabbinical school sponsored by the UTJ. From 1991 through 2010, The Metivta provided a semikhah (Rabbinic Ordination) Program, a Bet Midrash Program for men and women, and Continuing Education for Rabbis. It also offered, in cooperation with nearby Fairleigh Dickinson University, a Masters in Public Administration degree with a concentration in Jewish communal service. Since 2010 and the UTJ’s move to New York from New Jersey, the Metivta offered only on-line learning. Graduates of the rabbinical program have been hired by both Conservative and Orthodox synagogues.

Financial difficulties
The Union for Traditional Judaism filed for bankruptcy during the Great Recession. It emerged from bankruptcy in January 2011, but sold its headquarters building in Teaneck, NJ in order to pay its debts at one hundred cents on the dollar. The building was purchased by Congregation Netivot Shalom, which had been UTJ's Teaneck congregation.

Important figures

 * David Weiss Halivni - Rabbi, talmud scholar, and Reish Metivta of the UTJ's rabbinical school.
 * David Novak - Rabbi and theologian. He currently teaches at the University of Toronto and the Institute of Traditional Judaism.
 * Isaac S.D. Sassoon - Sephardic Rabbi and scholar. He currently teaches at the Institute of Traditional Judaism.
 * Bruce Ginsburg - Rabbi, spiritual leader of Congregation Sons of Israel, Woodmere, NY, past president of UTJ
 * Ronald D. Price - Rabbi, founding UTJ Executive Vice President, Emeritus and founding ITJ Dean, Emeritus

Synagogues

 * Traditional Congregation of Creve Coeur, MO
 * Temple Israel of Long Beach, NY
 * Northbrook Congregation Ezra Habonim, Northbrook, Illinois
 * The Traditional Congregation of Mount Dora, FL
 * Chavurah Zohar Yisrael Rockwall, Tx

title: Union for Traditional Judaism


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Pedro Valle Carlo

Dr. Pedro Valle Carlo (born 1944 in San Juan, Puerto Rico), is a retired college professor and noted environmentalist leader based in western Puerto Rico.

Pedro Valle Carlo was born in Santurce. His mother was Blanca Carlo and his father Pedro Valle Bonilla. He was raised in Cabo Rojo, attending the local public grammar school and high school.

Valle Carlo enrolled at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez as a civil engineering major in 1962. He soon changed majors to management. He earned his degree in 1966. After graduation, he married Dafne Javier Montalvo, whom he had met at a local social event. Valle Carlo then moved on to pursue a graduate degree at the University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras while Javier Montalvo worked on her own graduate degree in psychology at the same institution.

After graduation, the couple first moved to Spain and then to New York City to pursue doctoral studies. Valle Carlo earned a PhD in labor management from New York University in 1984.

From 1976 to 1995, Valle Carlo was a professor at the Business Administration department of the University of Puerto Rico at Cayey. In 1995, he was named director of the graduate program at his alma mater in Mayagüez. He retired from active academics in 2005.

Environmental work
Valle Carlo began his involvement with the environmentalist movement in the early 1990s by joining the Sociedad de Historia Natural, a local environmentalist group. With the group, Valle Carlo was involved in several initiatives, including protesting the use of El Yunque forest by the US Armed Forces.

In 1996, Valle Carlo was the driving force behind the formation of the West Chapter of the Asociacion de Acampadores de Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico Campers Association.)

In 2000, Valle Carlo became involved with Caborrojeños Pro Salud y Ambiente, a local environmentalist group. He was part of the movement to save the Los Morrillos Lighthouse and the surrounding salt mines. He was instrumental in the acquisition and creation of the Centro Interpretativo, a visitor's center that offers tourists free guided tours to the surrounding forest and natural preserve.

Valle Carlo also spearheaded the initiative to save Isla de Ratones (Mice Island), a small key off the coast of Cabo Rojo that is rapidly losing its surface area through erosion. He led the effort to replant mangroves and repopulate the coral reef in order to stop the island's erosion.

In 2005 he was named president of Caborrojeños Pro Salud y Ambiente.

Community work
In 2000, following a conversation with famed Puerto Rican painter Alfonso Arana at the local plaza, Valle Carlo and his wife decided to do something to help the local artistic community. The couple, and a group of local volunteers, incorporated Arte en la Plaza Betances, a unique community group dedicated to bringing art to the urban center of Cabo Rojo, specifically the Ramón Emeterio Betances plaza at the town's center.

The group sponsors a yearly art open air exhibit and competition of young local painters as well as other activities, such as a concert by the Arturo Somohano Philharmonic Orchestra at the Betances plaza. The example of Arte en la Plaza Betances has been well received and other Arte en la Plaza organizations have begun to prop up around the island of Puerto Rico.

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

title: Pedro Valle Carlo


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Talk:William Vickrey

died from excitement
From what my professor, Tyler Cowen tells me, Vickery died of a heart attack because he was so excited to get the prize. Is there any confirmation on this?--Atlastawake 19:03, 12 October 2005 (UTC)

 * Vickrey seemed quite calm after receiving the prize -- a fact many attributed to his Quaker upbringing. He suffered his fatal heart attack while driving from New York to Boston for a speaking engagement to which he had committed months earlier.  The article's statement that he died while stuck in traffic is news to me, though it could well be true given the amount of traffic between the two cities.  I do know that he pulled over to the side of the road where he was found slumped over his steering wheel.

WikiProject class rating
This article was automatically assessed because at least one WikiProject had rated the article as stub, and the rating on other projects was brought up to Stub class. BetacommandBot 16:58, 28 August 2007 (UTC)

of minor significance ... [to] human welfare
On the paper that earned him the Nobel Mem Prize:  Columbia economist WilliamVickrey confessed that the paper's practical contribution was next to nil. "At best, it's of minor significance in terms of human welfare," he told The New York Times.  http://www.newyorker.com/archive/1996/12/02/1996_12_02_050_TNY_CARDS_000376847 Mang (talk) 06:50, 20 December 2012 (UTC)

3 other posthumous Nobels?
The intro now says that "There are only three other cases where a Nobel Prize has been presented posthumously." Please name these three. One was Ralph Steinman whose 2011 Prize in Medicine was announced by a committee unaware of his death 3 days earlier. Who were the other two? Dirac66 (talk) 01:20, 8 July 2018 (UTC)

 * I have now found the list on the Nobel Prize website (page Nobel Prize Facts) and added it today. One technicality: Vickrey's name is not actually on the Nobel Prize Facts list. I presume that is because the Nobel Prize organization sometimes considers that the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences is not quite a Nobel prize because it was not on Alfred Nobel's original list. Dirac66 (talk) 19:24, 18 September 2023 (UTC)

title: Talk:William Vickrey


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Apple Remote

The Apple Remote is a remote control introduced in October 2005 by Apple Inc. for use with a number of its products with infrared capability. It was originally designed to control the Front Row media center program on the iMac G5 and is compatible with many subsequent Macintosh computers. The first three generations of Apple TV used the Apple Remote as their primary control mechanism. It has now been replaced with the Siri Remote in the fourth generation. Prior to the Apple Remote, Apple produced several nameless IR remotes for products such as the Macintosh TV, TV tuner expansion boards, and the PowerCD drive.

Plastic (2005)
The original Apple Remote was designed with six buttons and made of white plastic. Its shape and layout resembled the first-generation iPod Shuffle. A circular Play/Pause/Select button sat in the center of a larger four-button circle (clockwise): Volume Up, Next/Fast-forward, Volume Down, and Previous/Rewind. A separate Menu button was positioned below. Size - 83*32*8 mm. The price was set at US$29.00.

Aluminum (2009)
In October 2009, the remote was redesigned as a thinner and longer aluminum version. The new remote was released along with the 27- inch aluminum iMacs and multi-touch Magic Mouse. The Play/Pause button was moved out of the center of the directional buttons and put beside the Menu button (under the directional buttons). The symbols for the Volume Up/Down and Next/Fast-forward buttons were replaced with small dots, to make it clear that the buttons were also used to move up, down, left, and right within menus. Along with the new design, the price was dropped to US$19.99. In earlier aluminum remotes, the navigation ring was flush with the curvature of the remote's aluminum body. In the later revision, the ring is slightly raised to make it easier to locate the ring by touch.

Replacement of the CR2032 battery in the original remote is done with a small pointed object such as a paper clip at the bottom right edge of the device, where the battery slides out on a tray. The newer version has the battery located behind a compartment in the middle of the device which is accessed by turning a coin in the compartment door's indent.

Functions
The Apple Remote's original function was to enable navigation in Front Row, which allows users to browse and play music, view videos (DVDs and downloaded files) and browse photos. Although Front Row was removed from OS X 10.7 and later, some Apple software still works with the remote. It can still be used to control presentations in Apple Keynote, slide shows in iPhoto and Aperture, DVD films via DVD Player, and to play video, and audio in iTunes and QuickTime. Other software that is still compatible includes Elgato's EyeTV 3.5, and VLC media player. The remote can also be used to run presentations in Microsoft PowerPoint 2008 or in OpenOffice.org Impress.

Other functions controlled by the remote can include putting a device into sleep mode, selecting a partition to boot from on startup, and ejecting optical discs. A device can be configured to respond only to a particular remote.

iPods
An iPod placed in a dock featuring an IR sensor can be used with the remote for music and media control. The iPod's menus cannot be operated with the remote. The Apple Remote can also be used to control the iPod Hi-Fi or third-party devices tailored to it.

Boot Camp
Starting with Boot Camp 1.2, the remote has some functionality when a user is running Windows. If iTunes is installed on the Windows partition, pressing the Menu button on the remote will start the program. The remote's media controls also support Windows Media Player, as well as system volume control. Other third-party programs may also utilize the remote's capabilities; media applications such as foobar2000 and Media Player Classic allow users to control their functions via the remote. Applications must be in focus for the remote to control them. Boot Camp 5, released on March 14, 2013, also includes drivers for the remote control.

iOS app
Apple offers a free 'Remote' app for iOS devices (available in the Apple App Store) which allows for wireless control of iTunes on Mac/Windows computers or the Apple TV.

Siri Remote
The Siri Remote was launched with the 4th generation Apple TV in 2015. It uses both IR and Bluetooth to communicate with the Apple TV. The remote has a trackpad, dual microphones, five buttons for menu, home, Siri and play/pause, and a volume up/down rocker button. Additionally it has an accelerometer (IMU) and a gyroscope which allows the remote to be used as a gaming controller for tvOS apps and games. The remote (unlike previous generations) uses a built-in rechargeable Lithium Polymer Battery that is charged through a lightning port at the bottom of the remote. In regions where Siri is not supported, the Siri Remote is known as the Apple TV Remote.

On September 12, 2017, together with the Apple TV 4K, Apple announced an updated Siri Remote, with a raised white border around the menu button and additional motion input for apps.

Compatibility

Earlier models of the iMac with polycarbonate enclosures featured a magnetic rest for the remote, which was later removed.

Use with new MacBook Airs, Retina MacBook Pros and older Macs
Using the Apple Remote with newer MacBook Air, Retina MacBook, or other Mac models without a built-in IR receiver requires a USB-based infrared receiver and additional software from a third party.

Using Remote Buddy (from IOSPIRIT GmbH) or mira (from Twisted Melon), it is possible to connect an external USB receiver such as the Windows Media Center Edition eHome receiver, and use the Apple Remote on these machines with full support for sleep, pairing, low-battery detection and controlling a variety of Apple and third-party software. In addition, Remote Buddy is able to emulate events of an Apple Remote on these systems, enabling users to use software written for the Apple Remote in exactly the same way as with Macs that have a built-in infrared receiver.

For the Apple computers without built-in infrared receiver, there is a miniature USB receiver (USBA or USBC versions), the SmartGUS, which allows to give back to iMac, MacBook and Mac Pro, the infrared functionality. In this case, all compatible software (iTunes, Keynote, PowerPoint, OpenOffice Impress, QuickTime Player, iPhoto, VLC, Kodi, Remote Buddy, Mira ...) can use the features of the Apple Remote, the same as with the legacy built-in infrared receiver.

It currently unknown that the Apple Remote can use with USB receiver on Apple Silicon-based Macs or not, which includes the newly introduced Mac Studio.

Infrared interference
Because many electrical appliances use infrared remote (IR) controls, concurrent use of the Apple Remote with other IR remotes may scramble communications and generate interference, preventing stable use. Remotes should be used individually to circumvent the problem.

Technical details
The Apple Remote uses a modified NEC IR protocol which consists of a differential PPM encoding on a 1:3 duty cycle 38 kHz 950 nm infrared carrier. There are 32 bits of encoded data between the AGC leader and the stop bit:

While the Apple Remote uses the NEC IR protocol for the timing, the 32-bit data package is in a different format. It consists of two 16 bit LSB words.

This is the internal page table (command page 0x00):

This is the command page table (command page 0x0e):

To maintain backward compatibility with older devices such as the iPod Hi-Fi, the aluminum Apple Remote does not replace the existing IR code for Play/Pause/Select. Instead, to allow newer devices to distinguish between the separate Select and Play/Pause buttons, it sends two IR codes for each press of those: a prefix code (0x2e and 0x2f, respectively), followed by the original Play/Pause code (0x02). Older devices ignore the prefix code and thus interpret either button as Play/Pause, while newer devices interpret both codes and use them to determine which button is being pressed.

title: Apple Remote


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Pisa SC

Pisa Sporting Club, commonly referred to as Pisa, is an Italian football club based in Pisa, Tuscany. The team currently plays in Serie B.

The club was founded in 1909 as Pisa Sporting Club and refounded in 1994 as Pisa Calcio (and registered in Eccellenza, the regional football division in Italy), after the cancellation of the former because of economical troubles. It was excluded again from Italian football in 2009, after the property failed to collect enough money to pay off the club's debts. In summer 2009 it was refounded with the denomination A.C. Pisa 1909.

Pisa won two Mitropa Cups, in 1986 and 1988. They play their home matches at Arena Garibaldi – Stadio Romeo Anconetani, named after Romeo Anconetani, the chairman who brought and led the club in Serie A during the 1980s. In 2016, Giuseppe Corrado bought the club and planned the new Pisa stadium. In January 2021, billionaire Alexander Knaster acquired a 75% stake in the club.

Pisa S.C.
After promotion to Serie B in 1965, Pisa took three years to reach Serie A for the first time. Despite a brave effort, Pisa was relegated on the final day of the 1968–69 season.

Spending much of the 1970s in Serie C, Pisa returned to Serie B in 1979 (by which time the club had come under the presidency of the much-loved Romeo Anconetani) and were promoted to Serie A in 1982, embarking on a period of six out of nine seasons in Serie A. With Danish international Klaus Berggreen among their stars, Pisa managed a credible 11th place in the 1982–83 Serie A with 27 points and 27 goals scored and conceded in 30 games. The following season brought relegation (during which they recorded just 3 wins and 16 draws) with 15,000 fans travelling to Milan for the fateful penultimate game.

Promotion followed in 1985, and the team seemed capable of staying up until losing their last three games. The cycle was repeated in 1987, only for a side containing players like Dunga and Paul Elliott to stay up. The last promotion to Serie A was achieved in 1990, and with the talents of players like Maurizio Neri, Michele Padovano and Lamberto Piovanelli up front and Diego Simeone, Henrik Larsen and Aldo Dolcetti in midfield, the side started well and was briefly atop the standings, only to suffer another relegation.

Relegation brought considerable financial strains to the club, and by 1994 they had lost a relegation play-off and were condemned to Serie C1.

Pisa Calcio
Bankruptcy saw Pisa reformed in Eccellenza, only to return to Serie C2 in 1996 and C1 in 1999. Pisa have since worked towards attaining Serie B status, which was achieved in 2007. Their crowds have been among the better in Italy's lower divisions owing to the dedication of their fans.

In May 2002 Maurizio Mian's "Gunther Reform Trust" became the owner of Pisa, installing wealthy celebrity German Shepherd dog Gunther IV as honorary president. In the 2002–03 Serie C1 season, Pisa reached the play-off final but were defeated in extra-time by UC AlbinoLeffe. President Gunther would attend matches at Arena Garibaldi and bark in support of the team. On one occasion Rival Livorno ultras unfurled a banner bearing the legend: "Poisoned meatballs for Gunther". After two further seasons ended in mid-table finishes, Mian sold Pisa in 2005.

In 2005–06, the team, initially thought to be a protagonist for the promotion, were in continuous struggles, and avoided relegation after playoffs in two dramatic regional derbies against Massese. The 2006–07 season, with new boss Piero Braglia, brought Pisa back to fight for a promotion spot: the nerazzurri ended the regular season in third place, and eventually won the promotion playoffs by defeating Venezia in the semi-finals and Monza in the finals.

For the 2007–08 Serie B campaign, the first in 13 years, Gian Piero Ventura was named to replace Braglia at the helm of the nerazzurri. Despite initial predictions of a mid-low table place, Pisa's impressive performances brought the team to fight for a direct promotion spot, also thanks to a forward line composed by Alessio Cerci, José Ignacio Castillo and Vitali Kutuzov which proved to be among the finest in the league. The club ended the regular season in sixth place, therefore achieving a spot to the promotion playoffs, where Pisa was later defeated by Lecce.

In 2008–09, the club was acquired by Rome entrepreneur Luca Pomponi, who initially failed into appointing Alessandro Costacurta as new head coach, thus confirming Ventura as nerazzurri boss. The club, which was weakened by the departures of Cerci, Castillo, Kutuzov and several other players, did not manage to repeat its performances, with Ventura being ultimately sacked in March 2009, with the club in mid-table place. The appointment of Bruno Giordano, which was made to improve the team results, however proved to be disappointing in terms of results, as Pisa slowly lost positions in the table, and shockingly got directly relegated in the final game of the season due to an injury-time home defeat to Brescia which left the Tuscans in 18th place. The unexpected relegation also unveiled a number of massive financial issues which prevented the club from registering in the Lega Pro Prima Divisione, and in July 2009 the club was excluded by the Italian Football Federation for the second time in its history.

A.C. Pisa 1909
Pisa has been refounded with the denomination of A.C. Pisa 1909 S.S.D. (in which S.S.D. is a legal suffix required by FIGC) to start again from Serie D under new ownership. At the end of the season Pisa won Group D (Girone D) of Serie D and was promoted to Lega Pro Seconda Divisione for the 2010–11 season.

The team was then admitted to Lega Pro Prima Divisione for the 2010–11 season to fill vacancies created by a row of club exclusions in second and third tier of Italian football league system. Thus the S.S.D. legal suffix was drop and replaced by S.r.l.

On 12 June 2016 Pisa gained promotion to Serie B after seven years by defeating Maceratese (3–1), Pordenone (3–0 on aggregate) and Foggia in the two-legged play-off final (5–3 on aggregate), however, the club was relegated to Serie C the following season after finishing second-last.

Pisa Sporting Club
Having moved back to Serie B in 2019, the club changed back its name to Pisa Sporting Club in the summer of 2021.

Honours

 * Mitropa Cup
 * Winners: 1985–86, 1987–88
 * Serie B
 * Winners: 1984–85, 1986–87
 * Serie C
 * Winners: 1933–34, 1964–65
 * Serie C2
 * Winners: 1998–99
 * Coppa Italia Serie C
 * Winners: 1999–2000

title: Pisa SC


text: User talk:65.182.172.111

title: User talk:65.182.172.111


text: User talk:202.163.103.57

title: User talk:202.163.103.57


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Assmannshausen

Assmannshausen is, since its incorporation in 1977, a quarter of Rüdesheim am Rhein in the Rheingau, located on the Rhine in the state of Hesse, Germany. The village has a lithium spring, spa and a Kurhaus, and is famed for its red wine (Assmannshäuser) made from Pinot noir (German: Spätburgunder), which resembles red Burgundy wine. The Hessische Staatsweingüter Kloster Eberbach are running their VDP red wine estate (Einzellage: Höllenberg, 23.1 ha under vine) in the village.

From Assmannshausen a chairlift ascends the Jagdschloss Niederwald where a 30 minutes hike leads to the Niederwalddenkmal.

The heritage-listed former winery Assmanshausen Winery in Queensland, Australia, was named after this region.

title: Assmannshausen


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Creeper (band)

Creeper are an English rock band from Southampton. Formed in 2014, the group originally featured vocalist Will Gould, guitarists Ian Miles and Sina Nemati, bassist Sean Scott, and drummer Dan Bratton. The band independently released their self-titled debut EP in 2014, before signing with Roadrunner Records and issuing follow-up The Callous Heart the next year. At the end of 2015, Nemati was replaced by Oliver Burdett and touring keyboardist/second vocalist Hannah Greenwood became an official band member. A third EP, The Stranger, was released in 2016 and reached the UK Rock & Metal Albums Chart top ten.

The group's full-length debut Eternity, in Your Arms reached number 18 on the UK Albums Chart in 2017. After touring extensively, Creeper took a year-long break and returned in 2020 with Sex, Death & the Infinite Void, which reached number 5 in the UK. Bratton and Burdett left shortly thereafter and the group released American Noir in 2021, after which Jake Fogarty took over from Bratton. Following tours for the pair of releases, Creeper signed with Spinefarm Records for 2023's Sanguivore. Guitarist Lawrie Pattison, who had been touring with the band since Burdett's departure, became an official band member in 2024.

Formed through their mutual involvement in hardcore punk and post-hardcore groups in the Southampton area, Creeper are musically and stylistically influenced by fellow "goth punk" groups including AFI and Alkaline Trio, as well as more traditional punk rock acts like the Bouncing Souls and glam rock artists such as David Bowie. The band's songwriting is typically led by Gould and Miles, although Nemati also co-wrote many of their early songs. Creeper were hailed by critics as one of the best new rock bands shortly after their formation, winning awards from magazines Metal Hammer, Kerrang! and Rock Sound in 2016.

2014–2016: Formation and early years
Creeper were formed in Southampton in 2014 by lead vocalist Will Gould and guitarist and backing vocalist Ian Miles - who had previously worked together as members of punk rock band Our Time Down Here - along with second guitarist Sina Nemati, bassist and backing vocalist Sean Scott, and drummer Dan Bratton. When Miles and Gould originally conceived the idea for the band, they intended for it to be a New Romantic-influenced take on dark wave, before it eventually developed into a much more punk-influenced sound. It was Gould's idea to name the band Creeper, pleased by how it sounded like the name of a Stephen King novel and there wasn't any genre implied by it, two other names thrown around early on were Coven and Witch Cat. The quintet independently released their self-titled debut EP on 19 June 2014, which was later issued as a limited edition 12" vinyl by Palm Reader Records on 18 December. The band played their first headline show at the Joiners Arms on 1 August, followed by their first performance in London at The Old Blue Last on 13 September and a stint supporting Welsh group Funeral for a Friend. In June 2015 the group signed with Roadrunner Records and played at Download Festival for the first time. The band's second EP, The Callous Heart, was released on 18 September 2015 and launched at a special show three days before. Later in the year, the group toured with Misfits and later Moose Blood, as well as performing at the UK Warped Tour.

In December 2015, it was announced that Nemati had left Creeper in order to "concentrate on his sound engineering career in London", while touring keyboardist Hannah Greenwood was upgraded to a full-time member. The group's third EP, The Stranger, was released on 19 February 2016 and entered the UK Albums Chart at number 130. The EP was promoted on a headline tour with Scottish support band Grader, as well as dates supporting Neck Deep and WSTR. In May 2016, Creeper supported Black Veil Brides vocalist Andy Biersack on his Homecoming Tour, as well as performing second on the bill for Funeral for a Friend at their final show on 21 May at the O2 Forum. In June, the group contributed a cover of Iron Maiden's "The Evil That Men Do" to Kerrang! magazine's Maiden Heaven Volume 2: An All-Star Tribute To Iron Maiden album, and in August they contributed a recording of My Chemical Romance's "This Is How I Disappear" to the Rock Sound free release Rock Sound Presents... The Black Parade, a tribute album to The Black Parade.

2016–2018: Eternity, in Your Arms cycle
After Creeper performed at the Reading and Leeds Festivals in August 2016, the band's Twitter account began posting images of white noise, before their personal accounts were hidden or removed. A Southampton phone number used to promote The Stranger then featured a new voicemail message, which provided a link to a website detailing "the disappearance of James Scythe", featuring references to the band's EPs. In October, the band resurfaced with the announcement of their debut full-length album Eternity, in Your Arms, along with the release of its first track and video "Suzanne". Gould offered the following explanation of the album's inspiration: "Eternity, in Your Arms is a record, this time not only about being young and heartbroken, but about transition, about age and loss. Not only the loss of life, but the loss of ourselves. The pieces of the people we were." The band later supported Pierce the Veil alongside Letlive on a tour of the UK and Europe, which started on 29 October and ran until 6 December.

"Hiding with Boys" was released as the second track from Eternity, in Your Arms on 11 December 2016 when it was premiered on the BBC Radio 1 Rock Show, with a music video released for the track the following day. In promotion of the album, Creeper embarked on a headline tour on 25 March 2017 which included dates throughout Europe running into mid-April, alongside support acts Milk Teeth, Puppy and Energy. At the end of 2016, Creeper topped the Rock Sound readers' poll for Best British Newcomer, as well as being featured at seventh place in the poll for Best British Band and at fourth place in the Worst British Band poll. The magazine ranked The Stranger as its 36th best release of the year. The third song and video from Eternity, in Your Arms, entitled "Black Rain", were released on 14 February 2017.

Upon its release, Eternity, in Your Arms debuted in the top 20 of the UK Albums Chart, at number 18. It also debuted at number 1 on the UK Rock & Metal Albums Chart, and at number 17 on the Scottish Albums Chart. In April 2017, Creeper were nominated in the category of Breakthrough Band in the Alternative Press Music Awards. They were also nominated in the category of Best UK Band at the inaugural Heavy Music Awards, and headlined the awards ceremony on 24 August at the House of Vans in London. The band continued touring throughout 2017, including their first appearance on the main stage of Download Festival and all dates of the 2017 Warped Tour in the US and Canada between June and August. In June they announced another headline UK tour for the end of the year, The Theatre of Fear, which was described in its announcement as "a one-of-a-kind production being brought to six theatres across the country". The band have also worked on a book titled The Last Days of James Scythe, based on the ongoing story of the eponymous character, which is to be released on 30 November 2017 by independent publishers 404 Ink.

Creeper released Christmas on 8 December 2017, a holiday EP which includes covers of "Fairytale of New York" and "Blue Christmas", as well as the original track "Same Time Next Year?" The band supported Neck Deep and All Time Low on tour the following year, and later returned to the festival circuit with performances at 2000 Trees and Reading and Leeds. At their 1 November 2018 gig at London's Koko Venue, the band hung up their Callous Heart jackets and frontman Will Gould stated that "Not only is it the last show of this album, but it's the last show that we'll ever do" – a reference to David Bowie's Hammersmith Apollo gig on 3 July 1973 at which he announced the death of his Ziggy Stardust character. The band then left the stage and a montage of their career highlights was shown, which ended with the words "Even eternity ends". While Bowie continued his career after his 1973 show, no official statement was issued regarding whether or not Creeper would return in the future.

2019–2022: Sex, Death & the Infinite Void
In September 2019, Creeper's members began teasing a return for the band online. A few days later, a show was announced for 1 November 2019 – exactly one year since their last appearance – at the 620-capacity venue 229 in London, under the pseudonym Fugitives of Heaven. The performance included the debut of a new song, "Born Cold", which was debuted on the BBC Radio 1 Rock Show the same night and released as a single on 3 November. In January 2020, it was announced that the band's second studio album would be titled Sex, Death & the Infinite Void. Like Eternity, in Your Arms, the album features a central narrative around which the songs are written, in this case focusing on the story of a relationship between protagonists Roe and Annabelle, who live in a fictional American city called Calvary Falls. "Annabelle" and "Cyanide" were issued as pre-release singles with accompanying music videos in January and February 2020, respectively. Regarding the break between releases, Gould explained that the band members had needed a break after the release of their first album and their subsequent success.

Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the music industry, Creeper delayed the release of Sex, Death & the Infinite Void from May to July 2020, as well as pushing back the promotional God Can't Save Us Tour from April to August. The tour was later delayed again to December, postponed again partway through, and delayed until March 2022 with additional shows added. Upon the release of Sex, Death & the Infinite Void, the album debuted at number 5 on the main UK Albums Chart and followed Eternity, in Your Arms in topping the UK Rock & Metal Albums Chart. In September 2020, shortly after the album's release, the band announced that they had parted ways with drummer Dan Bratton, although no explanation was given for his departure.

Following a hiatus due to COVID-19 challenges, during which time Gould launched a side project called Salem, in May 2021 Creeper released "Midnight" and announced new EP American Noir for release in July. They also announced that Oliver Burdett had left the band, while Jake Fogarty had taken over as drummer. American Noir reached number 13 on the UK Albums Chart. During the summer, the band headlined the Second Stage at Download Festival and performed at Slam Dunk Festival, with Miss Vincent's Lawrie Pattison brought in to perform as second guitarist. At the end of the year and beginning of 2022, the group completed their God Can't Save Us Tour following multiple postponements dating back almost two years. In May, the group supported Alice Cooper and The Cult on their UK co-headlining tour, which was followed by shows in Europe dubbed the "Angels Over Europe" tour, including support slots for My Chemical Romance. On 10 September, the band performed at Rise Festival in Newcastle under the name the Weeping Widow, which saw Greenwood singing for the entire set, without Gould. The band concluded 2022 with support dates for Enter Shikari in Australia in November, preceded by a special one-off headline show dubbed When the Sun Comes at the Roundhouse in London on 4 November 2022.

2022–present: Spinefarm and Sanguivore
At their 4 November 2022 show, Creeper announced that they had signed with Spinefarm Records and released a new single, "Ghost Brigade". In March 2023, the track was nominated at the Heavy Music Awards for Best Single, while the band were nominated in the categories of Best UK Artist and Best UK Live Artist. On 26 May 2023, the band released "Cry to Heaven" as the lead single from their third album Sanguivore, which was released on 13 October. The album will be promoted on the five-date Sacred Blasphemy UK Tour in November. Shortly after the album's announcement, Creeper performed live at the Heavy Music Awards, Slam Dunk Festival, and Download Festival. The band were featured on a reworked version of Static Dress's song "Welcome In...", which was released as a part of their EP Rouge Carpet Disaster (Redux) Volume 3, released on 3 November.

Sanguivore reached number 29 on the UK Albums Chart. At the end of the year, Metal Hammer named it the publication's album of the year based on votes from its staff writers. In promotion of the release, Creeper completed the six-date Sacred Blasphemy Tour in England and Scotland in early November, followed by a stint supporting Atreyu on the European leg of their We Want Your Skulls Tour, starting later that month. In March 2024, the band will complete another run of UK shows dubbed the 12 Days of Night Tour, which will be followed by a stint supporting Black Veil Brides on the band's Bleeders Tour in the US. Ahead of these tours, touring guitarist Lawrie Pattison was made an official member of the band.

Musical style, influences and themes
Through their career, Creeper have consistently reinvented their sound and aesthetic. Each of their records and surrounding EPs, music videos and stage performances have been ways of telling the albums' stories. This style of theatricality has led publications such as Clash to call them an art rock band. In an interview with Riot Magazine, Gould stated:

"when I was younger I never thought I’d be in a band, I thought I’d be making movies! I love music but I always wanted to tell stories and create a visual world. I ended up falling into a place where I was in Creeper and I was using those elements of screenwriting and storytelling in my music. So the concept thing came naturally as albums work like little films to us and come as second nature to me. I wanted it to feel like when you listen to it you escape into some other place and see something visual.."

Eternity, in Your Arms and its preceding EPs were categorised by critics as horror punk, emo and goth punk, and compared to the sound of Alkaline Trio, AFI, and My Chemical Romance. These songs included elements of glam rock, post-hardcore, pop punk, post-punk and psychobilly. The Stranger and The Callous Heart EPs were named for and established this era's titular characters: the Callous Hearts, based on the Lost Boys and the Stranger, based on Tick-Tock the Crocodile. Eternity, in Your Arms then followed a character inspired by Captain Hook known as James Scythe, a paranormal investigator who had gone missing. The band finally concluded this concept at their November 2018 performance at the Koko in London, where they killed off the Callous Hearts. During this era, the band cited musical influences including Marilyn Manson, AFI, Jawbreaker, Jim Steinman, Energy, David Bowie, Metallica, Tiger Army, Meat Loaf, Bonnie Tyler, Alkaline Trio, the Misfits,  the Nerve Agents and the Cramps, in conjunction with taking influence from the imagery of films like Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet, Joel Schumacher's The Lost Boys and Phantom of the Paradise by Brian De Palma  as well as novels and plays like J. M. Barrie's 1904 book Peter and Wendy and its 1954 stage musical adaptation.

Sex, Death and the Infinite Void was categorised by critics as rock and roll, gothic rock and glam rock, in addition to incorporating elements of pop punk, rockabilly and country music. This era's narrative followed an angel called Roe who comes to the small town of Calvary Falls, based on Dunsmuir, California, intending to warn people that in seven days the apocalypse will come. However, he soon finds himself turning to sin and falling in love with Annabelle, a married human woman, with whom he begins an affair. Roe is subsequently murdered by Annabelle's husband Buddy Calvary. On this album, the band cited their influences as David Bowie's Aladdin Sane, Roy Orbison's Mystery Girl, Roxy Music, T. Rex, Mott the Hoople, the Beatles and Britpop bands such as Suede, Pulp and Oasis. NME writer Dannii Leivers described it as "a bombastic, goth rock epic, as theatrical and sweeping as a batwing lace sleeve" and Ashley Perez Hollingsworth of Genre is Dead said that it "isn’t just an album. It’s the soundtrack for the movie Creeper has yet to make". The album's accompanying EP American Noir was categorised as gothic rock.

For their third album Sanguivore the band cited the Sisters of Mercy, Danzig, the Damned, the Cult and Bad for Good as influences.

Members
Current members
 * Will Gould (aka. William von Ghould) – lead vocals (2014–present)
 * Ian Miles – guitar, backing vocals (2014–present)
 * Sean Scott – bass, backing vocals (2014–present)
 * Hannah Greenwood – keyboards, violin, backing and co-lead vocals, live guitar and percussion (2015–present; touring member 2015)
 * Jake Fogarty – drums, percussion (2021–present)
 * Lawrie Pattison – guitar (2024–present; touring member 2021–2024)

Former members
 * Sina Nemati – guitar, backing vocals (2014–2015)
 * Dan Bratton – drums, percussion (2014–2020)
 * Oliver Burdett – guitar, backing vocals (2015–2021)

Timeline
 * Note: Thin bars indicate periods as touring members.

Discography
Studio albums
 * Eternity, in Your Arms (2017)
 * Sex, Death & the Infinite Void (2020)
 * Sanguivore (2023)

Awards
Alternative Press Music Awards

Heavy Music Awards

Kerrang! Awards

Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards

Rock Sound Awards

title: Creeper (band)


text: User talk:146.203.126.65

title: User talk:146.203.126.65


text:
Staņislavs Olijars

Staņislavs Olijars (Станисла́в Олия́р, born 22 March 1979 in Chelyabinsk, RSFSR, Soviet Union) is a retired Latvian athlete mainly competing in the 110 metres hurdles. He is the 2000 European indoor champion, and in 2002 he won European indoor and outdoor medals. His best Olympic performance was in 2004, finishing 5th. In 2006 he became European champion in the event. In 2013 he retired.

Personal bests

 * 100 metres - 10.42 (2002)
 * 200 metres - 20.91 (2003)
 * 110 metres hurdles - 13.08 (2003)

title: Staņislavs Olijars


text: Category:Elections in Alberta

title: Category:Elections in Alberta


text:
Ron Ghitter

Ronald D. Ghitter (born August 22, 1935) is a Canadian lawyer and politician. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from August 30, 1971, to March 13, 1979, sitting with the governing Progressive Conservative caucus. Ghitter was appointed to the Senate of Canada on March 25, 1993, where he sat as a senator from Alberta until his retirement on March 31, 2000.

Life and career
Born in Calgary, Alberta, he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1956 and his Bachelor of Law degree in 1959 from the University of Alberta. He practised real estate law in Calgary. From 1986 to 1988, he was executive vice president of development at Trizec Corporation.

He was first elected as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for the electoral district of Calgary-Buffalo in the 1971 Alberta general election, defeating popular Calgary Stampeders star Don Luzzi from the Alberta Social Credit Party in a very tight race. He was elected again in 1975 and then retired, having served two terms. As a member of the Progressive Conservative caucus, Ghitter was a critic of many decisions made by his party, including purchasing Pacific Western Airlines and the governments use of the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund. Ghitter announced he would not retire from the legislature in November 1978, and not contest the upcoming 1979 Alberta general election.

Following revelations that Eckville school teacher James Keegstra had taught his students anti-semitic propaganda, Ghitter headed a Committee on Tolerance and Understanding. The committee investigated issues of tolerance and understanding within the educational system. This committee released its report to the government in 1984.

Ghitter re-entered politics in 1985 to run for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party but came in third losing to Don Getty. He was appointed to the Senate in 1993 representing the senatorial division of Alberta. From 1996 to 1999, he was the chair of the Senate Standing Committee of Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources. Sitting as a Progressive Conservative, he resigned in 2000.

In 1990, he was awarded the Alberta Human Rights Award. He was awarded the Order of Canada on May 11, 2018, for his work on human rights legislation and various social issues.

title: Ron Ghitter


text:
Tirupati

Tirupati is a city in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is the administrative headquarters of the Tirupati district. The city is home to the important Hindu shrine of Tirumala Venkateshwara Temple and other historic temples. It is located at a distance of 150 km from Chennai, 250 km from Bangalore, 406 km from Amaravati. It is one of the eight Svayam vyakta kshetras (Self-Manifested Temples) dedicated to Vishnu. Tirupati is a municipal corporation and the headquarters of Tirupati (urban) mandal, Tirupati (rural) mandal, and the Tirupati revenue division.

It is the 7th most populous urban agglomeration in the state, with a population of 459,985 in 2011. census, it had a population of 287,035 making it the 9th most populous city in Andhra Pradesh. It is the second biggest city in Rayalaseema after Kurnool. For the year 2012–2013, India's Ministry of Tourism named Tirupati as the "Best Heritage City". Tirupati has been selected as one of the hundred Indian cities to be developed as a smart city under Smart Cities Mission by Government of India.

Etymology
In Dravidian languages, tiru means sacred, Honourable, or Lakshmi and pati means abode, residence, or husband.  Tirupati (Tirumala) is referred to as Pushpa-mandapa in Acharya-Hridayam (13th century).

Puranas
According to Varaha Purana, during Treta Yuga, Rama resided here with Sita and Lakshmana on his return from Lankapuri.

As per the Purana, a loan of one crore and 11.4 million gold coins was sought by Balaji from Kubera for his marriage with Padmavathi. To pay back the loan, devotees from all over India visit the temple and donate money.

Ancient history
Tirupati was developed by Pallava Kings from 6th century onwards. The city became a great Vaishnava centre during the time of Ramanujacharya in 11th century, from where Srivaishnavism spread to other parts of Andhra Desa. Srikurmam Temple in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh bears the inscription, Tirupati Srivaishnavula Raksha. Tirupati survived the Muslim invasions by accepting to pay Jizya to the Muslims. During the early 1300s Muslim invasion of South India, the idol of Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam was brought to Tirupati for safekeeping.

The temple town for most of the medieval era was part of Vijayanagara Empire until the 17th century and its rulers contributed considerable resources and wealth, notable among whom are Krishna Deva Raya and Achyuta Deva Raya, Sadasiva Raya and Tirumala Deva Raya.

The city has many historical temples including the Venkateshvara Temple which bears 1,150 inscriptions in the Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada languages. Out of 1150 inscriptions 236 belong to Pallava, Chola and Pandya dynasties, 169 belonged to Saluva dynasty, 251 belonged to Achyuta Deva Raya period, 130 belonged to Sadasiva Raya period and another 135 originated in Aravidu dynasty. These mostly specify the contributions of the Pallava Kingdom around the ninth century CE, Chola Kingdom around the tenth century CE and the Vijayanagara Empire in the 14th century CE. In the 15th century, Tallapaka Annamacharya sung many songs in praise of the holy town in Telugu. He termed it as divine, including the rocks, streams, trees, animals, and adds that it is heaven on earth. One example of such a song is:

Kattedura Vaikuntamu Kaanachaina Konda

Thettalaya Mahimale Tirumala Konda ||

Vedamulae Silalai Velasinadi Konda

Yedesa Punya Rasule Yerulainadi Konda

Gadili Brahmadi Lokamula Konalu Konda

Sree Devudundeti Seshadri Konda ||

Tirumala, in all its right, is heaven. Its powers are indescribable. The Vedas have taken the form of rocks and appeared on Tirumala. Holiness has taken the form of water and is flowing as streams on Tirumala. Its holy peaks are Brahmaloka and other lokas. Srinivasa lives on Seshadri.

There was no human settlement at lower Tirupati until 1500. With the growing importance of upper Tirupati, a village formed at the present-day Kapilatheertham Road area and was named "kotturu". It was later shifted to the vicinity of Govindarajaswamy Temple which was consecrated around the year 1130 CE. Later the village grew into its present-day form around Govindaraja Swamy Temple which is now the heart of the city. It has now gained a lot of popularity as a tourism place.

Modern history
In 1932, Tirumala Venkateswara Temple was handed over to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams by the TTD Act of 1932. In 2006, Tirupati Urban Development Authority (TUDA) and TTD together conducted "Tirupati Utsavam" which focused on the history of development of Tirupati town, kings who visited Tirumala and their contribution for development of the temple. The fourth World Telugu Conference, a conference for furtherance of Telugu language, was conducted at Tirupati during December 2012 for three days. In January 2017, the 104th Indian Science Congress (ISCA) meeting was held in Tirupati.

Geography
Tirupati is located at 13.65°N, 79.42°W in the Tirupati district of Andhra Pradesh state in southern India. Tirupati lies at the foot of Seshachalam Hills of Eastern Ghats which were formed during Precambrian era. One of its suburbs, Tirumala, which is home to Sri Venkateshvara Temple, is located within the hills. Tirupati Urban Development Authority includes Tirupati (City), Renigunta, Chandragiri, and census towns Akkarampalle, Avilala, Cherlopalle, Mangalam, Peruru, Settipalle, Thummala gunta (part), Timminaidupalle, Tiruchanur, Tirupati (NMA). Tirupati is surrounded by Srikalahasti towards the east, Puttur towards the south, Pakala towards the west and the Seshachalam hills (Tirumala) towards the north. Swarnamukhi river originates in Chandragiri Hills and passes through the Tirupati City before reaching Srikalahasti in the east.

Geology
At the 12 km point on the Tirupati – Tirumala ghat road, there is a major discontinuity of stratigraphic significance that represents a period of remarkable serenity in the geological history of the Earth. This is referred to as Eparchaean Unconformity. This unconformity separates the Nagari Quartzite of the Proterozoic from the granite of the Archean. In 2001, the Geological Survey of India (GSI) declared the Eparchaean Unconfirmity to be one of the 26 "Geological Monuments of India".

Silathoranam, a natural arch and a distinctive geological feature, is located in the Tirumala Hills at a distance of 1 km from Tirumala Venkateshvara Temple. The arch measures 8 metres in width and 3 metres in height and is eroded from quartzite of Cuddapah Supergroup of Middle to Upper Proterozoic (1600 to 570 Ma) by weathering agents like water and wind.

Flora and fauna
Sri Venkateshvara National Park is a national park and biosphere reserve which is part of Seshachalam hills. The total area of the park is 353 km2. The park is home to about 1,500 vascular plant species belonging to 174 families. Some of the rare and endemic plant species like red sanders, Shorea talura, Shorea thumburggaia, Terminalia pallida, sandalwood, Syzygium alternifolium, and Psilotum nudum occur in this region. Cycas beddomei, a species of cycad in the genus Cycas, is found only in the Tirumala Hills.

About 178 species of birds from this national park have been identified which includes the globally threatened yellow-throated bulbul, grey-fronted green pigeon, critically endangered Oriental white-backed vulture, large hawk-cuckoo, blue-faced malkoha, yellow-browed bulbul, Indian scimitar-babbler and Loten's sunbird. Among predators the leopard is quite common, along with the wild dog. Among reptiles, the most interesting species is the gliding lizard, found in some deep forested valleys. Another important reptile of this national park is the golden gecko.

Established in 1987, Tirupati Zoo or Sri Venkateshvara Zoological Park is a zoo located at Tirupati and is Asia's largest zoo, with an area of 5500 acres. It is built on the concept of Hindu mythology. It exhibits only animals that are mentioned in the ancient epics like Ramayana, Mahabharatha, and Panchatantra. The enclosures are named based on Indian mythology. It hosts a wide range of animals such as deer, monkeys, lions, tigers, bears, elephants, peafowl, grey pelicans, marsh crocodiles, and starred tortoises.

Sri Venkateshvara Gosamrakshana shala is a home for cattle received as a donation (Godanam). It was established in 1956 by TTD and renamed to S.V. Gosamrakshana Shala in 2004. It is located at Chandragiri road, Tirupati. It is maintained by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams using the funds received through the Sri Venkateshvara Gosamrakshana Shala Trust. Activities of the trust include providing a good environment, management, and feeding for the cattle. The milk and its products produced here are used by TTD for daily rituals at Sri Venkateshvara Temple and other TTD temples.

Climate
Tirupati has a tropical wet and dry climate designated as Aw (dry "winter") under the Köppen climate classification system. During the dry season, which lasts from January to May, average minimum temperatures are between 18 and 28 C. The dry season is followed by the rainy season, which lasts from June until the end of December. The city experiences heavy rainfall in November during the northeast monsoon season. The highest rainfall in 24 hours (219 mm) was on 16 November 2015, during the 2015 South India floods. Cyclones commonly hit the Coast of Nellore and bring heavy rain to the city.

Demographics
Census of India, the Tirupati city municipal corporation had a population of 287,035. The total population constitutes 145,977 males and 141,058 females — a sex ratio of 966 females per 1000 males, higher than the national average of 940 per 1000. There were 24,643 children in the age group of 0–6 years. It had an effective literacy rate (7+ copulation) of 87.55%. The urban agglomeration had a population of 459,985, of whom males constitute 231,456, females constitute 228,529 — a sex ratio of 987 females per 1000 males and 41,589 children are in the age group of 0–6 years. There are a total of 356,558 literates with an effective literacy rate (7+ population) of 85.22%.

Telugu is the official and the most commonly spoken language (87.98%). It is followed by Urdu (5.50%) and Tamil (3.40%), Hindi (1.01%) which are spoken in small numbers.

Governance
Tirupati Assembly constituency is one of the 175 assembly constituencies of Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly, India. Tirupati is part of Tirupati (Lok Sabha constituency). Gurumurthy Maddela of YSR Congress Party is the sitting Member of Parliament for Tirupati (Lok Sabha constituency).

Bhumana Karunakara Reddy of YSR Congress Party is the sitting Member of Legislative Assembly for Tirupati (Assembly constituency) and chairman of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams and B. R. Sirisha Yadav of YSR Congress Party is the mayor for Tirupati Municipal Corporation. C. Mohith Reddy of YSR Congress Party is the Chairman of Tirupati Urban Development Authority (TUDA).

Civic administration
Tirupati Municipal Corporation (TMC) oversees the administration of the city. Tirupati was constituted as a municipality on 1 April 1886; it was upgraded to a second grade municipality on 1 October 1962, to a first grade municipality on 12 December 1965, to special grade municipality on 13 February 1970, and to selection grade municipality on 7 October 1998. Tirupati Municipality was upgraded to a municipal corporation on 2 March 2007. The area of the municipal corporation at the time of formation was 16.59 km2. While, at present the area of the city is 27.44 km2. Tirupati has been ranked among the top ten cleanest cities in India as per Swachh Survekshan 2022 report.

Tirupati Urban Development Authority (TUDA) is the urban planning authority. It was constituted in the year 1981, with Tirupati town and 89 villages under its jurisdiction. In 2008, it included Srikalahasti, Puttur and 69 surrounding villages. At present TUDA covers an area of 1211.51 km2.

Law and order
Tirupati has the status of Urban Police District; it has 25 police stations. 100 Octopus (Organisation For Counter Terrorist Operations) commandos are deployed at Tirupati temple for its security. This was formed by Government of Andhra Pradesh in the year 2012. The elite commando force has been specially trained for in-house intervention, hostage rescue and in the Israeli combat technique Krav Maga.

At Alipiri, a security zone was established to screen vehicles and pilgrims entering Tirumala, to safeguard the hills from terrorists and anti-social elements. To ensure more safety in Tirumala-Tirupati, the government of Andhra Pradesh started a project called "Safe City-Tirupati": the Tirupati temple and the city is under 24*7 CCTV surveillance with 3000 CCTV cameras, monitored from a command-and-control centre. Baggage scanners and Explosives detectors are installed at several places.

Utility services
Electricity to the city is distributed by Andhra Pradesh Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (APSPDCL), headquartered at Tirupati. The city mostly depends on groundwater for its needs, though it also gets water from Telugu Ganga canal and Kalyani dam. There are dams in the vicinity: Kalyani Dam, Papavinasanam Dam, Gogurbham Dam, Pasupudara Dam, Kumaradara Dam, Akasa Ganga, all in the Tirumala Hill ranges. Of these, Papavinasanam, Gogurbham, Pasupudara, kumaradara, and Akasa Ganga completely cater to the water needs of Tirumala and Venkateshvara Temple while 49% of Kalyani Dam water is being supplied to Tirumala and remaining water is supplied to Tirupati.

Tirupati falls under the Tirupati Telecom District of the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL). BSNL is planning to establish 27 Wi-Fi hotspots in the city. The city also has a Regional Passport Seva Kendra (PSK). PSK-Tirupati will cover Prakasam, Nellore, Chittoor, Kadapa, Kurnool and Anantapur districts of Andhra Pradesh and will come under Visakhapatnam Passport Office.

The city ranked sixth in India among the 200 cities that competed during Swachh Survekshan – 2018 conducted by Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India, and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) of India. According to the National Urban Sanitation Policy, the city was ranked 117th in the country in 2009–10, with a total of 39.363 points. As part of 'Swachh Tirupati', Tirupati Municipal Corporation has started household waste segregation programme. As of May 2015, 150 Tonnes of waste is being collected per day from households within the municipal limits. The city is the 11th cleanliest city with 66 points in the cleanliness scorecard, published by Union Tourism Ministry of India.

Healthcare
Tirupati is a medical hub with major hospitals situated in its vicinity. Many of these are either run under State government or run/funded by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD). Sri Venkateshvara Ramnarain Ruia Government General Hospital is one of the largest in the state of Andhra Pradesh, and the main government hospital for the Rayalaseema region. It was started in the year 1962 with a donation of Rs.5 lakhs from Sri Radha Krishna N. Ruia and 15 lakhs from TTD. At present it has 750 beds. Sri Venkateshvara Institute of Medical Sciences (SVIMS) is another major medical institute, founded in 1986.

Balaji Institute of Surgery, Research and Rehabilitation for the Disabled (BIRRD) has 250 beds; it was established in 1985 by TTD to treat patients with polio myelitis, cerebral palsy, congenital anomalies, spinal injuries, and orthopaedic impairments. A non-profit organisation, it is run with funds from Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams and donations from the public. Government Maternity Hospital (GMH) in Tirupati is the largest maternity hospital in the state in terms of number of deliveries. Established over 50 years ago, GMH serves pregnant woman from Chittoor, YSR, Nellore, Anantapur districts of Andhra Pradesh and few areas of Tamil Nadu. GMH was named "best hospital" under the "sterilization and institutional deliveries category" by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for the year 2013.

City economic overview
Tourism is the major industry in Tirupati.

The entire economy directly or indirectly depends on Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD). TTD is headquartered at Tirupati. Established in 1932, TTD is an independent trust which manages Tirumala Venkateshvara Temple and other temples in Tirupati and all over the world. It is also involved in several social activities. As Tirupati is a major religious tourist destination, the hospitality industry is also a major industry which includes many 3 star hotels and lodges. Andhra Pradesh Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (APSPDCL) is also headquartered at Tirupati. Gandhi Road, Prakasam Road, V.V Mahal Road, AIR Bypass Road are highly commercial areas in the city. Major brands of automobile, textile, mobile, electrical and electronic companies have their outlets in Tirupati.

APIIC Industrial Park is located at Gajulamandyam, Renigunta. Industries like Sri Venkateshvara Cooperative Sugar Factory Limited, AshwiniBio Pharma Ltd and others are situated in this park. Amara Raja factory is located at Karakambadi, Renigunta. Lanco cement factory is located at Eerpedu mandal. The majority of the city residents are employed under TTD. Zoho, an Indian software development company has an office in Renigunta and has been operating from this office since 2018.

IT/ITES and electronics industry
Sri Venkateshwara Mobile and Electronics Manufacturing Hub is a dedicated mobile handset and electronics manufacturing facility located at Tirupati. The hub is spread over 122 acre Acres out of which Celkon is established in 20 acre acres, Micromax in 15 acre  acres, Karbonn in 15.28 acre  acres and Lava in 20 acre  acres with a total investment of Rupees 2000 crores. Dixon Technologies has a manufacturing unit in this hub, where they are producing Smart TVs for Xiaomi.

Tourism sector
Tourism sector is of great importance to the city. It is because of the presence of Tirumala Venkateshvara Temple and a number of other temples in and around the city. It attracts large number of tourists which helps the tourism department of the state in generating revenue. Tirumala is said to be one of the most visited religious sites on earth, and Tirupati Temple is currently a Guinness World Record holder for most visited temple in the world..

Festivals
The city celebrates all major Hindu festivals, including Sankranti, Ugadi, Krishna Janmashtami, Maha Shivaratri, Ganesh Chaturthi, Deepavali, Rama Navami, and Kartik Poornima. Srivari Brahmotsavam is a nine-day event, celebrated during the months of September–October, when the temple of Tirumala witnesses lakhs of devotees. During this festival, the processional deity Malayappa of Venkateshvara Temple, along with his consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi, is taken in a procession in four mada streets around the temple on different Vahanams. Tirupati also celebrates a carnival named as Tirupati Ganga Jatara, held during second week of May every year. This is a week long festival where Gangamma (Grama Devatha) is worshiped. The tank behind Padmavathi Temple, Tiruchanur has Padma Pushkarini, where Chakra Snanam is undertaken on last day of the annual Padmavathi Brahmotsavams (Panchami Teertham). It witnesses lakhs of Devotees taking a dip in the holy waters.

Vaikunta Ekadasi, the day on which it is believed that Vaikunta Dwarams will be opened and the most important Vasihnavite festival, is celebrated in Tirumala and Tirupati with grandeur. Rathasapthami is another festival, celebrated in February, when Venkateshvara's processional deity (Malayappa swami) is taken in a procession around the temple on seven different vahanas from early morning to late night.

Sri Krishna janmastami, also known as Gokulashtami, is celebrated with great fervour at Tirupati. The Lotus Temple belonging to International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) is illuminated with lamps and paintings displaying themes from Srimad Bhagavatham. The celebrations include offering prayers to Sri Krishna, Utlotsavam, Annamayya Kirtana alapana, Geetha Parayanam among others. On this day 'Gokulashtami Asthanam' is held at Tirumala Venkateshvara Temple. TTD also celebrates janmastami at Sri Venkateshvara Gosamrakshana Shala where prayers are offered to cows, horses and elephants. Maha Shivaratri and Kartik Poornima are the most auspicious occasions celebrated in Kapila Theertham.

Cuisine
The city's Tirupati Laddu is world famous among Hindu devotees around the world. It is the prasadam at Venkateshvara Temple, Tirumala. Tirupati Laddu was awarded the Geographical indication tag which entitles only Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams to make or sell it.

Arts, crafts and architecture
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams established Sri Venkateshvara Museum, one at Tirumala and the other at Tirupati. It has a wonderful collection of Tirupati temple architecture and historical artefacts, such as ancient weaponry, pooja items and idols. It has a comprehensive photo gallery that gives a unique insight into Tirupati region's culture and traditions. It also boasts a meditation centre. In 1988–89 Archaeological Survey of India had established an archaeological museum in the Chandragiri fort at Chandragiri. It exhibits rich collection of stone and metal sculptures of Hindu gods and other cultural vestiges retrieved from other historical places like Gudimallam, Gandikota and Yaganti. It also includes galleries for medieval weaponry of swords and daggers, coins and paper documents.

Temples
Tirumala Venkateshvara Temple is the most notable temple for being the world's richest Vaishnavite temple of Venkateshvara. Beside Venkateshvara Temple, the city is known for many other ancient temples, such as Padmavathi Temple at Tiruchanur, Govindaraja Temple, Kapileswara Temple at Kapila Theertham, Kalyana Venkateshvara Temple, Srinivasamangapuram, Thathayyaguntta Gangamma Temple of goddess Gangamma is the Gramadevata of Tirupati, Sri Kodandaramaswami Temple etc.

Other landmarks
Besides historic temples, there are other tourist destinations in and around the city. Chandragiri Fort is a historical fort, built in the 11th century located in Chandragiri. The fort hosts an Archaeological Museum maintained by Archaeological Survey of India. Established in 1987, Sri Venkateshvara Zoological Park in Tirupati is the largest zoo park in Asia, which covers an area of 5532 acres. Tirupati also hosts a Regional Science centre. A Space Exposition Hall, which has a digital Planetarium, the first of its kind in Andhra Pradesh, and an Innovation Space were added to this centre.

Neighbourhoods
Tiruchanur, Alipiri, Chandragiri and Renigunta are the notable neighbourhoods of the city.

Roadways
The city is well connected to major cities through national and state highways. National highways passing through Tirupati are National Highway 71 (which connects Madanapalle and Kadiri), and National Highway 140 connecting Tirupati with Puthalapattu. Within Tirupati Urban Development Authority Limits, there are two additional national highways, namely, NH 716 and NH 565. NH 716 connects Renigunta part of Tirupati to Chennai and Muddanur (via Kadapa and Rajampet). NH 565 on the other hand connects NH 71 to NH 65 - it starts from Yerpedu area of Tirupati and ends at Nakrekal in Nalgonda district.

There are two all-weather, asphalt ghat roads between Tirupati and Tirumala, one constructed in 1944 and the other in 1974. There is a total of 294.47 km of roads within the Tirupati Municipal Corporation limits.

Public transport
APSRTC is the state owned transport service, which operates buses to various destinations from Tirupati bus station complex. The bus station comprises three mini bus stations to various destinations, such as Srinivasa bus station for west-bound destinations, Sri Hari bus station for east bound destinations and Yedukondalu bus station is utilised for bus services to Tirumala. Balaji Link bus station at Alipiri is also used for bus services to Tirumala. Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams runs free buses from the railway station and central bus stand to Alipiri for pilgrims. The buses to Tirumala are known as Sapthagiri Express.

Tirupati is in close proximity with the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Hence, direct buses from Tirumala to Chennai, Bengaluru, Jayanagar, Bangalore, Vellore, Kanchipuram are run by APSRTC Sapthagiri Express. KSRTC, TNSTC and SETC also operates their services to Lower Tirupati. There are also private transport which operate in the city.

Tirumala foot steps
There are two footpaths from Tirupati to Tirumala. These paths are called Sopanamargas and are mostly used by pilgrims. The first (and older) path starts from Alipiri and has 3550 steps, totalling 11 km. At Alipiri there is a temple dedicated to Venkateshvara called Padalamandapam. There are four Gopurams (temple towers) along the way. The other path, called Sri Vari Mettu starts from Srinivasa Mangapuram and is 6 km long. Both paths are completely roofed and pass through seven hills (part of Seshachalam Hills).

Railways
Tirupati has 6 railway stations. Tirupati Main is classified as an A1 station in the Guntakal railway division of South Central Railway zone. Tirupati West Halt and Tiruchanur are the satellite stations, used for decongesting rail traffic at the main station. In addition to these, Tirupati also has Chandragiri, Yerpedu and Renigunta Junction Railway stations to serve the needs of the people of the city.

Airways
Tirupati Airport is located 15 km from the city centre and has daily flights to Coimbatore, Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi, Bangalore, Kolhapur,Pune, Tiruchirapalli, Madurai, Shirdi, Rajahmundry, Kalaburagi, Hubli, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam and Hyderabad. The closest international airport is Chennai International Airport which is 130 km from Tirupati. Tirupati Airport is being upgraded to an international airport. The new terminal was inaugurated on 22 October 2015.

Education
The primary and secondary school education is imparted by government, aided and private schools of the School Education Department of the state. Majority of them are named after presiding deity of Tirupati temple, Venkateshvara and his consort goddess Padmavati.

There are several universities and colleges including state government and Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam sponsored such as, Sri Venkateshvara University, established in 1954; Sri Padmavati Mahila Visvavidyalayam, a dedicated women's university; Medical colleges include Sri Venkateshvara Medical College and Sri Padmavathi Medical College for Women. Sri Venkateshvara Institute of Medical Sciences (SVIMS) is also a medical institute, Sri Venkateshvara Vedic University to preserve, foster and promote oral traditions of Vedic, Agamic and Cognate Literature, with focus on right intonations. Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeetha, a university established for higher learning in Sanskrit studies, Traditional Sastras and Pedagogy. Sri Venkateshvara Veterinary University to strengthen education and services in the fields of Veterinary Science, Dairy Technology and Fishery Science in the State of Andhra Pradesh. Sri Venkateshvara Institute of Traditional Sculpture and Architecture (SVITSA) run by TTD is one of the two institutions in India offering courses in traditional sculpture and architecture to students. Seven diploma courses are offered in subjects such as temple architecture, stone sculpture, Sudai aculpture, metal sculpture, wood sculpture, traditional painting and traditional Kalamkari art. Indian Culinary Institute, Tirupati is the first culinary institute in India established by Ministry of Tourism (India).

The city has Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISER) and IIT Tirupati which were allotted by Government of India to the state of Andhra Pradesh. Sri Venkateswara College of Law is a notable law college in Tirupati.

Research

 * The National Atmospheric Research Laboratory (NARL) is an autonomous research institute funded by the Department of Space of the Government of India. NARL is engaged in fundamental and applied research in the field of atmospheric sciences. It is around 30 km from Tirupati.
 * Sri Venkateswara Medical College, Tirupati is selected for establishment of Multidisciplinary Research Units (MRUs) and Model Rural Health Research Units (MRHRU) by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
 * Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Tirupati. It has been established by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, in order to promote Higher Scientific Learning and Research as well as Scientific Exploration at the Undergraduate and Postgraduate levels of education and to create Scientists and Academicians. IISER Tirupati is recognised as an Institute of National Importance by the Government of India. This new institute started functioning from the 2015 academic year in the month of August.
 * Indian Institute of Technology Tirupati. IIT Tirupati offers a 4-year Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech.) along with 2-years Master of Science (M.Sc.) Master of Science (M.S.), Master of Technology (M.Tech. - started in 2018), Master of Public Policy (MPP) & Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) programmes in several engineering, science and humanities fields.
 * Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences (SVIMS), Tirupati is selected for establishment of college level Viral Diagnostic Research Labs.
 * A sub-centre for All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on the groundnut (peanut) is established at the Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS), Tirupati to conduct research activities on new high. The research will help to meet the needs of the country's 100 arid districts which receive less than 500 mm rainfall. RARS has so far developed 12 groundnut varieties.
 * A research centre for indigenous cows was established by TTD at its dairy farm named Sri Venkateshvara Gosamrakshanashala. The purpose of the centre is to protect the cows and also to share the rare breeds among similar organisations. The Gosamrakshanashala already had distinctive high-worth breeds like Ongole, while it is also trying to gather Sahiwal breed of cows from Punjab, Gir cows of Gujarat to the centre, Tharparker and Kankrej cows from Karnataka.

Media
Sri Venkateshvara Bhakti Channel (SVBC), the first 24-hour Telugu devotional TV channel dedicated to broadcast Hindu devotional programmes is telecast from Tirupati.

Started in 1949, Sapthagiri is a spiritual monthly magazine based at Tirupati and published in Telugu, Sanskrit, Hindi, English, Tamil and Kannada languages. Both SVBC and Sapthagiri are run by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams.

Telugu newspapers Andhra Bhoomi, Saakshi, Eenadu, Vaartha, Andhra Jyothi, and Andhra Prabha; and English newspapers Deccan Chronicle, The Hindu, Indian Express, Times of India, and The Hans India are available in the city. The Hindu, Sakshi, Andhra Jyothi, Eenadu and other dailies have their printing and publication offices set up here.

Tirupati has All India Radio station and is served by FM stations 92.7 Big FM, 93.5 Red FM, and E-FM 104.

title: Tirupati


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Paltalk

Paltalk is a proprietary video group chat service that enables users to communicate by video, Internet chat, or voice. It offers chat rooms and the ability for users to create their own public virtual chat room. Paltalk Desktop is available on macOS and Windows, and Paltalk Video Chat App is available for Android and iOS. While basic services are free of charge and basic software is free to download, fee-based memberships and paid upgrades to more capable versions are offered by AVM Software, the creators of Paltalk.

Paltalk had 5.5 million unique users in 2013. An infographic created by the company in 2015 revealed that they had surpassed 100 million users.

Software
Paltalk's main application is "Paltalk Messenger for PCs". They also offered PaltalkExpress, a free web-based Adobe Flash and Java application which could be accessed via an Internet browser. As of December 22, 2016 this program has been discontinued due to its falling support and removal from Google Chrome.

Paltalk has native apps available for Android and iOS which allow users to publish webcam, audio chat, and text chat groups or in private sessions.

Both the mobile and desktop versions of Paltalk allow users to create chat rooms where they can text, voice, and video chat. These chat rooms can host hundreds and in some cases thousands of chatters in one conversion. Paltalk users can also have private video chat sessions with up to 15 other.

Awards and recognition

 * 2007: AlwaysOn 100 top Companies
 * 2007: NET Editor's pick
 * 2005: The Pulver 100

Patent protection
Paltalk filed a series of patent lawsuits against video game developers claiming they were infringing U.S. patents 5,822,523 and 6,226,686 "Server-group messaging system for interactive applications", patents they purchased from the now-defunct company HearMe in 2002. Paltalk first brought a case against Microsoft in 2006, claiming Halo and Xbox Live violated its patent rights, and later settled out of court.

In 2009, Paltalk then moved on to Sony, Activision Blizzard, NCsoft, Jagex and Turbine, Inc., claiming that these companies are also violating Paltalk's patents whose damages range in the "tens of millions of dollars". In 2010, a US judge dismissed the lawsuit against Jagex and stated "After reviewing source code for the RuneScape video game made available by Jagex, Paltalk and Jagex agree that the RuneScape video game does not infringe the patents-in-suit."

Controversies
In 2007, the filmed suicide of one of the service's users was widely reported in the media. Concerns were raised over the possibility that it could inspire further suicides.

In June 2013, it was revealed that Paltalk was targeted by the National Security Agency's PRISM surveillance program. All Paltalk communications (video, phone calls, and chats) have been recorded, stored indefinitely, and evaluated by the NSA.

title: Paltalk


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Tom Brown at Oxford

Tom Brown at Oxford is a novel by Thomas Hughes, first published in serial form in Macmillan's Magazine in 1859. It was published in two volumes in book form in 1861. It is a sequel to the better-known Tom Brown's School Days.

The story follows the character of Tom Brown to a fictional St Ambrose's College, Oxford. The novel offers a vivid impression of university life in the mid nineteenth century.

The book was out of print for many years but is available in Britain from Wordsworth Classics with 'Tom Brown's Schooldays' and is now available on the Project Gutenberg ebook site. Editions of the serialized form are available at the Hathi Trust.

The illustrator Sydney Prior Hall (1842–1922), a portrait painter and illustrator, was one of the leading reportage artists of the later Victorian period.

title: Tom Brown at Oxford


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The Quiet Feather

The Quiet Feather was a not-for-profit magazine that served as a showcase for new writing, illustration, photography and poetry. There were nine issues in all, published at somewhat irregular intervals between December 2003 and July 2007. The magazine featured short stories, poetry, travel writing, cartoon strips, lyrics and interviews with writers and musicians. The magazine is published in Cumbria, England, but included work from a worldwide network of contributors and subscribers. Back issues remain available through the magazine's website.

title: The Quiet Feather


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Horseball

Horseball is a sport played on horseback where a ball is handled and goals are scored by shooting it through a hoop with a diameter of 1m. The sport is a combination of polo, rugby, netball, and basketball. It is one of the ten disciplines officially recognized by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI); in 2015 the International Horseball Federation (FIHB) and the International University Sports Federation (FISU) signed memorandums of understanding with the FEI.

Origins
The origin of Horseball was an invention of the French Army Captain Clave, a show jumping world champion. It's based in “Pato”, the Argentine national sport, played since the 1600. The idea was to have a game which would improve the partnership between Horse & Rider, could be played on a standard riding manège and would be fun to play. It was developed further by a group of Frenchman who set up a commission under the presidency of Jean Paul Depons, a riding Instructor and rugby player in the Bordeaux region. It was this group who regularised the rules of Horseball in France. In the late 1970s, the French Horse Federation (FFE) accepted Horseball as a discipline and it became popular quite quickly, especially in the regions of Provence, Midi and the Loire Valley. Although the rules were established in 1978 in France, the international development started only in early 90's and in 1992 the International Commission of Horseball was set up with France, Belgium, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Portugal and the first European Cup was held at the Salon De Cheval in Paris in December of that year. Austria joined soon after.

Rules of play
Horseball is a highly spectacular equestrian sport that can be defined as a mix of "basketball and rugby on horseback". It is a fast action team game played on horseback based on attack and defense with the objective of scoring goals. Each team has four players, plus two substitutes (6 in total), and they must make a minimum of three passes between three different players before scoring. Players can be substituted at any break of play. The ball is a size 4 football (size 3 for the Ladies game) encased in a harness with 6 leather handles to enable picking up. The ball cannot be held for more than 10 seconds by any player, so they have to pass the ball between them when they make an attack which makes it a real team game. When the ball falls to the ground a player must pick it up in motion without dismounting or changing pace, this action is called "ramassage", the French term for picking up the ball. There is a strict priority to this in the interests of safety. The players score by throwing the ball through a 1m. diameter vertical hoop 3.5m from the ground to the bottom and hung 1m. into the pitch, which stands at each end as the goal. The game is normally played on an equestrian surface, in a rectangular pitch that is approximately 65 meters by 25 meters (approximately 215 feet by 80 feet). Each game lasts 20 minutes, made up of 2 x10 minute halves with a 3minute half time when the teams change ends. The team that scores the most goals win.

International competitions
There are several international competitions organized by the FIHB: the European Championship, the World Championship, and the clubs FIHB Champions League

The European Senior Championship is the older international tournament, the first was in 1992 in Paris. This is a mixed-sex teams tournament. There have been seventeen editions of this tournament with Saint-Lô 2013 (France), being the latest. France is the only national team to have won this tournament, the Portuguese team has the most Silver, and Belgium the most Bronze. Currently the titles are: Gold for France, Silver for Spain and Bronze for Portugal. The European Lady Championship is the female only tournament, the first was in 2003 in Abano Terme 2003 (Italy). There have been eight editions of this tournament with Saint-Lô 2013 (France), being the latest. France is again the only national team to have won this tournament, tied for most silver are Belgium, Germany and Spain, and tied with the most bronze are Belgium, Great Britain and Spain. Currently the titles are: Gold for France, Silver for Spain and Bronze for Belgium.

The European Under-16 Championship is the youth tournament with mixed-sex teams, the first was in 2004 in Lamotte-Beuvron 2004 (France). There have been ten editions of this tournament with Saint-Lô 2013 (France), being the latest. France have been beaten to the gold twice by Spain in this tournament but still have the most golds. Spain have most silver and Italy have most bronze. Currently the titles are: Gold for France, Silver for Portugal and Bronze for Spain.

The World Championship (senior mixed teams), has been held twice. The first was at Ponte de Lima in 2008. The teams that played in the championship were Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Portugal, Spain. This was won by France, Spain got Silver, and Portugal Bronze. The second edition was held in 2012 in Montpellier and the team competing were, Algeria, Argentina, Belgium, France, Great Britain, Portugal, Spain. The results were France with Gold, Spain got Silver, and Portugal Bronze.

The club level competition organized by the International Horseball Federation is the FIHB Chambions League. This is competed between the top club from the four highest ranked European nations. This competition began in 2007 in Stockholm, Sweden, and was won by Chambly Horse-Ball (from France), the Portuguese team Sporting Clube de Portugal CEJC got Silver and Caramel from Belgium got Bronze. There have been 7 editions of this competition and

In 2010 was held in Portugal the first Four Nations Cup won by the National French team, Portugal got silver and Spain got bronze.

Casualties

 * In February 2017, Ruddy Dayton fell from his horse and was crushed during a competition in Saint-Nazaire, France. He was knocked unconcious, spent a week in a coma and suffered traumatic brain damage from the accident.
 * A 34 year old rider died in May 2019 after a fall during a horseball competition in Rosières-aux-Salines, France.
 * In April 2022, Victoria Percy died after falling off her horse while playing in a horseball league competition in Warwickshire, UK.

title: Horseball


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User:Mirv, testing a new toy

This was an account I created to test the block link I had just added to Special:Log/newusers. It worked. —Charles P. (Mirv) 19:14, 12 October 2005 (UTC)

title: User:Mirv, testing a new toy


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Stan Rogers Folk Festival

The Stan Rogers Folk Festival, informally known as Stanfest, is an annual music festival held in Canso, Nova Scotia.

Established in 1997 in honour of the late Canadian folk singer and songwriter Stan Rogers, the festival bills itself as "Canada's Songwriter Festival", showcasing Canadian and worldwide grassroots musicians in all genres. The festival has won a number of East Coast Music Awards and attracts over 10,000 music fans each year.

The Stan Rogers Folk Festival takes place on the last weekend of July. The festival was cancelled in 2014, less than a week before it was scheduled to begin, due to the expected arrival of Hurricane Arthur.

title: Stan Rogers Folk Festival


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Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Vgrp

 * The following discussion is an archived debate of the proposed deletion of the article below. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or on a Votes for Undeletion nomination).  No further edits should be made to this page.

The result of the debate was delete. Rob Church Talk 01:00, 20 October 2005 (UTC)

Vgrp
Non-notable bb. --fvw *  19:14, 12 October 2005 (UTC)

It's a worry when most bulletin board articles, particularly extinct ones, run on the same basic wording. This one doesn't really establish itself, and really, having reread the article, I realize my lack of knowledge of the subject doesn't aid the article's comprehension. Delete. Bobo192 19:19, 12 October 2005 (UTC) Delete unverifiable. --Apyule 06:40, 13 October 2005 (UTC)

 * The above discussion is preserved as an archive of the debate. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in an undeletion request). No further edits should be made to this page.

title: Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Vgrp