title: Jean Cazeneuve

abstract: Jean Cazeneuve was a French sociologist and anthropologist. Apart from being a scholar, he has been involved with Radio and TV at the executive level; from 1964 till 1974 he has been president of the French public Radio and TV agency (ORTF), after which he has been chairman of TF1, the first French national-wide channel, till 1978. He joined the Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques in 1973, of which became president in 1983. He is highly regarded for his illuminating contribution to the study the ritual clowns.

text:
# Jean Cazeneuve

**Jean Cazeneuve** (17 May 1915  4 October 2005) was a French sociologist and anthropologist. Apart from being a scholar, he has been involved with Radio and TV at the executive level; from 1964 till 1974 he has been president of the French public Radio and TV agency (ORTF), after which he has been chairman of TF1, the first French national-wide channel, till 1978. He joined the *Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques* in 1973, of which became president in 1983.

He is highly regarded for his illuminating contribution to the study the ritual clowns.

## Works

* *La Psychologie du prisonnier de guerre*, 1944
* *C'est mourir beaucoup*, 1944
* *Psychologie de la joie*, 1952
* *Les dieux dansent à Cibola: le Shalako des indiens zuñis*, 1957
* *Les Rites et la condition humaine*, 1959
* *La Philosophie médicale de Ravaisson*, 1959
* *La Mentalité archaîque*, 1961
* *Sociologie de la radio-télévision*, 1963
* *Lucien Lévy-Bruhl*, 1963
* *La Grande Chance de la télévision*, 1963
* *Les Mythologies*, 1966
* *Bonheur et civilisation*, 1966
* *L'Ethnologie*, 1967
* *Sociologie de Marcel Mauss*, 1968
* *Les Pouvoirs de la télévision*, 1970
* *La Sociologie*, 1970
* *Guide de l'étudiant en sociologie*, 1971
* *Sociologie du rite (tabou, magie, sacré)*, 1971
* *La Société de l’ubiquité*, 1972
* *L'Homme téléspectateur*, 1974
* *La Sociologie et les sciences de la société*, 1974
* *Les Communications de masse*, 1976
* *Dix grandes notions de la sociologie*, 1976
* *Aimer la vie*, 1977
* *Des métiers pour un sociologue*, 1978
* *La Raison d’être*, 1981
* *La Vie dans la société moderne*, 1982
* *Le Mot pour rire*, 1983
* *Histoire des dieux, des sociétés et des hommes*, 1985
* *De l’optimisme*, 1987
* *Les Hasards d’une vie, des primitifs aux téléspectateurs*, 1989
* *Et si plus rien n’était sacré*, 1991
* *La Télévision en sept procès*, 1992
* *La Personne et la société*, 1995
* *Du calembour, du mot d’esprit*, 1996
* *L'Avenir de la morale*, 1998
* *Les Roses de la vie. Variations sur la joie et le bonheur*, 1999

## InfoBox

| Jean Cazeneuve | |
| --- | --- |
| Born | (1915-05-17)17 May 1915
Ussel, France |
| Died | 4 October 2005(2005-10-04) (aged 90)
Paris, France |
| Education | École normale supérieure
Harvard University
University of Toulouse |
| Occupation | Television executive |
| Known for | President of TF1 (1975-78) |


title: Highline Trail (Glacier National Park)

abstract: The Highline Trail is a scenic hiking trail in Glacier National Park, Montana, United States. The trail stretches 7.6 miles (12.2 km) from Logan Pass to Granite Park Chalet, and continues another 11.9 miles (19.2 km) from there to Fifty Mountain Campground. The trail follows the Garden Wall ridge and the continental divide for most of its length. The trail offers scenic views of glaciated U-shaped valleys. A 1.2-mile (1.9 km) round trip side trail takes hikers up the side of the Garden Wall to an overlook to Grinnell Glacier.

text:
# Highline Trail (Glacier National Park)

The **Highline Trail** is a scenic hiking trail in Glacier National Park, Montana, United States. The trail stretches 7.6 miles (12.2 km) from Logan Pass to Granite Park Chalet, and continues another 11.9 miles (19.2 km) from there to Fifty Mountain Campground. The trail follows the Garden Wall ridge and the continental divide for most of its length. The trail offers scenic views of glaciated U-shaped valleys. A 1.2-mile (1.9 km) round trip side trail takes hikers up the side of the Garden Wall to an overlook to Grinnell Glacier.

* National Park Service (2005). "Highline Trail to Granite Park- August 20, 2005". *Glacier National Park Photo Gallery*. Retrieved 2006-04-30.
* National Park Service (2006). "Lake McDonald Trail Status". *Glacier National Park - Hiking*. Retrieved 2006-04-30.

48°46′12″N 113°45′46″W / 48.77000°N 113.76278°W / 48.77000; -113.76278


title: Hovden, Nordland

abstract: Hovden is a fishing village in Bø Municipality in Nordland county, Norway. The village is located at the northern tip of a peninsula on the island of Langøya, on the west side of the Malnesfjorden. The ocean lies to the north and west of the village. The road that goes to Hovden ends at the village. The habitation of Hovden, on the outermost point on a peninsula of the third-largest island in Norway (Langøya) is because of the closeness to the rich fishing banks off of the Vesterålen archipelago. Fish processing and fishing are the main employment of dwellers in Hovden. Archaeological findings show that Hovden have been populated at least since 400 to 800 CE. The village of Malnes lies to the south of Hovden. Malnes was the clerical center for the northern part of Bø until 1829 when Malnes Church was moved from Malnes to the village of Eidet. The name of the parish is still called Malnes.

text:
# Hovden, Nordland

**Hovden** is a fishing village in Bø Municipality in Nordland county, Norway. The village is located at the northern tip of a peninsula on the island of Langøya, on the west side of the Malnesfjorden. The ocean lies to the north and west of the village. The road that goes to Hovden ends at the village. The habitation of Hovden, on the outermost point on a peninsula of the third-largest island in Norway (Langøya) is because of the closeness to the rich fishing banks off of the Vesterålen archipelago. Fish processing and fishing are the main employment of dwellers in Hovden.

Archaeological findings show that Hovden have been populated at least since 400 to 800 CE.

The village of Malnes lies to the south of Hovden. Malnes was the clerical center for the northern part of  until 1829 when Malnes Church was moved from Malnes to the village of Eidet. The name of the parish is still called Malnes.

## History

Hovden is a part of a line of old fishing communities in Vesterålen. Between the northern port of Andenes and the southwestern village of Bø there are several communities along the coastline with the common denominator of the closeness to the fishing banks off the Vesterålen archipelago. Hovden is one of these, and have to its advantage good harboring conditions and "clean" seas outside. Most of the coastline has a lot of rocks and skerries, so a good harbor was of vital significance to these communities.

Given the long settlement history, to maintain a large population is not possible in Hovden. From the census in 1666, nine men were registered as head of families in Hovden. Including families the total number of people could not have exceeded 60.

Agriculture in Hovden has always been limited. The main agricultural activity has been sheep and goat farming. But then as a supplement to the main income source: fishing. Conditions for farming large cattle are poor as the soil does not produce enough grass for larger cattle. Before potatoes came to Northern Norway (before the early 19th century) grains were grown in Hovden, we do not know of the type, but oats and barley have been grown in northern Norway since before the year 1000.

The fisheries have been and still are the most important economic activity in Hovden. Several different fisheries are important, but the most significant are the winter-fisheries between Christmas and Easter. These fisheries are also known under the name Lofotfisket. The Cod, gadus morhua migrate from the Barents Sea to spawn along the coast of Lofoten and have to pass Vesterålen on its way. Hovdens location is excellent given the short way to the areas where the fish are migrating south and northbound. For people living in Hovden, 80% of the total income was made during the first quarter of the year. The abundance of fish was far too much for consumption, and the fish was turned into dried fish and later salt fish, and then exported via Bergen to Europe.

The proximity to the fishing banks drew fishermen to Hovden. From the latter part of the 19th century, we know that in the winter months there could be up to 400 fishermen living on the small island across from the harbor (Holmen) and in the common landing place. They were living in cottages built for the purpose and under overturned boats.

During the latter part of the 19th century, Hovden came under ownership from what is called in Norwegian "væreier". Literally translated a "fishing community owner". These owners had total control of the economic activities in the community, and many had a monopoly on the buying and selling of the fish caught. This monopoly, and the fact that the investment in boats and nets became increasingly more expensive given the overall modernisation of the industry, made the fishermen dependent on the owner due to not being able to pay their debts with their income.

With the motorization of fishing vessels in the first two decades of the 20th century, the dependency on the "væreier" became even greater. With the motorization came a higher efficiency in catching fish, resulting in falling prices. Combined with the economic downturn in the 1930s, the profits from fishing dropped. Many of the owners went bankrupt and as a consequence the fishermen and their families had even less profit to live on. These events led to the formation of a fishermens union and in turn a state controlled buying monopoly who managed price formation. The reorganization of the fisheries made it more profitable for the fishermen.

## Etymology

"Hovden" gets its name from a high and steep cliff, now partly demolished, in the northwestern part of the village. The word derives from the Old Norse language, and the stem of the word is the same as in modern Norwegian/Danish "hode", Swedish "huvud", and English "head". This cliff is at the former southern entrance to the harbor. Now closed by a breakwater. The islets on the northernmost point of Hovden was called Maarsholmen.

"Malnes" means a headland with a shore made of rounded stones. A "moll" in Norwegian.

## Climate

Hovden's climate is a mild coastal climate. The winter is seldom cold. Average temperature in January is −1.4 °C (29.5 °F). The summer is seldom warm. Average temperature in August is 12.1 °C (53.8 °F). The precipitation is quite large with approximately 1,000 millimetres (39 in) per year. The climate is perfect for drying fish since the temperature is seldom below −2 °C (28 °F) or above 10 °C (50 °F) in the most important months between January and May.

The immediate closeness of the ocean makes the climate mild. April to June have the least precipitation, while the wet months are the autumn months. The dominating winds are the southwest winds (mild and moist) and the northeast winds (cold and dry). The North Atlantic Drift (extension of the Gulf Stream) is the reason for the mild climate. The continental shelf rises close to shore outside Vesterålen and have an insignificant impact on the life in the sea.

## Nature

The typical coastal landscape of Northern Norway is present in Hovden. The earth is barren, dominated by grass and heather. No wild woods are growing as a product of high exploitation by man, sheep and goats. The island of Frugga lies 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) north of Hovden. It is a nature reserve because of the large colony of puffin. To the south, the moraine of Raen stretches towards the village of Nykvåg. This moraine is the end moraine from a glacier ending in the sea here. This area is also a nature reserve.

Hovden is situated north of the Arctic Circle and has both the midnight sun and the winter darkness. The Midnight sun is present in Hovden between the end of May and the end of July. The polar night is between the end of November to mid-January.

## Culture

Being a northern Norwegian community, the same cultural influences are present as in other northern Norwegian communities. The culture is influenced by the mobility of Norwegians from the south to the north in the latter part of the 19th century. It has also received influence from the Sami culture along with Russian, Finnish, and Swedish culture as the migration in the northern part of the Scandinavian peninsula have been modestly restricted by state agencies until the 20th century and after the Russian Revolution.

The geographical location and the fact that the road was not built to Hovden until the 1950s made the dwellers self-contained and many of the cultural institutions was built by voluntary communal work. The freshwater-supply, street lights, the local Malnes Church, and a community house were all erected this way. Hovden had several Christian groups. A sports association was active in the 1960s and 1970s.

Hovden's population is now aging, the average age amongst the inhabitants is past 60. The Hovden Grendelag, consisting of younger migrated people from Hovden, is now the main actor in the local cultural field.

## InfoBox

| Hovden | |
| --- | --- |
| Village | |
| Hovden, July 2006: Fog around the hill Malnesberget | |
|  | |
| HovdenHovden | |
| Coordinates: 68°48′45″N 14°33′10″E / 68.8125°N 14.5528°E / 68.8125; 14.5528 | |
| Country | Norway |
| Region | Northern Norway |
| County | Nordland |
| District | Vesterålen |
| Municipality | Bø Municipality |
| Elevation | 5 m (16 ft) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| Post Code | 8475 Straumsjøen |


title: Robert Kerr, 2nd Earl of Lothian

abstract: Robert Kerr, 2nd Earl of Lothian was a Scottish noble.

text:
# Robert Kerr, 2nd Earl of Lothian

**Robert Kerr, 2nd Earl of Lothian** (died 1624) was a Scottish noble.

## His life

Robert Kerr was the son of Mark Kerr, 1st Earl of Lothian, who had been given the new title in 1606. He was the eldest son, with three brothers: William, Mark, and James, and sisters. In 1606 he became Master of Requests. When his father, the 1st Earl of Lothian, died in 1609, Robert succeeded him as the 2nd Earl of Lothian. A eulogic poem by William Douglas of Tofts mentioned that the Earl had traveled through most parts of Europe and was a student of mathematics and astrology.

In 1617 the Earl and John Hamilton of Preston held a trial for John Hunter, the blacksmith in Prestonpans. Over several years he had stolen iron plough shares and fittings from farms in the neighbouring villages for scrap metal.

## Marriage

In 1611 he married Lady Annabella Campbell, who was the daughter of Archibald Campbell, 7th Earl of Argyll. They had two daughters, Anne and Johanna. His wife died in 1652. His daughter Anne was married on 9 December 1630 to her kinsman Sir William Kerr of Ancrum, who was created a new Earl of Lothian on 31 October 1631. Robert Kerr and Annabella Campbell also had a daughter named Joanna.

## Suicide and succession

He committed suicide on 6 March 1624. That Saturday Robert Kerr dismissed his servants from him and went alone to a chamber in Newbattle Abbey, saying he was writing his letters and accounts. After barring the door, he stabbed himself several times and cut his throat. At the time it was rumoured that he was beset by debt or that he had been consulting with magicians and witches.

He had married Annabella, the daughter of Archibald Earl of Argyll. As he had no male heirs, he had obtained a charter in 1621 for his lands and titles so that his daughter, Anne Kerr, could succeed him, provided that she married a member of the family of Ker. Anne became Countess of Lothian in her own right. However, Sir Robert Kerr of Ancram was apparently given control of the Earl's possessions by James VI of Scotland in 1625. Subsequently, the Countess, Anne, and Sir Robert's son, Sir William Kerr, married, and Sir William was duly made Earl of Lothian on 26 July 1631. William Kerr is often called the 3rd Earl of Lothian, or the 1st Earl, regarding the re-grant of the title as a new creation.


title: Townline

abstract: Townline is a Canadian rock group from Welland, Ontario. Members of the band include Serena Pryne (vocals), Nick Lesyk (guitar), Greg Zack, and Allan Colavecchia (drums). Musically, the band performs heavy rock and roll music, with music that appears to be influenced by older artists such as AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin, and The Ramones, but performed in such a manner that allows their music to stay fresh and non-derivative. The band has been described as "If Tina Turner sang lead for The Cult."

text:
# Townline

Townline (formerly Oliver Black) is a Canadian rock group from Welland, Ontario. Members of the band include Serena Pryne (vocals), Nick Lesyk (guitar), Greg Zack (bass guitar), and Allan Colavecchia (drums). Musically, the band performs heavy rock and roll music, with music that appears to be influenced by older artists such as AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin, and The Ramones, but performed in such a manner that allows their music to stay fresh and non-derivative. The band has been described as "If Tina Turner sang lead for The Cult."

## History

The band originally formed, under the name Lenz Riot, in March 2002, and played primarily cover songs at shows throughout the St. Catharines area. As the members of the band began to write songs together, they changed their name to Oliver Black (in 2004). Since then, Oliver Black has performed shows across Canada, opening for bands as diverse as Rush, Thornley, Default, Jeff Martin, and The Trews.

The band has gained a reputation as consistently providing high-quality live performances, including receiving a score of 93/100 from Chart Attack magazine for their 2004 performance at the North by Northeast music festival in Toronto, Ontario.

In January 2005, the band was signed to TVT Records, with Universal Music Canada being responsible for distribution in Canada. To date, this relationship has led to the release of one EP, Live in Texas, which was released on March 21, 2006. The follow-up to this, the full length album 6th And Brazo's, was expected to be released in 2006; however, as of June 2007, the album has not yet received a commercial release.

As part of the recording process, Oliver Black temporarily relocated to Austin, Texas, where they wrote and recorded parts of the album. The album name, 6th And Brazo's, is in fact a reference to an intersection in that town. While in Texas, Oliver Black also continued to build on their reputation as live performers, opening for bands such as Grady, Silvertide, and Ted Nugent.

In September 2008, Oliver Black officially changed their name to suit their new musical pursuits and sound to Townline.

## Discography

### Albums

| Title | Release Date | Label | Track Listing |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| *Live in Texas* | March 21, 2006 | TVT Records | * Vices * Johnny * Last Call Jesus * Turn You On * One Way Ticket (unlisted track) |

## InfoBox

| Townline | |
| --- | --- |
| Genres | Rock |
| Years active | 2002–present |
| Labels | TVT Records |
|  | |
| Members | Serena Pruyn
Nick Lesyk
Greg Zack
Allan Colavecchia |


title: Hopea discolor

abstract: Hopea discolor is a species of plant in the family Dipterocarpaceae. It is endemic to Sri Lanka.

text:
# Hopea discolor

***Hopea discolor*** is a species of plant in the family Dipterocarpaceae. It is endemic to Sri Lanka.

## InfoBox

| *Hopea discolor* | |
| --- | --- |
| Conservation status | |
|
Endangered  (IUCN 2.3) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| *Clade*: | Tracheophytes |
| *Clade*: | Angiosperms |
| *Clade*: | Eudicots |
| *Clade*: | Rosids |
| Order: | Malvales |
| Family: | Dipterocarpaceae |
| Genus: | *Hopea* |
| Species: | ***H. discolor*** |
| Binomial name | |
| ***Hopea discolor***
Thwaites | |
|


title: Villa Sciarra

abstract: The Villa Sciarra is a villa in Frascati, Italy. Also called Villa Bel Poggio, the Villa Sciarra was built in 1570 at the orders of Ottaviano Vestri. The portal gate of the gardens is to ascribe to Nicola Salvi. The main edifice of the villa was destroyed when Frascati was bombed by Americans on September 8, 1943. The gardens are now a public park.

text:
# Villa Sciarra

41°48′16″N 12°40′23″E / 41.8044194°N 12.6730167°E / 41.8044194; 12.6730167

The **Villa Sciarra** is a villa in Frascati, Italy.

Also called *Villa Bel Poggio*, the Villa Sciarra was built in 1570 at the orders of Ottaviano Vestri.

The portal gate of the gardens is to ascribe to Nicola Salvi. The main edifice of the villa was destroyed when Frascati was bombed by Americans on September 8, 1943.

The gardens are now a public park.

* Wells, Clara Louisa (1878). "The Alban Hills, Vol. I Frascati". Rome, Italy: Barbera. OCLC 21996251. `{{cite web}}`: Missing or empty `|url=` (help)


title: Naja annulata

abstract: Naja annulata, commonly known as the banded water cobra or the ringed water cobra, is a species of water cobra native to western and central Africa. The species is one of the two species of water cobra in the world, the other one being the Congo water cobra.

text:
# Naja annulata

***Naja annulata*** (formerly ***Boulengerina annulata***), commonly known as the **banded water cobra** or the **ringed water cobra**, is a species of water cobra native to western and central Africa.

The species is one of the two species of water cobra in the world, the other one being the Congo water cobra (*Naja christyi*).

## Description

It is a large, heavy-bodied snake with a short, broad and flat head with an indistinct canthus and distinct from the neck. It has medium-sized dark eyes with round pupils. The body is cylindrical; the tail is long. The scales are smooth and glossy, in 21–23 rows at midbody. Adults grow to an average of 1.4 to 2.2 metres (4.6 to 7.2 ft) in length, but they can grow to a maximum of 2.8 metres (9.2 ft). Scales are smooth, indicating the largely aquatic life of this species. It is capable of spreading a narrow, yet impressive hood. Body colors are mostly glossy brown, grayish-brown, or reddish-brown with black bands all along the body. The belly is pale yellow, while the tail is wholly black.

## Distribution and habitat

This species is found in parts of central and western Africa, in Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Rwanda, and the province of Cabinda in Angola, as well as along the Burundian, Tanzanian and Zambian shores of Lake Tanganyika. It is largely an aquatic species and rarely is found far away from water. It can be found along lakes and rivers in forested and well-wooded savanna terrain where cover is sufficient, most commonly along lowland forested, bushy or wooded banks of lakes, rivers, and streams.

## Behavior and diet

It is a secretive species and is seldom encountered by humans. It is active by day and night, though it is usually more active by day. This largely aquatic snake spends most of its time in the water. It is an excellent swimmer and is capable of remaining underwater for up to 10 minutes and diving to depths of 25 m (82 ft). It is a slow mover on land, and it tends to hide among rocks, in holes, or overhanging tree roots at the shoreline. It also makes use of any man-made structures, such as bridges and jetties, to hide. It is generally not aggressive, and if approached in water, it will swim away swiftly and on land will attempt to escape into water. If threatened on land, it will rear up and spread its narrow, yet prominent hood and it may hiss loudly, but it tends not to make any forward movements. It will only bite when provoked.

It preys almost exclusively on fish. It may also prey on frogs, toads, and other amphibians.

## Venom

The venom of this species is not well studied, but it is believed that the venom is dangerously neurotoxic, like that of most elapids. A study listed the intraperitoneal (IP) LD50 of this species at 0.143 mg/kg.

Venoms of the water cobras were assayed for lethality, proteolytic activity and protein content. *Naja annulata annulata* and *Naja christyi* venoms averaged 89% protein and lacked proteolytic activity. The murine intraperitoneal LD50 of *N. a. annulata* and *N. christyi* venoms were 0.143 and 0.120 mg/kg, respectively. Polyvalent antivenom produced by the South African Institute of Medical Research neutralized 575 and 200 LD50 of *N. a. annulata* and *N. christyi* venoms/ml antivenom, respectively. Cation exchange chromatography resolved four lethal peaks from *N. a. annulata* venom and six lethal peaks from *N. christyi* venom. The major lethal peaks (about 12% of total venom protein) were purified further with molecular sieve chromatography and were characterized as 61- (*N. a. annulata* toxin) and 62-residue (*N. christyi* toxin) polypeptides with four half-cystines. Elucidation of the complete amino-acid sequences indicated that these toxins belonged to the short-chain class of postsynaptic neurotoxins. Short-chain neurotoxins 1 from *N. a. annulata* and *N. christyi* had murine intraperitoneal LD50 values of 0.052 and 0.083 mg/kg, respectively, and showed over 80% homology with *N. nigricollis* alpha toxin. Reverse-phase analysis of another peak present in both venoms resolved a toxin that had an N-terminus identical to *N. christyi* short-chain neurotoxin 1. These fractions also contained toxins readily separable from the short-chain isotoxin by preparative reverse-phase chromatography. Amino-acid sequencing of the first 28 residues indicated that both toxins were long-chain neurotoxins with identical N-termini. The LD50 of long-chain neurotoxins 2 from *N. a. annulata* and *N. christyi* venoms were 0.086 and 0.090 mg/kg, respectively. The venoms of these little-known elapids have some of the lowest intraperitoneal LD50 values of any African *Naja* species studied thus far, and have high concentrations of potent postsynaptic neurotoxins.

## Taxonomy

| Subspecies | Taxon author | Common name | Geographic range |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| *N. a. annulata* | Buchholz and Peters, 1876 | Banded water cobra, ringed water cobra | Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Rwanda, Cabinda |
| *N. a. stormsi* | (Dollo, 1886) | Storm's water cobra | Burundi, Tanzania |
|

## InfoBox

| *Naja annulata* | |
| --- | --- |
|  | |
| Conservation status | |
|
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Elapidae |
| Genus: | *Naja* |
| Subgenus: | *Boulengerina* |
| Species: | ***N. annulata*** |
| Binomial name | |
| ***Naja annulata***
Peters, 1876 | |
|
|  | |
| Synonyms | |
| * *Aspidelaps bocagei*  Sauvage, 1884 * *Boulengerina annulata* Schmidt, 1923 | |


title: Hoya carnosa

abstract: Hoya carnosa, the porcelainflower or wax plant, is a species of flowering plant in the family Apocynaceae, native to East Asia. It is a common house plant grown for its attractive waxy foliage, and sweetly scented flowers. It is grown well in pots and hanging baskets. Hoya carnosa has been in cultivation for more than 200 years and has given rise to many cultivars that vary in foliage form or flower color. In cultivation in the UK it has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

text:
# Hoya carnosa

***Hoya carnosa***, the **porcelainflower** or **wax plant**, is a species of flowering plant in the family Apocynaceae, native to East Asia. It is a common house plant grown for its attractive waxy foliage, and sweetly scented flowers. It is grown well in pots and hanging baskets.

*Hoya carnosa* has been in cultivation for more than 200 years and has given rise to many cultivars that vary in foliage form or flower color. In cultivation in the UK it has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

## Description

*Hoya carnosa* makes faintly succulent shoots with smooth, pale gray, and bare surfaces that twine and climb. The perennial leaves are wide oval to longitudinal oval or heart-shaped. They are slightly succulent, fleshy with a waxy glossy surface, 3–5 centimetres (1.2–2.0 in) wide and 3.5–13 centimetres (1.4–5.1 in) long, with a petiole of about 1–1.5 centimetres (0.39–0.59 in). The spindle-shaped fruits measure 6 to 10 × 0.5 to 1.5 cm.

### Flowers

The inflorescence is made up of numerous flowers, hanging or more upright, which are grouped in an umbel. The flowers are typically light pink, but may vary from near-white to dark pink; they are star-shaped, and are borne in clusters. The thick flower corollas look as if made from porcelaine or from wax, leading to the plant's common names. The surface of the flowers is covered in tiny hairs giving them a fuzzy sheen. They are heavily scented and may produce excess nectar that drips from the flowers. A single flower (corolla) has a diameter of 1.5 to 2 cm.

Like most species of *Hoya*, *H. carnosa* flowers from specialised perennial peduncles; sometimes these structures are referred to as spurs. These appear from the axils of the leaves and stem; flowers may not be produced when the spurs first appear, but in time buds emerge from their tips. New flowers are produced on these same spurs every year, so they should not be removed.

The plant flowers from spring to late summer, it can produce umbels of 10 to 50 small star-shaped flowers that mature gradually (2 to 3 weeks) on the same peduncle. The scent is nocturnal with a pheromonal tendency.

## Distribution and habitat

*Hoya carnosa* is native to southern China (including Hainan), Taiwan, Laos and Japan (including the Ryukyu Islands).

## Cultivation

*Hoya carnosa* prefers indirect bright light, but will tolerate much less. Though it will tolerate low temperatures (but not freezing), the optimal temperature is 60–85 °F (16–29 °C). It can be propagated by air layering or by stem cuttings. It benefits from an open potting medium that allows some air to get to the roots. Typical mixes include large-grade drainage material such as perlite, pumice, or ceramic balls. The plants should be fed regularly with a fertilizer suitable for epiphytic plants.

There is a persistent piece of folklore that hoyas prefer to be potbound - kept in a small pot. It is said that this will hasten flowering.

Studies at the University of Georgia, published in 2009, have shown *H. carnosa* to be an excellent remover of pollutants in the indoor environment.

### *var. Compacta*

A variant of Hoya, *Hoya carnosa var. compacta,* is known as the Hindu rope plant, and is characterized by its folded, curled leaves, which grow along vines resembling ropes. The inflorescences of this variant tend to take on a pinkish color.

## Bibliography

* *Hoya carnosa*: information in The Plant List
* Trimen, Henry (1888). *Hortus Zeylanicus; A Classified List of the Plants, Both Native and Exotic, Growing in the Royal Botanic Gardens*. P.R. Deniya. ISBN 9781236067777.
* Phillips, Roger (1997). *The Random House Book of Indoor and Greenhouse Plants (Vol. 2)*. New York, NY, U.S.A.: Random House, Incorporated. ISBN 0375750282.

## InfoBox

| *Hoya carnosa* | |
| --- | --- |
|  | |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| *Clade*: | Tracheophytes |
| *Clade*: | Angiosperms |
| *Clade*: | Eudicots |
| *Clade*: | Asterids |
| Order: | Gentianales |
| Family: | Apocynaceae |
| Genus: | *Hoya* |
| Species: | ***H. carnosa*** |
| Binomial name | |
| ***Hoya carnosa***<br>(L.f.) R.Br. | |
|
| Synonyms | |
| List * *Asclepias carnosa*  L.f. * *Hoya chinensis*  (Lour.) Traill * *Hoya compacta*  C.M.Burton * *Hoya crassifolia*  (J.Jacq.) Haw. * *Hoya intermedia*  A.C.Sm. * *Hoya laurifolia*  Miq. * *Hoya motoskei*  Teijsm. & Binn. * *Hoya picta*  Siebold ex C.Morren * *Hoya rotundifolia*  Siebold * *Hoya skinneriana*  Kloppenb. * *Hoya variegata*  Siebold ex C.Morren * *Schollia chinensis*  (Lour.) J.Jacq. * *Schollia crassifolia*  J.Jacq. * *Stapelia chinensis*  Lour. | |


abstract: The Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham in England and Wales is a personal ordinariate in the Latin Church of the Catholic Church immediately exempt, being directly subject to the Holy See. It is within the territory of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, of which its ordinary is a member, and also encompasses Scotland. It was established on 15 January 2011 for groups of former Anglicans in England and Wales in accordance with the apostolic constitution Anglicanorum coetibus of Pope Benedict XVI, which was supplemented with the Complementary Norms of Pope Francis in 2013. The personal ordinariate is set up in such a way that "corporate reunion" of former Anglicans with the Catholic Church is possible while also preserving elements of a "distinctive Anglican patrimony". The Liturgy used is the Divine Worship: The Missal, an adaption of the Roman Rite with Anglican elements. Each ordinariate has its own Liturgical Calendar. The ordinariate was placed under the title of Our Lady of Walsingham and under the patronage of Saint John Henry Newman, a former Anglican himself.

text:
# Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham

The **Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham in England and Wales** is a personal ordinariate in the Latin Church of the Catholic Church immediately exempt, being directly subject to the Holy See. It is within the territory of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, of which its ordinary is a member, and also encompasses Scotland. It was established on 15 January 2011 for groups of former Anglicans in England and Wales in accordance with the apostolic constitution *Anglicanorum coetibus* of Pope Benedict XVI, which was supplemented with the *Complementary Norms* of Pope Francis in 2013.

The personal ordinariate is set up in such a way that "corporate reunion" of former Anglicans with the Catholic Church is possible while also preserving elements of a "distinctive Anglican patrimony". The Liturgy used is the Divine Worship: The Missal (2015, 2020), an adaption of the Roman Rite with Anglican elements. Each ordinariate has its own Liturgical Calendar. The ordinariate was placed under the title of Our Lady of Walsingham and under the patronage of Saint John Henry Newman, a former Anglican himself.

## History

### Background

The apostolic constitution which allows for the institution of personal ordinariates for Anglicans who join the Roman Catholic Church was released on 9 November 2009, after being announced on 20 October 2009 by Cardinal William Levada at a press conference in Rome.

### Anglican responses

The Bishop of Lincoln, John Saxbee, said that "I can't judge the motives behind it \[the offer\], but the way it was done doesn't sit easily with all of the talk about working towards better relations" and that "Fence mending will need to be done to set conversations back on track."

Roman Catholic clergy who were present at an ecumenical service at Westminster Cathedral for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity were reported as being "dismayed" by the sermon by Canon Giles Fraser, then chancellor of St Paul's Cathedral, which included comments that the ordinariate had a "slightly predatory feel" and that "In corporate terms, \[it is\] a little like a takeover bid in some broader power play of church politics."

In 2011, Bishop Christopher Hill, the chairman of the Church of England's Council for Christian Unity, described the erection of the ordinariate as an "insensitive act".

In 2019, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, responded to Anglican priests defecting to Rome in this way by saying "Who cares?" and that he did not mind people leaving to join other denominations as long as they are "faithful disciples of Christ".

### Formation

In October 2010, the parochial church council of St Peter's Church in Folkestone became the first Church of England parochial group to formally begin the process of joining the Roman Catholic Church.

On 8 November 2010, three serving and two retired bishops of the Church of England announced their intention to join the Roman Catholic Church. The serving bishops were provincial episcopal visitors Bishop Andrew Burnham of Ebbsfleet, Bishop Keith Newton of Richborough and Bishop John Broadhurst of Fulham. The retired bishops were Edwin Barnes, formerly Bishop of Richborough, and David Silk, formerly Bishop of Ballarat in Australia and an honorary assistant bishop in the diocese of Exeter. The then Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, announced that he had with regret accepted the resignations of Bishops Burnham and Newton. In the following week, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales considered the proposed ordinariate and gave assurances of a warm welcome for those who wish to be part of it.

On 1 January 2011, Broadhurst, Burnham and Newton (together with their wives, apart from Burnham whose wife is Jewish), three former Anglican nuns of a convent at Walsingham and former members of 20 different Anglican parishes, were received into the Roman Catholic Church.

The first personal ordinariate, the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, within the territory of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, was established on 15 January 2011 with Keith Newton appointed as the first ordinary.

About half of St Peter's Parish, Folkestone (mentioned above), including their priest, were received into the ordinariate on 9 March 2011, along with 600 other Anglicans largely from south-east England, with six groups from the Southwark diocese.

The "ordinariate groups", numbering approximately 900 members, entered the ordinariate at Easter 2011, thereby becoming Roman Catholics. Initially, 61 Anglican priests were expected to be received, but some subsequently withdrew, remaining in the Church of England. John Hunwicke, who joined the ordinariate, had his ordination "deferred" owing to unspecified comments allegedly made by him on his Internet blog site, but was subsequently ordained to the Catholic presbyterate. In 2012, Robert Mercer, a former bishop in both the Anglican Communion and the Traditional Anglican Communion, was received into the ordinariate and ordained on 27 March 2012 by Bishop Alan Hopes at the Cathedral of St John the Evangelist, Portsmouth.

In 2013, the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham became the first ordinariate to have a married layman on his way to priesthood.

In 2014, Monsignor Keith Newton, the ordinary, admitted that the ordinariate had not grown as much as was hoped. It had not yet aroused broad interest among Anglican clergy, who had not welcomed it. To revive interest among Anglican upholders of traditional Christian doctrine, the ordinariate's members, he suggested, should "communicate our message more fully and with more vigour and enthusiasm".

In 2017, Simon Beveridge and another former Anglican military chaplain (Royal Navy/Commando Royal Marines and the Army) were ordained into the priesthood in Scotland under the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham. In 2018, eight men were ordained to the priesthood under the Walsingham ordinariate.

In 2021 and 2022 four former bishops of the Church of England (Jonathan Goodall, Michael Nazir-Ali, John Goddard and Peter Foster) were received into the Ordinariate. Three of them were later ordained as priests. Gavin Ashenden, former chaplain of Queen Elizabeth II and former missionary bishop of the Christian Episcopal Church, was received into the Ordinariate as well.

In 2023 it was announced that Richard Paine, former bishop of the Church in Wales, would also be received into the Ordinariate.

### Religious

In 2010, three nuns from the Society of Saint Margaret joined the personal ordinariate. The two former SSM sisters formed the Marian Servants of the Incarnation (MSI) and hold private vows. On 12 December 2012, it was announced that 11 religious sisters from the Community of St Mary the Virgin (CSMV) intended to join the ordinariate.

On 1 January 2013, eleven sisters of the CSMV were received into the Roman Catholic Church at the Oxford Oratory of St Aloysius Gonzaga and, with a former SSM sister from Walsingham who had been one of the first members of the ordinariate, were erected as the Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary (SBVM), a new religious institute within the ordinariate following the Rule of St Benedict.

### Financial difficulties

The ordinariate experienced what was described as "a tough first year". Writing in the Roman Catholic magazine *The Tablet*, Keith Newton said that the group was struggling financially. He expressed disappointment "that so many who said that they were heading in the same direction did not follow" and failed to join the ordinariate as expected. In April 2012, Pope Benedict XVI donated $250,000 to the ordinariate to help support its clergy and work.

## Church buildings

Catholic church buildings throughout England, Scotland and Wales are used by the ordinariate alongside the established congregations. The Church of Our Lady of the Assumption and St Gregory in Warwick Street, Soho, London, which belongs to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Westminster, was designated for the ordinariate's exclusive use from Lent in 2013. Also in 2013, the Church of the Most Precious Blood in Borough, London was placed in the care of the ordinariate by the Archbishop of Southwark. It was previously a Salvatorian parish. In 2017, the ordinariate established its first ever parish in Torbay, Our Lady of Walsingham and St Cuthbert Mayne Church. The church is a former Methodist chapel. St Agatha's Church in Landport, Portsmouth, was part of the Traditional Anglican Communion before being used by the ordinariate.

The use of Church of England buildings by the ordinariate requires permission from the relevant Anglican bishop; permission has been denied in at least one case.

## Leadership

The following individuals have served as head of the personal ordinariate:

| No. | Picture | Name | Position | Date installed | Term ended | Term of office | Reason for term end | Coat-of-arms |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 |  | Monsignor Keith Newton | Ordinary | 15 January 2011 | 29 April 2024 | 13 years, 105 days | Resign from the office. |  |
| 2 |  | Bishop David Waller | Bishop | 29 April 2024 | present | 161 days |  |  |

## Liturgy

### Missal

In 2015, Divine Worship: The Missal was promulgated as the liturgical book for the celebration of Mass in the three ordinariates. Divine Worship is an adaptation of the Roman Rite with Anglican additions (e.g., some characteristic or popular prayers and rubrics) for use by the Personal Ordinariates: Our Lady of Walsingham (Britain), Our Lady of the Southern Cross (Australasia/Japan), and Our Lady of the Chair of St Peter (North America). A second printing of the missal, with corrections, was published in 2020. Any Catholic may participate in Mass celebrated according to Divine Worship.

### Divine Office

In 2021, Divine Worship: Daily Office (Commonwealth Edition) was issued for use in the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsinghm, and the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of the Southern Cross. The office book was published the Catholic Truth Society and contains Morning and Evening Prayer taken from the tradition of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer. In addition, it provides for the lesser hours of Prime, Terce, Sext, None, and Compline, drawn from the Anglican tradition. The Psalmody is arranged according to the monthly cycle common to the prayerbook tradition.

### Liturgical Calendar

The proper liturgical calendar of the ordinariate was approved by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments on 15 February 2012. In the main, it is identical with the General Roman Calendar as the National Calendar of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, but it has retained some elements that form part of the Anglican patrimony.

In the Proper of Time:

Also:

## Friends of the Ordinariate

Soon after the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham was established in 2011, a group of lay Catholics founded a separate charity, called the Friends of the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, to assist the work and mission of the ordinariate by providing both practical and financial support. The Friends of the Ordinariate, as it is commonly called, was also established in order to raise awareness of the ordinariate's life and mission within the wider Catholic community. The ordinary, Mgr Keith Newton, is the organisation's president. The current chairman is Nicolas Ollivant. Honorary vice presidents include Lord Deben; Charles Moore; The Duke of Norfolk; The Countess of Oxford and Asquith; Katharine, The Duchess of Kent and Lord Nicholas Windsor.

## InfoBox

| The Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham in England and Wales
**Ordinariatus Personalis
Dominae Nostrae Valsinghamensis in Anglia et Cambria** | |
| --- | --- |
|  | |
| Coat of arms | |
| Location | |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Territory | Great Britain |
| Statistics | |
| Parishes | 36 |
| Congregations | 57 |
| Members | 1950 (2021) |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Catholic Church |
| *Sui iuris* church | Latin Church |
| Rite | Anglican Use of the Roman Rite |
| Established | 15 January 2011 |
| Patron | Saint John Henry Newman |
| Secular priests | 97 |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Francis |
| Bishop | David Waller |
| Episcopal Vicars | * Christopher Lindlar * Michael Halsall |
| Bishops emeritus | Keith Newton |
| Website | |
| ordinariate.org.uk | |


title: Nicholas Hookes

abstract: Nicholas Hookes (1632–1712) was an English poet, best known for Amanda, a sacrifice to an unknown goddesse.

text:
# Nicholas Hookes

**Nicholas Hookes** (1632–1712) was an English poet, best known for *Amanda, a sacrifice to an unknown goddesse*.

## Life

Hookes was born in London and was educated at Westminster School under Richard Busby. He gained a scholarship at Trinity College, Cambridge in 1649, and graduated B.A. there in 1653. His tutor was Alexander Akehurst. Akehurst was expelled from Trinity the following year, for "blasphemous statements", and accused by his student Oliver Heywood of being a Quaker. Hookes wrote of him that he concealed his head "among the clouds of alchemists".

Hookes died on 7 November 1712; and was buried in St Mary-at-Lambeth. A monumental inscription there remembered him as loyal to the Stuarts.

## Works

The *Amanda* verses published by Hookes in 1653, his year of graduation, were generally in the Cavalier poet amatory style, conventional from a literary point of view but "overtly royalist" in terms of politics under the Commonwealth of England. The book was dedicated to Edward Montagu, a Westminster and Cambridge contemporary and son of Edward Montagu, 2nd Baron Montagu of Boughton.

The same year Hookes published also *Miscellanea poetica*, mostly Latin verse in the elegy genre: this work sought patronage.


title: Hove Borough Council elections

text:
# Hove Borough Council elections

Hove was a non-metropolitan district in East Sussex, England. It was abolished on 1 April 1997 and replaced by Brighton and Hove.

## Political control

From the first election to the council in 1973 until its abolition in 1997 political control of the council was held by the following parties:

| Party in control | | Years |
| --- | --- | --- |
|  | Conservative | 1973–1995 |
|  | Labour | 1995–1997 |

### Leadership

The last leader of the council, Ivor Caplin, who had led the council from 1995, went on to be the first deputy leader of the replacement authority, Brighton and Hove City Council, and was also elected as the Member of Parliament for the Hove constituency the month after the council's abolition.

| Councillor | Party | | From | To |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ivor Caplin |  | Labour | 12 May 1995 | 31 Mar 1997 |

## Council elections

## Borough result maps

## By-election results


title: Robert Kerr, 1st Marquess of Lothian

abstract: Robert Kerr, 1st Marquess of Lothian, known as the 4th Earl of Lothian from 1675 to 1701, was a Scottish nobleman. He was styled Lord Kerr until 1661 and Lord Newbattle from 1661 to 1675. The eldest son of William Kerr, 3rd Earl of Lothian and Anne Kerr, he was born at Newbattle Abbey, Midlothian. He left Scotland and was educated at Leyden, Saumur, and Angers from 1651 to 1657. He unsuccessfully claimed the earldom of Roxburghe in 1658. In 1661, his father lost an additional dispute with the new Earl of Roxburghe over the use of the courtesy title of Lord Kerr; it was reserved for Roxburghe's heir, and Kerr was thereafter styled Lord Newbattle. Lord Newbattle was a volunteer in the Dutch War of 1673. He succeeded his father in the earldom in 1675. Sworn a Privy Counsellor in January 1686, he was removed by James II in September. Lothian supported the Glorious Revolution and sat in the Convention of Estates of Scotland. He was appointed Lord Justice General of Scotland in 1689, holding the office until his death, and was re-appointed a privy counsellor by William III in 1690. In the same year, he succeeded his uncle Charles as Earl of Ancram. He was Lord High Commissioner to the Parliament of Scotland in 1692, and addressed the assembly with a speech advocating tolerance and liberality towards episcopal ministers wishing to be received into the Kirk, in harmony with the King's recommendations. However, the Assembly proved hostile, and the proposal was not taken up. He was created Marquess of Lothian on 23 June 1701, and was appointed Justice-General and a commissioner to treat for the union of Scotland and England in 1702. He did not see the project out, as he died in the following year.

text:
# Robert Kerr, 1st Marquess of Lothian

**Robert Kerr, 1st Marquess of Lothian** PC (8 March 1636 – 15 February 1703), known as the **4th Earl of Lothian** from 1675 to 1701, was a Scottish nobleman. He was styled **Lord Kerr** until 1661 and **Lord Newbattle** from 1661 to 1675.

The eldest son of William Kerr, 3rd Earl of Lothian and Anne Kerr, he was born at Newbattle Abbey, Midlothian. He left Scotland and was educated at Leyden, Saumur, and Angers from 1651 to 1657. He unsuccessfully claimed the earldom of Roxburghe in 1658. In 1661, his father lost an additional dispute with the new Earl of Roxburghe over the use of the courtesy title of **Lord Kerr**; it was reserved for Roxburghe's heir, and Kerr was thereafter styled **Lord Newbattle**.

Lord Newbattle was a volunteer in the Dutch War of 1673. He succeeded his father in the earldom in 1675. Sworn a Privy Counsellor in January 1686, he was removed by James II in September. Lothian supported the Glorious Revolution and sat in the Convention of Estates of Scotland. He was appointed Lord Justice General of Scotland in 1689, holding the office until his death, and was re-appointed a privy counsellor by William III in 1690. In the same year, he succeeded his uncle Charles as Earl of Ancram.

He was Lord High Commissioner to the Parliament of Scotland in 1692, and addressed the assembly with a speech advocating tolerance and liberality towards episcopal ministers wishing to be received into the Kirk, in harmony with the King's recommendations. However, the Assembly proved hostile, and the proposal was not taken up. He was created Marquess of Lothian on 23 June 1701, and was appointed Justice-General and a commissioner to treat for the union of Scotland and England in 1702. He did not see the project out, as he died in the following year.

## Personal life

Lothian married Lady Jean Campbell (d. 1700), daughter of Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll, in January 1660–1, by whom he had ten children:

Lothian also had a natural son, Captain John Kerr, who was slain at Douglas Castle by the Duke of Douglas.

He is buried in the family vault of Newbattle Church, Scotland.


title: Trachonitis (moth)

abstract: Trachonitis is a genus of snout moths. It was described by Philipp Christoph Zeller in 1848.

text:
# Trachonitis (moth)

***Trachonitis*** is a genus of snout moths. It was described by Philipp Christoph Zeller in 1848.

## Species

## InfoBox

| *Trachonitis* | |
| --- | --- |
|  | |
| *Trachonitis capensis* | |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Pyralidae |
| Tribe: | Phycitini |
| Genus: | *Trachonitis*
Zeller, 1848 |
|
| Type species | |
| *Tinea christella*
(Hübner, 1776) | |


title: Amsoil

abstract: AMSOIL Inc. is an American corporation based in Superior, Wisconsin that primarily formulates and packages synthetic lubricants, fuel additives, and filters. Company founder Albert J. Amatuzio developed several synthetic motor oil formulations throughout the mid-to-late 1960s. He was commercially selling synthetic motor oil by 1968. In 1972, AMSOIL 10W-40 Synthetic Motor Oil became the world's first synthetic motor oil to meet American Petroleum Institute requirements, which prompted the company to adopt "The First in Synthetics®" as its tagline. The company introduced several other synthetic lubricants that represented industry firsts throughout the 1970s and early 1980s. It distributes products in North America via a network of independent dealers paid commissions on sales.

text:
# Amsoil

**AMSOIL Inc.** is an American corporation based in Superior, Wisconsin that primarily formulates and packages synthetic lubricants, fuel additives, and filters. Company founder Albert J. Amatuzio developed several synthetic motor oil formulations throughout the mid-to-late 1960s. He was commercially selling synthetic motor oil by 1968. In 1972, AMSOIL 10W-40 Synthetic Motor Oil became the world's first synthetic motor oil to meet American Petroleum Institute requirements, which prompted the company to adopt "The First in Synthetics®" as its tagline. The company introduced several other synthetic lubricants that represented industry firsts throughout the 1970s and early 1980s. It distributes products in North America via a network of independent dealers paid commissions on sales.

## History

Albert J. Amatuzio founded AMSOIL Inc. while serving as Squadron Commander of the Duluth, Minn. Air National Guard. Amatuzio was born May 6, 1924, to Italian immigrants in Duluth, Minn. Following high school in 1942, he attended Naval Air Corps training before the Navy closed the program. Amatuzio joined the Merchant Marine prior to joining the Air Force after World War II. He flew the F80 Shooting Star, America's first operational jet fighter. He returned to Duluth to run the family business after his mother had taken ill. In Duluth, Amatuzio joined the Air National Guard. During his fighter-pilot career, Amatuzio won the William Tell Air-to-Air Shootout Competition and the Earl T. Rick Competitive Shootout.

### Life-Lube, Inc.

During his time as a pilot, Amatuzio began researching synthetic engine oils. Synthetic lubricants were used exclusively in jet engines due to the increased heat and stress of supersonic flight, and Amatuzio sought to apply the benefits of synthetic oil to automotive engines. He developed several different synthetic motor oil formulations and was commercially selling synthetic motor oil for automotive use by 1968. On May 23, 1969, he incorporated "Life-Lube, Inc.," through the Minnesota Department of State. By 1970, Amatuzio had renamed his company "AMZOIL," which he later changed to "AMSOIL."

### API certification and network marketing

AMSOIL 10W-40 Synthetic Motor Oil became the first synthetic motor oil in the world to meet American Petroleum Institute (API) service requirements in 1972. The company created its tagline, "The First in Synthetics®," to acknowledge the achievement.

Due to widespread unawareness of synthetic motor oil and consequent slow sales, Amatuzio started the North American AMSOIL Dealer network in 1973. Using network marketing instead of traditional retail sales, AMSOIL Dealers were able to communicate the product's benefits compared to conventional motor oil directly to motorists, helping the company grow.

### Recent history

In 1994, Amatuzio was inducted into the *Lubricants World* Hall of Fame. Into the 2000s, AMSOIL developed nanofiber materials to be used in oil filters for increased filtration and durability. Nanofiber materials were also developed for air filters, resulting with better performance than traditional cellulose fiber filters. AMSOIL has also developed gear oil for wind turbines, with sale trends increasing through the late 2010s during the increase of renewable energy investments.

Amatuzio died on April 1, 2017. Today, Amatuzio's son, Alan Amatuzio, serves as AMSOIL Chairman & CEO.

## AMSOIL divisions

### North American dealer

AMSOIL products are distributed in North America via a network of independent AMSOIL Dealers. They are independent business people and not AMSOIL employees. Dealers earn commissions through a Multi-level marketing (MLM) business model. They also can earn retail profit selling AMSOIL products directly to end-users, such as individual motorists, professional landscapers, truck drivers, and delivery fleets. AMSOIL Dealers also establish retail businesses, such as auto parts stores, repair shops, and oil-change facilities, as retail accounts, where customers can buy AMSOIL products.

### Wind-Power companies

AMSOIL formulates synthetic lubricants for industrial wind turbines. It sells products directly to companies that manufacture wind-turbine components as well as companies that operate wind-turbine farms throughout the world.

### International sales

AMSOIL products are sold in more than 60 countries via International Distributors.

### Technical sales

AMSOIL sells lubricants directly to original equipment manufacturers and large commercial and industrial customers via its Technical Sales division.

## Sponsorships

AMSOIL sponsors several motorsports events, race series, motorcycle rallies, professional drivers, and other influencers. Examples include the USAC Amsoil National Sprint Car Series, Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, Championship Off-Road, the Ultimate Callout Challenge, Team O’Neil Rally School, off-road driver Bryce Menzies and many others. AMSOIL also has the naming rights to an ice hockey venue in Duluth, Minnesota, named AMSOIL Arena.

## Product line

AMSOIL manufactures and distributes hundreds of different synthetic lubricants, filters, fuel additives and other products. Typical applications include passenger cars and trucks, heavy-duty equipment, wind turbines, hydraulic applications, motorcycles, marine motors, dirt bikes, snowmobiles, lawnmowers, chainsaws, and other internal-combustion engines.

## National and grassroots advertising

AMSOIL advertises nationally via television, print, and digital mediums on behalf of its North American Dealer network. Dealers and international Distributors also coordinate and execute their own local advertising campaigns to benefit their individual businesses.

## Certifications and licenses

## InfoBox

AMSOIL INC.
|
|  |
| Company type | Private |
| Industry | Oil and chemical |
| Genre | Automotive service |
| Founded | May 23, 1969 (1969-05-23) (as Life-Lube, Inc.) |
| Founder | Albert J. Amatuzio |
| Headquarters | Superior, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Area served | Worldwide |
| Key people | Alan Amatuzio (Chairman & CEO), Bhadresh Sutaria (President) |
| Products | Synthetic lubricants, synthetic grease, oil filters, nutritional products |
| Owner | Alan Amatuzio |
| Number of employees | 315 |
| Divisions | ALTRUM - Health Division |
| Website | www.amsoil.com |


title: Villa Senar

abstract: Villa Senar is an estate built in Switzerland by the Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff. He purchased the plot of land near Hertenstein on the shores of Lake Lucerne in 1932. The name of the estate originated from the names of Rachmaninoff and his wife: Sergei and Natalia, by combining the first two letters of each given name and the first of their surname. The architects of the very modern design were the Swiss architects Alfred Möri and Karl Friedrich Krebs. The villa was designed to remind Rachmaninoff of the estate of Ivanovka the family had in southern Russia before the October Revolution and their migration to Western Europe in 1918. A park and a magnificent rose garden were laid at Senar. The Rachmaninoffs spent every summer at Senar until their final migration to the United States in 1939 at the outbreak of World War II. Two of Rachmaninoff's major compositions were written at Senar: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini completed in 1934 and the Third symphony completed in 1936. The villa hosted famous Russian immigrants, including Ivan Bunin and Vladimir Horowitz. Rachmaninoff left Senar for the last time on 16 August 1939, going to Paris and preparing to move to New York City. In 2013, it was reported that Russia was interested in purchasing the Villa and preserve it in memory of Rachmaninoff. After the death of Rachmaninoff, the villa stayed in possession of the family. His grand child Alexandre Rachmaninoff Conus established the Rachmaninoff foundation. After the death of Rachmaninoff Conus, his will mentioned Lucerne as a possible inheritor, but it was not worded properly enough. In order to prevent a possible legal case between Lucerne and his descendants the Canton Lucerne bought the estate in 2022 and on the 1 April 2023, the 150th birthday of Rachmaninoff, the Villa was made accessible to the public.

text:
# Villa Senar

**Villa Senar** is an estate built in Switzerland by the Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff. He purchased the plot of land near Hertenstein on the shores of Lake Lucerne in 1932. The name of the estate originated from the names of Rachmaninoff and his wife: Sergei and Natalia, by combining the first two letters of each given name and the first of their surname. The architects of the very modern design were the Swiss architects Alfred Möri and Karl Friedrich Krebs.

The villa was designed to remind Rachmaninoff of the estate of Ivanovka the family had in southern Russia before the October Revolution and their migration to Western Europe in 1918. A park and a magnificent rose garden were laid at Senar. The Rachmaninoffs spent every summer at Senar until their final migration to the United States in 1939 at the outbreak of World War II. Two of Rachmaninoff's major compositions were written at Senar: *Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini* completed in 1934 and the Third symphony completed in 1936. The villa hosted famous Russian immigrants, including Ivan Bunin and Vladimir Horowitz.

Rachmaninoff left Senar for the last time on 16 August 1939, going to Paris and preparing to move to New York City. In 2013, it was reported that Russia was interested in purchasing the Villa and preserve it in memory of Rachmaninoff.

After the death of Rachmaninoff, the villa stayed in possession of the family. His grand child Alexandre Rachmaninoff Conus established the Rachmaninoff foundation. After the death of Rachmaninoff Conus, his will mentioned Lucerne as a possible inheritor, but it was not worded properly enough. In order to prevent a possible legal case between Lucerne and his descendants the Canton Lucerne bought the estate in 2022 and on the 1 April 2023, the 150th birthday of Rachmaninoff, the Villa was made accessible to the public.

1. "Sergei Rachmaninoff". *Sergei Rachmaninoff* (in Swiss High German). Retrieved 2023-04-01.
2. "Villa öffnet als Kulturzentrum - Luzern steckt Millionen in die Villa von Starpianist Rachmaninoff". *Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF)* (in German). 2023-04-01. Retrieved 2023-04-01.

47°01′52″N 8°23′52″E / 47.0312°N 8.3978°E / 47.0312; 8.3978


title: Najia Mehadji

abstract: Najia Mehadji is an artist of Franco-Moroccan heritage who lives and works between Paris, France and Essaouira, Morocco.

text:
# Najia Mehadji

**Najia Mehadji** (born in 1950) is an artist of Franco-Moroccan heritage who lives and works between Paris, France and Essaouira, Morocco.

## Biography

Najia Mehadji is a French-Moroccan artist familiar on the Moroccan scene and recognized in France since the 1980s from exhibitions in major museums including the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris. She received in the mid-1970s a master of fine arts and art history degree at Pantheon-Sorbonne University and a theatrical degree from Paris 8 University. The latter led to her working with Peter Brook and The Living Theatre, avant-garde groups open to so-called "non-Europeans", creating a unique body work and influencing her own work with the development of her particular style.

During those years, she discovered the Japanese zen aesthetic and rituals Sufi Whirling Dervish, using charcoal or ink with great freedom. Then she created performances with students in contemporary music, drawing on large sheets of paper. She also joined the Women/Art group and published her first drawings, a kind of black and white diagrams that can be described as "sensitive abstraction".

In 1985 she spent a year at Essaouira with a scholarship "Villa Médicis Hors les murs" and regularly returns each year for several months. It was during this first stay she painted her series on the myth of Icarus, "symbol of the risk-taking freedom" on large raw canvases where the imprint of body gestures is juxtaposed with collages and transparent geometric shapes. The works were exhibited in her first solo exhibition in the art museums of Caen and Poitiers in 1986–87.

In 1993–1994, in response to war crimes committed against the Bosniaks in ex-Yugoslavia, she created a series of *Domes* as a result of her interest in "transcultural" architectural shapes (including the octagon), while making explicit reference to the representation of cosmology in the arts of Islam. In 2005, she returned to this drama with the *Flower War*; digital works which appear in "The Disasters of War" by Goya.

From 1996 to 2006, Mehadji drew on large canvases with intense color chalks oil paintings / drawings from monochrome symbolic themes such as the sphere, the tree (or tree of life), the flower of Granada, etc. She created so many "abstract flow structures" capturing both transience of life, the passage, the notion of infinity. Then she began to paint with a broad brush curved lines in "arabesque" white or red on black, and inventing an "inner writing" sensitive and sublime body and soul: the *Scrolls*.

In 1998, she taught drawing as a visiting professor at the *École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts* (National School of Fine Arts) of Paris.

Alongside painting and drawing, since 2005, she has continued her commitment against violence in the Middle East, creating digital works incorporating enlarged details of Goya engravings (including *La Tauromaquia* and  *The Disasters of War* ) within fluorescent flower designs – "as a tension between Eros and Thanatos".

Since 2008, she has created a new series of large-format paintings and digital images that give a sculptural aspect to her actions with *Swirls*, *Arabesque*, *Mystic Dance*, *Coil* whose continuous lines, free gestures and references to oriental calligraphy and Sufism are all formal proposals allowing her to adopt practices usually attributed to men by inventing a new approach to painting, liberated from tradition and resembling performance.

## Exhibitions

Her main personal exhibitions were held in France, the Museums of Fine Arts of Poitiers of Caen and Epinal; the Montenay Gallery (Paris); at the St. John hall (Mairie de Paris); the gallery The Ship (Brest). In Morocco, at the National Gallery Bab Ruach (Rabat); Actua space in the Attijariwafabank (Casablanca); the Delacroix Gallery (Tanger); the Shart Gallery and Atelier 21 (Casablanca). In Qatar, with the Anima Gallery in Doha. She also explained to Amman (Shoman Foundation) at the fair in Basel, with the Arco Madrid, the FI:AF (*French Institute Alliance Française*) in New York and many institutions worldwide.

She participated in 2009 in the exhibition *Elles@centrepompidou* at the *Musée National d'Art Moderne* (Paris) and  *Crossing*  during the Mawazine Festival (Rabat).

In 2010, at the Contemporary Art Fair in Dubai, at the exhibition  *Resonances*  the Marrakech museum and to Marrakech Art Fair as part of the Shart gallery of Casablanca.

In 2011, in the group exhibition 'Architectures / Drawings / Utopias' 'at the National Museum of Romanian Contemporary Art in' 'Nature and Landscapes' at the art space of the General Company of Casablanca, and Drawing Now Paris at the Carrousel du Louvre. Then she exposes in 'Sense & Essences' at the New York French Institute (FI: AF) and Villa Roosevelt to Casablanca his series  *Mystic Dance* . It is one of these artists *Traits d'Union – Paris and contemporary Arab art*  at Villa Emerige in Paris: museum exhibition that brings together a dozen Arab artists have a special relationship with France, and whose success is such that it, through the French Institute, is traveling in 2012–2013 (Beirut, Sana'a, Rabat, etc.)

In 2012–2013, she exhibited at the Galerie Shart, Casablanca,  *Close*  at the Galerie Albert Benamou in Paris and Art Paris Art Fair, then Anima Gallery in Doha (Qatar). She participates in *25 years of Arab creativity* at the Institut du Monde Arabe, Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi and Manama in Bahrain. His solo exhibitions in 2013 are:  *Mystic Dance*  at Espace Art Roch (Paris),  *The 2000*  at the Espace Claude Lemand (Paris),  *draping*  at the gallery The Ship (Brest). She participates in the auction  *Syriart*  in Paris and Beirut to support the civilian victims of the Syrian people in revolt.

Early 2014 she made a solo exhibition "New Arabesque" at the Galerie Le Violon Bleu in Tunis and at Art Dubai (Selma Feriani Gallery London) and at Art Paris Art Fair (gallery Lemand Claude Paris). In summer 2014, his series of digital works  *Suites Goyesques; Bullfighting*  are shown in the *Musée d'Art Moderne de Céret* in  *The painter and the arena and bullfighting art from Goya to Barceló*  Then she participated in the inaugural exhibition of the *Musée Mohammed VI d'art moderne et contemporain* Rabat "Art 1914–2014,100ans in Morocco," as well as that of the Arab World Institute in Paris " the Contemporary Morocco ". In March 2015 she exhibited "20 years of work" at the gallery Atelier 21 in Casablanca that organizes her first retrospective in Morocco and at Art Paris Art Fair at the Grand Palace in the gallery Claude Lemand.

The works of Najia Mehadji are present in many public collections and museums, including the Centre Georges Pompidou MNAM (4 large drawings and a painting on paper) and the Arab World Institute in Paris (paint) and in collections Société Générale, the ONA Foundation, the Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art of Rabat and Casablanca Attijari Waffabank who own many works. Several videos about the artist can be seen on YouTube.

### References

### Bibliography

* *Najia Mehadji*  Edition Somogy, 2008. Texts Alain Tapie, Christine Buci-Glucksmann, Jean-Louis Baudry, Mohamed Rachdi and Henri-François Debailleux. 160 pages, French / English texts, 130 color illustrations.
* Review  *star ink n°42*, 2010, "Celebration", interview with Peggy Ines Sultan
* *Monograph Najia Mehadji*  Les Éditions Art Point, collection Moroccan Art Books, 2012: texts of Pascal Amel, Rémi Labrusse Veronique Rieffel, Christine Buci-Glucksmann, Ghitha Triki, Philippe Piguet, Anne Dagbert, Peggy Ines Sultan Mohamed Rachdi, Henri-François Debailleux. 280 pages, 10 French / English texts, 330 color illustrations.
* *The revelation of gesture,*  Edition Somogy, 2011 Pascal Amel texts, Veronique Rieffel, Abdelwahab Meddeb, Rémi Labrosse etChristine Buci-Glucksmann. 160 pages, French / English texts.

## InfoBox

| Najia Mehadji | |
| --- | --- |
| Najia Mehadji at the exhibition "20 years of work" at Atelier 21 | |
| Website | www.najiamehadji.com |


title: Hoya de Huesca/Plana de Uesca

abstract:
Hoya de Huesca/Plana de Uesca is a comarca in the province of Huesca (Spain).
  - Capital city: Huesca, also the biggest of the 40 municipalities of the comarca.
  - Surface: 2,525.60 km².
  - Population: 60,525 (2002). It occupies the central area of Somontano, between the Sotón and Alcanadre rivers and the Gratal and Guara mountains. The Isuela, Flumen and Guatizalema rivers also flow across its territory. It borders on the following comarcas:
  - North - Jacetania and Alto Gállego
  - South - Zaragoza and Monegros
  - East - Somontano de Barbastro
  - West - Cinco Villas The local economy is based on agriculture and cattle raising. The main industry is metallurgy. Among the most popular places of interest are Huesca's 13th century Cathedral and the medieval town of Loarre.

text:
# Hoya de Huesca/Plana de Uesca

**Hoya de Huesca**/**Plana de Uesca** is a comarca (administrative subdivision) in the province of Huesca (Spain).

* Capital city: Huesca, also the biggest of the 40 municipalities of the comarca.
* Surface: 2,525.60 km².
* Population: 60,525 (2002).

It occupies the central area of Somontano, between the Sotón and Alcanadre rivers and the Gratal and Guara mountains. The Isuela, Flumen and Guatizalema rivers also flow across its territory.

It borders on the following comarcas:

The local economy is based on agriculture and cattle raising. The main industry is metallurgy. Among the most popular places of interest are Huesca's 13th century Cathedral and the medieval town of Loarre.

## Municipalities

Agüero, Albero Alto, Alcalá de Gurrea, Alcalá del Obispo, Alerre, Almudévar, Angüés, Antillón, Argavieso, Arguis, Ayerbe, Banastás, Biscarrués, Blecua y Torres, Casbas de Huesca, Chimillas, Gurrea de Gállego, Huesca, Ibieca, Igriés, Loarre, Loporzano, Loscorrales, Lupiñén-Ortilla, Monflorite-Lascasas, Murillo de Gállego, Novales, Nueno, Las Peñas de Riglos, Pertusa, Piracés, Quicena, Salillas, Santa Eulalia de Gállego, Sesa, Siétamo, La Sotonera, Tierz, Tramaced and Vicién.

42°07′00″N 0°09′00″W / 42.1167°N 0.15°W / 42.1167; -0.15

## InfoBox

| Hoya de Huesca / Plana de Uesca | |
| --- | --- |
| Comarca | |
|  | |
| Country | Spain |
| Autonomous community | Aragon |
| Province | Huesca |
| Capital | Huesca |
| Municipalities | List * See text |
| Area | |
| Total | 2,525.60 km2 (975.14 sq mi) |
| Population | |
| Total | 60,525 |
| Density | 24/km2 (62/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Largest municipality | Huesca |


title: Jayasankar C Menon

abstract: Jayasankar C Menon is an Indian basketballer. He represented India at the international level. Menon was an Asian All-Star player and former captain of the Indian basketball team.

text:
# Jayasankar C Menon

**Jayasankar C Menon** (born 6 December 1967) is an Indian basketballer. He represented India at the international level. Menon was an Asian All-Star player and former captain of the Indian basketball team.

## Life and career

Born on December 6, 1967, in Wadakkanchery in Thrissur district, Jayasankar Menon played basketball from a young age. He honed his skills and rose through the ranks, eventually becoming a key player for the Indian national men's team in the 1990s. Menon was an Asian All-Star reserve in 1997. He is employed as an Assistant General Manager, at Indian Bank.

## Basketball

Menon played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Indian Basketball Players Association (IBPA), serving as its general secretary and currently serving as its president. He also served as the founder and director of Chennai's Professional Basketball Academy (PBA), where he organized coaching camps and nurtured young talent. He is also the Founder secretary and current President of KESPA (Kerala Sports Persons Association) founded in 2002, contributing to organizing games at the school level. He was the former Chief adviser for Sports for Hindustan group, coordinating sports activities for various colleges. He was also a Member of the Sports Committee of FICCI, working towards key concerns and sports industry development.

## Personal life

Menon is married to Prasanna, a former captain of the Indian national women's basketball team. Together, they established the Professional Basketball Academy (PBA) in Chennai.

They have two daughters who were also athletes. The younger daughter Krishna Jayasankar is the first Indian woman thrower, the first women athlete from Tamil Nadu to receive an academic scholarship from the University of Texas.

## Achievements

First Basketball Player from the South Asian region to represent ‘The ASIAN ALL STAR’ Basketball team. Represented the Asian All-star Basketball team (comprising the top 16 Basketball players in Asia) at the Basketball extravaganza held in Seoul in 1997.

Captained the Indian Basketball team at the Asian Basketball Championship in 1996 in Seoul.

Winner of 2 Gold Medals in SAF Games held at Colombo ‘91 & Chennai ‘95.

Member of Indian Basketball team which secured ‘Silver Medal’ at the Kelantan International B’ball tournament held at Kota Bharu, Malaysia in ‘91

Represented Indian Basketball team for 11 years including 4 Asian Basketball Confederation Championships.

Bangkok- 1987: Beijing – 1989: Kobe (Japan) – 1991 & Seoul – 1995

At the National Level:

Participated in 15 Senior Nationals and secured Gold Medal 5 times, Silver and Bronze Once.

Recipient of MVP (Most Valuable Player) award in 2 Inter-zone Basketball Championships.

Played for Southern Railways and was instrumental in Indian Railways' dominance in national championships

Awards & Accolades:

Recipient of Guruvacharya Award of the Golden Star Award 2016 constituted by NIER (National Institute of Education and Research), New Delhi

Outstanding Sports Person Award from the Chief Minister of Tamilnadu - 1993.

Outstanding Sports Person Award of Indian Bank - 1992

Member – Sports Committee of Federation of Indian Commerce and Industry (FICCI), Delhi for 4 consecutive years (2009–2012)

Named into the Hoopistani Indian Basketball Hall of Fame

Won accolades including 2 gold medals for India in the South Asian Games

\]

## InfoBox

Jayasankar C Menon
|  | |
| --- | --- |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (1967-12-06) 6 December 1967<br>Wadakkanchery, Thrissur, India |
| Listed height | 197 cm (6 ft 6 in) |
| Listed weight | 135 kg (298 lb) |
| Career information | |
| High school | CMS High School, Thrissur |
| College | Sree Kerala Varma College, Thrissur |
| Playing career | 1985–2005 |
| Career history | |
| 1985–1986 | Kerala |
| 1987-1991 | Indian Railways |
| 1992-2005 | Tamilnadu |
|  | |


title: Hovden Cannery

abstract: The Hovden Cannery in Cannery Row, Monterey, California, was among the oldest, largest canneries of the Pacific Sardine Fishery. In the first half of the 20th century, it marked one of the most lucrative national fisheries. It was a source for literary inspiration in the works of John Steinbeck. Hovden Cannery was founded in 1916 by Knut Hovden, a leading innovator in canning technology, and closed in 1973 after the collapse of the area fish population. The former cannery building is now the site of the Monterey Bay Aquarium, which opened in 1984.

text:
# Hovden Cannery

The **Hovden Cannery** in Cannery Row, Monterey, California, was among the oldest, largest canneries of the Pacific Sardine Fishery. In the first half of the 20th century, it marked one of the most lucrative national fisheries. It was a source for literary inspiration in the works of John Steinbeck.

Hovden Cannery was founded in 1916 by Knut Hovden, a leading innovator in canning technology, and closed in 1973 after the collapse of the area fish population.

The former cannery building is now the site of the Monterey Bay Aquarium, which opened in 1984.


title: Tortang talong

abstract: Tortang talong, also known as eggplant omelette, is an omelette or fritter from Filipino cuisine made by pan-frying grilled whole eggplants dipped in an egg mixture. It is a popular breakfast and lunch meal in the Philippines. A common variant of tortang talong is rellenong talong, which is stuffed with meat, seafood, and/or vegetables.

text:
# Tortang talong

***Tortang talong***, also known as **eggplant omelette**, is an omelette or fritter from Filipino cuisine made by pan-frying grilled whole eggplants dipped in an egg mixture. It is a popular breakfast and lunch meal in the Philippines. A common variant of *tortang talong* is ***rellenong talong***, which is stuffed with meat, seafood, and/or vegetables.

## Etymology

The name *tortang talong* means "eggplant omelette"; from a suffixed form of *torta* ("omelette" or "flat cake"), and *talong* (eggplant). The name is sometimes shortened to *tortalong*.

## Description

The basic *tortang talong* recipe involves first grilling the whole eggplant until the flesh is soft and the skin becomes charred and almost black. This can be done in a charcoal grill, a baking pan, or over a direct flame while wrapped in aluminum foil (like on a gas stove). The grilling gives the eggplant a characteristic smoky flavor. The charred skin is then peeled off, although the stalk is retained. The flesh is mashed flat with a fork and dipped into a beaten egg mixture seasoned with a salt and spices to taste. The eggplant is then pan-fried until the outside is golden brown and crispy, while the core remains soft and creamy.

The most common varieties of eggplants in the Philippines are the long and slender purple kind. When larger and rounder eggplant varieties are used, the eggplant may need to be halved or quartered (with the stalk still attached) so they can be grilled more evenly.

*Tortang talong* is most commonly eaten for breakfast or lunch. It is served on white rice, sometimes accompanied with a dipping sauce (like soy sauce, vinegar, banana ketchup, etc.) or additional seasoning (like black pepper, calamansi, or chilis). It can also be served as a side dish to meat dishes.

## Variations

A notable variant of *tortang talong* is *rellenong talong* (also spelled *relyenong talong*; from Spanish *relleno*, "stuffed"), commonly anglicized as "stuffed eggplant omelette". This version is cooked in the same way as the regular version, except that the omelette also includes various stuffings of pre-cooked meat (like minced beef or pork or *longganisa*), seafood, and/or vegetables.

In some versions, the eggplant is not grilled, but is instead boiled, resulting in a softer version that lacks the characteristic smoky flavor of the original dish. Non-traditional restaurant variants may also remove the stalk and puree the eggplant before mixing it with the omelette.

The basic *tortang talong* recipe as well as *rellenong talong* stuffed with vegetables are considered vegetarian. A vegan version can also be made using squash, flour, and tofu as an egg substitute.

## InfoBox

Tortang talong
| **Top**: *Tortang talong* with calamansi;<br>**Bottom**: *Rellenong talong* from Cebu stuffed with ground meat and vegetables | |
| --- | --- |
| Alternative names | Eggplant omelette, *tortalong*, *torta talong* |
| Course | Main course, side dish |
| Place of origin | Philippines |
| Serving temperature | Warm |
| Main ingredients | Eggplant, eggs, salt |
| Variations | *Rellenong talong* |
| Similar dishes | *Poqui poqui* |
|  | |


title: Propensity score matching

abstract: In the statistical analysis of observational data, propensity score matching (PSM) is a statistical matching technique that attempts to estimate the effect of a treatment, policy, or other intervention by accounting for the covariates that predict receiving the treatment. PSM attempts to reduce the bias due to confounding variables that could be found in an estimate of the treatment effect obtained from simply comparing outcomes among units that received the treatment versus those that did not. Paul R. Rosenbaum and Donald Rubin introduced the technique in 1983, defining the propensity score as the conditional probability of a unit being assigned to the treatment, given a set of observed covariates. The possibility of bias arises because a difference in the treatment outcome between treated and untreated groups may be caused by a factor that predicts treatment rather than the treatment itself. In randomized experiments, the randomization enables unbiased estimation of treatment effects; for each covariate, randomization implies that treatment-groups will be balanced on average, by the law of large numbers. Unfortunately, for observational studies, the assignment of treatments to research subjects is typically not random. Matching attempts to reduce the treatment assignment bias, and mimic randomization, by creating a sample of units that received the treatment that is comparable on all observed covariates to a sample of units that did not receive the treatment. The "propensity" describes how likely a unit is to have been treated, given its covariate values. The stronger the confounding of treatment and covariates, and hence the stronger the bias in the analysis of the naive treatment effect, the better the covariates predict whether a unit is treated or not. By having units with similar propensity scores in both treatment and control, such confounding is reduced. For example, one may be interested to know the consequences of smoking. An observational study is required since it is unethical to randomly assign people to the treatment 'smoking.' The treatment effect estimated by simply comparing those who smoked to those who did not smoke would be biased by any factors that predict smoking. PSM attempts to control for these biases by making the groups receiving treatment and not-treatment comparable with respect to the control variables. PSM employs a predicted probability of group membership—e.g., treatment versus control group—based on observed predictors, usually obtained from logistic regression to create a counterfactual group. Propensity scores may be used for matching or as covariates, alone or with other matching variables or covariates.

text:
# Propensity score matching

In the statistical analysis of observational data, **propensity score matching** (**PSM**) is a statistical matching technique that attempts to estimate the effect of a treatment, policy, or other intervention by accounting for the covariates that predict receiving the treatment. PSM attempts to reduce the bias due to confounding variables that could be found in an estimate of the treatment effect obtained from simply comparing outcomes among units that received the treatment versus those that did not.

Paul R. Rosenbaum and Donald Rubin introduced the technique in 1983, defining the **propensity score** as the conditional probability of a unit (e.g., person, classroom, school) being assigned to the treatment, given a set of observed covariates.

The possibility of bias arises because a difference in the treatment outcome (such as the average treatment effect) between treated and untreated groups may be caused by a factor that predicts treatment rather than the treatment itself. In randomized experiments, the randomization enables unbiased estimation of treatment effects; for each covariate, randomization implies that treatment-groups will be balanced on average, by the law of large numbers. Unfortunately, for observational studies, the assignment of treatments to research subjects is typically not random. Matching attempts to reduce the treatment assignment bias, and mimic randomization, by creating a sample of units that received the treatment that is comparable on all observed covariates to a sample of units that did not receive the treatment.

The "propensity" describes how likely a unit is to have been treated, given its covariate values. The stronger the confounding of treatment and covariates, and hence the stronger the bias in the analysis of the naive treatment effect, the better the covariates predict whether a unit is treated or not. By having units with similar propensity scores in both treatment and control, such confounding is reduced.

For example, one may be interested to know the consequences of smoking. An observational study is required since it is unethical to randomly assign people to the treatment 'smoking.' The treatment effect estimated by simply comparing those who smoked to those who did not smoke would be biased by any factors that predict smoking (e.g.: gender and age). PSM attempts to control for these biases by making the groups receiving treatment and not-treatment comparable with respect to the control variables.

PSM employs a predicted probability of group membership—e.g., treatment versus control group—based on observed predictors, usually obtained from logistic regression to create a counterfactual group. Propensity scores may be used for matching or as covariates, alone or with other matching variables or covariates.

## General procedure

1. Estimate propensity scores, e.g. with logistic regression:

* Dependent variable: *Z* = 1, if unit participated (i.e. is member of the treatment group); *Z* = 0, if unit did not participate (i.e. is member of the control group).
* Choose appropriate confounders (variables hypothesized to be associated with both treatment and outcome)
* Obtain an estimation for the propensity score: predicted probability *p* or the log odds, log\[*p*/(1  *p*)\].

2. Match each participant to one or more nonparticipants on propensity score, using one of these methods:

* Nearest neighbor matching
* Optimal full matching: match each participants to unique non-participant(s) so as to minimize the total distance in propensity scores between participants and their matched non-participants. This method can be combined with other matching techniques.
* Caliper matching: comparison units within a certain width of the propensity score of the treated units get matched, where the width is generally a fraction of the standard deviation of the propensity score
* Radius matching: all matches within a particular radius are used -- and reused between treatment units.
* Kernel matching: same as radius matching, except control observations are weighted as a function of the distance between the treatment observation's propesnity score and control match propensity score. One example is the Epanechnikov kernel. Radius matching is a special case where a uniform kernel is used.

3. Check that covariates are balanced across treatment and comparison groups within strata of the propensity score.

* Use standardized differences or graphs to examine distributions
* If covariates are not balanced, return to steps 1 or 2 and modify the procedure

4. Estimate effects based on new sample

* Typically: a weighted mean of within-match average differences in outcomes between participants and non-participants.
* Use analyses appropriate for non-independent matched samples if more than one nonparticipant is matched to each participant

## Formal definitions

### Basic settings

The basic case is of two treatments (numbered 1 and 0), with *N* independent and identically distributed random variables subjects. Each subject *i* would respond to the treatment with $r\_{1i}$ and to the control with $r\_{0i}$. The quantity to be estimated is the average treatment effect: $E\[r\_{1}\]-E\[r\_{0}\]$. The variable $Z\_{i}$ indicates if subject *i* got treatment ( $Z\_{i}=1$) or control ( $Z\_{i}=0$). Let $X\_{i}$ be a vector of observed pretreatment measurements (or covariates) for the *i*th subject. The observations of $X\_{i}$ are made prior to treatment assignment, but the features in $X\_{i}$ may not include all (or any) of the ones used to decide on the treatment assignment. The numbering of the units (i.e.: *i* = 1, ..., *N*) are assumed to not contain any information beyond what is contained in $X\_{i}$. The following sections will omit the *i* index while still discussing the stochastic behavior of some subject.

### Strongly ignorable treatment assignment

Let some subject have a vector of covariates *X* (i.e.: conditionally unconfounded), and some potential outcomes *r*0 and *r*1 under control and treatment, respectively. Treatment assignment is said to be strongly ignorable if the potential outcomes are independent of treatment (*Z*) conditional on background variables *X*. This can be written compactly as

$$r\_{0},r\_{1}\perp Z\mid X$$

where $\perp $ denotes statistical independence.

### Balancing score

A balancing score *b*(*X*) is a function of the observed covariates *X* such that the conditional distribution of *X* given *b*(*X*) is the same for treated (*Z* = 1) and control (*Z* = 0) units:

$$Z\perp X\mid b(X).$$

The most trivial function is $b(X)=X$.

### Propensity score

A propensity score is the conditional probability of a unit (e.g., person, classroom, school) being assigned to a particular treatment, given a set of observed covariates. Propensity scores are used to reduce confounding by equating groups based on these covariates.

Suppose that we have a binary treatment indicator *Z*, a response variable *r*, and background observed covariates *X*. The propensity score is defined as the conditional probability of treatment given background variables:

$$e(x)\ {\stackrel {\mathrm {def} }{=}\ \Pr(Z=1\mid X=x).}$$

In the context of causal inference and survey methodology, propensity scores are estimated (via methods such as logistic regression, random forests, or others), using some set of covariates. These propensity scores are then used as estimators for weights to be used with Inverse probability weighting methods.

### Main theorems

The following were first presented, and proven, by Rosenbaum and Rubin in 1983:

* The propensity score $e(x)$ is a balancing score.
* Any score that is 'finer' than the propensity score is a balancing score (i.e.: $e(X)=f(b(X))$ for some function $f$). The propensity score is the coarsest balancing score function, as it takes a (possibly) multidimensional object (*X**i*) and transforms it into one dimension (although others, obviously, also exist), while $b(X)=X$ is the finest one.
* If treatment assignment is strongly ignorable given *X* then:

* It is also strongly ignorable given any balancing function. Specifically, given the propensity score:

$$(r\_{0},r\_{1})\perp Z\mid e(X).$$

* For any value of a balancing score, the difference between the treatment and control means of the samples at hand (i.e.: $\bar {r}\_{1}-{\bar {r}\_{0}}$), based on subjects that have the same value of the balancing score, can serve as an unbiased estimator of the average treatment effect: $E\[r\_{1}\]-E\[r\_{0}\]$.
* Using sample estimates of balancing scores can produce sample balance on *X*

### Relationship to sufficiency

If we think of the value of *Z* as a parameter of the population that impacts the distribution of *X* then the balancing score serves as a sufficient statistic for *Z*. Furthermore, the above theorems indicate that the propensity score is a minimal sufficient statistic if thinking of *Z* as a parameter of *X*. Lastly, if treatment assignment *Z* is strongly ignorable given *X* then the propensity score is a minimal sufficient statistic for the joint distribution of $(r\_{0},r\_{1})$.

### Graphical test for detecting the presence of confounding variables

Judea Pearl has shown that there exists a simple graphical test, called the back-door criterion, which detects the presence of confounding variables. To estimate the effect of treatment, the background variables X must block all back-door paths in the graph. This blocking can be done either by adding the confounding variable as a control in regression, or by matching on the confounding variable.

## Disadvantages

PSM has been shown to increase model "imbalance, inefficiency, model dependence, and bias," which is not the case with most other matching methods. The insights behind the use of matching still hold but should be applied with other matching methods; propensity scores also have other productive uses in weighting and doubly robust estimation.

Like other matching procedures, PSM estimates an average treatment effect from observational data. The key advantages of PSM were, at the time of its introduction, that by using a linear combination of covariates for a single score, it balances treatment and control groups on a large number of covariates without losing a large number of observations. If units in the treatment and control were balanced on a large number of covariates one at a time, large numbers of observations would be needed to overcome the "dimensionality problem" whereby the introduction of a new balancing covariate increases the minimum necessary number of observations in the sample geometrically.

One disadvantage of PSM is that it only accounts for observed (and observable) covariates and not latent characteristics. Factors that affect assignment to treatment and outcome but that cannot be observed cannot be accounted for in the matching procedure. As the procedure only controls for observed variables, any hidden bias due to latent variables may remain after matching. Another issue is that PSM requires large samples, with substantial overlap between treatment and control groups.

General concerns with matching have also been raised by Judea Pearl, who has argued that hidden bias may actually increase because matching on observed variables may unleash bias due to dormant unobserved confounders. Similarly, Pearl has argued that bias reduction can only be assured (asymptotically) by modelling the qualitative causal relationships between treatment, outcome, observed and unobserved covariates. Confounding occurs when the experimenter is unable to control for alternative, non-causal explanations for an observed relationship between independent and dependent variables. Such control should satisfy the "backdoor criterion" of Pearl.

## Implementations in statistics packages

* : propensity score matching is available as part of the `MatchIt`, `optmatch`, or other packages.
* SAS: The PSMatch procedure, and macro `OneToManyMTCH` match observations based on a propensity score.
* Stata: several commands implement propensity score matching, including the user-written `psmatch2`. Stata version 13 and later also offers the built-in command `teffects psmatch`.
* SPSS: A dialog box for Propensity Score Matching is available from the IBM SPSS Statistics menu (Data/Propensity Score Matching), and allows the user to set the match tolerance, randomize case order when drawing samples, prioritize exact matches, sample with or without replacement, set a random seed, and maximize performance by increasing processing speed and minimizing memory usage.
* Python: `PsmPy`, a library for propensity score matching in python

## Bibliography