title: Strappado

abstract: The strappado, also known as corda, is a form of torture in which the victim's hands are tied behind their back and the victim is suspended by a rope attached to the wrists, typically resulting in dislocated shoulders. Weights may be added to the body to intensify the effect and increase the pain. This kind of torture would generally not last more than an hour without rest, as it would otherwise likely result in death. Other names for strappado include "reverse hanging", "Palestinian hanging" and il tormento della corda. It was employed by the medieval Inquisition and many governments, such as the civil law court (1543–1798) of the Order of St. John at the Castellania in Valletta, Malta. The proper application of the strappado technique causes permanent but not visible damage. The levels of pain and resistance vary by victim depending on the victim's weight and any additional weights added to the body. It is not, as Samuel Johnson erroneously entered in A Dictionary of the English Language, a "chastisement by blows."

text:
# Strappado

The **strappado**, also known as **corda**, is a form of torture in which the victim's hands are tied behind their back and the victim is suspended by a rope attached to the wrists, typically resulting in dislocated shoulders. Weights may be added to the body to intensify the effect and increase the pain. This kind of torture would generally not last more than an hour without rest, as it would otherwise likely result in death.

Other names for strappado include "reverse hanging", "Palestinian hanging" and *il tormento della corda*. It was employed by the medieval Inquisition and many governments, such as the civil law court (1543–1798) of the Order of St. John at the Castellania in Valletta, Malta.

The proper application of the strappado technique causes permanent but not visible damage. The levels of pain and resistance vary by victim depending on the victim's weight and any additional weights added to the body. It is not, as Samuel Johnson erroneously entered in *A Dictionary of the English Language*, a "chastisement by blows."

## Variants

There are three variants of this torture. In the first, victims have their arms tied behind their backs; a large rope is then tied to the wrists and passed over a pulley, beam or a hook on the roof. The torturer pulls on this rope until the victim is hanging from the arms. Since the hands are tied behind the victim's back, this will cause a very intense pain and possible dislocation of the arms. The full weight of the subject's body is then supported by the extended and internally rotated shoulder sockets. While the technique shows no external injuries, it can cause long-term nerve, ligament or tendon damage. The technique typically causes brachial plexus injury, leading to paralysis or loss of sensation in the arms. Prolonged suspension may eventually cause infarction of the muscles of the shoulder and chest wall and subsequent rhabdomyolysis, acute kidney injury, and eventual death.

The second variation, known as squassation, is similar to the first, but a series of drops are added, meaning that the victim is allowed to drop until his or her fall is suddenly checked by the rope. In addition to the damage caused by the suspension, the painful jerk would cause major stress to the extended and vulnerable arms, leading to broken shoulders. It is believed that this form of strappado was employed on Niccolò Machiavelli during his 1513 imprisonment after allegedly conspiring against the Medici family in Florence, who were also his primary patrons.

In the third variant, the victim's hands are tied to the front. The victim is also hung from the hands, but the ankles are tied and a heavy weight is attached to them. This will cause pain and possible damage not only to the arms, but also to the legs and hips.

## History

According to William Godwin, Girolamo Savonarola was tortured by strappado multiple times before being put to death in a trial by ordeal (fire). However, Savonarola apparently renounced his confessions after being tortured, and he was sentenced to be burned at the stake. This device was thought to be used during the Salem witch trials of Salem, Massachusetts in 1692 to torture accused witches.

## Modern instances

The "ropes" was one of several torture methods employed at the Hỏa Lò Prison, popularly known among Americans as the Hanoi Hilton during the 1964–1973 era of the Vietnam War. The site was used by the North Vietnamese Army to house, torture and interrogate captured servicemen, mostly American airmen shot down during bombing raids. The aim of the torture was usually not to acquire information, but to break the will of the prisoners, both individually and as a group, and to extract written or recorded statements from the prisoners that would be critical of American conduct of the war and praise their captors.

According to a 1997 Human Rights Watch report, this technique was "widely employed" by the security forces of Turkey, where it is "usually used together with high-pressure water, electric shock, beating, or sexual molestation such as squeezing the testicles or breast or placing a nightstick against or in the vagina or anus." In 1996, the European Court of Human Rights found Turkey guilty of torture for its use of reverse hanging. Turkey has been admonished by Amnesty International and other international human rights groups concerning the use of the technique.

In 2003, one of the Bulgarian nurses interrogated during the HIV trial in Libya, Snezhana Dimitrova, stated that she had been tortured in this way.

> They tied my hands behind my back. Then they hung me from a door. It feels like they are stretching you from all sides. My torso was twisted and my shoulders were dislocated from their joints from time to time. The pain cannot be described. The translator was shouting, "Confess or you will die here".

In November 2003, suspected terrorist Manadel al-Jamadi was tortured to death at Abu Ghraib prison during a Central Intelligence Agency interrogation by members of the U.S. military. It was revealed in February 2005 that al-Jamadi had died after 30 minutes of interrogation, during which he was suspended by the wrists bound behind his back.

Richard Belmar has stated that he was repeatedly subjected to this torture method as a punishment during his extrajudicial detention at the Parwan Detention Facility in Afghanistan from 20022005.

In 2017, video footage was released of Iraqi Army members inflicting strappado torture following successes in the Battle of Mosul.

In March 2023, the European Court of Human Rights found Ukraine in violation of the prohibition against torture, alleging that in November 2003 police made use of strappado to coerce prisoner Mykola Slyvotskyy into falsely confessing his guilt for two murders that another person had previously confessed to committing.

Strappado is sometimes used as a variant of the helicopter position for torture in Eritrea as of the early twenty-first century.


title: Studentexamen

abstract: Studentexamen, earlier also mogenhetsexamen was the name of the university entrance examination in Sweden from the 17th century to 1968. From 1862 to 1968, it was taken as a final written and oral exam on graduation from gymnasium. In Finland the examination still exists. The exam traces its origin to the academic statutes from 1655 requiring the dean to examine students arriving at university before allowing matriculation. According to the school reglement of 1693, a prospective student was to have gone through both a final examination at school and an entrance examination at university. The school reglement of 1724 allowed students without a final examination from school to enroll at university, provided a person known at the university would guarantee their behaviour, which led to it becoming common for students from wealthy families to be matriculated at a very young age, accompanied by a private tutor. Although these were not actually supposed to be allowed to graduate, this rule was not always strictly upheld. Attempts at a reform of the system led to the proposition in 1828 of the so-called Large Commission on Education, allowing students who had not completed a studentexamen to matriculate but disallowing them both from taking a degree or receiving any form of scholarship. The proposition also defined nine disciplines: Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Modern languages, Theology, Philosophy, Mathematics, History with Geography and Natural history, of which the prospective student had to have a grade of approbatur in six and admittitur in the three other to be allowed to enter university. These examinations were all oral, but a few years later, written examinations were introduced in Swedish and Latin. In 1864, the studentexamen was moved from the universities to the secondary schools. It was thus changed from being primarily an entrance examination to academic studies to being a graduation diploma from the gymnasium or läroverk. In order to retain some academic control over the standard, a system was conceived where the Crown would appoint "censors" from the universities to take part in the examinations, and, if necessary, to fail a student passed by the teachers. The name of the examination was changed to mogenhetsprövning or mogenhetsexamen, and was known under this name until 1905, when the name studentexamen was restored. With the new secondary school system introduced in 1968, the final examination or studentexamen was abolished, but the word is in colloquial use for the completion of secondary school, known as gymnasieexamen, based on grades from cumulative courses.

text:
# Studentexamen

**Studentexamen** (Swedish for "students' examination" or "students' degree"), earlier also *mogenhetsexamen* ("maturity examination") was the name of the university entrance examination in Sweden from the 17th century to 1968. From 1862 to 1968, it was taken as a final written and oral exam on graduation from gymnasium (secondary school). In Finland the examination (Finnish: *Ylioppilastutkinto*) still exists (Finland parted from Sweden 1809). The exam traces its origin to the academic statutes from 1655 requiring the dean to examine students arriving at university before allowing matriculation. According to the school reglement of 1693, a prospective student was to have gone through both a final examination at school and an entrance examination at university. The school reglement of 1724 allowed students without a final examination from school to enroll at university, provided a person known at the university would guarantee their behaviour, which led to it becoming common for students (called *sponsionsstudenter* or *kautionsstudenter*) from wealthy families to be matriculated at a very young age, accompanied by a private tutor. Although these were not actually supposed to be allowed to graduate, this rule was not always strictly upheld.

Attempts at a reform of the system led to the proposition in 1828 of the so-called Large Commission on Education, allowing students who had not completed a *studentexamen* to matriculate but disallowing them both from taking a degree or receiving any form of scholarship. The proposition also defined nine disciplines: Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Modern languages, Theology, Philosophy, Mathematics, History with Geography and Natural history, of which the prospective student had to have a grade of *approbatur* (Latin; in Swedish *godkänd*) in six and *admittitur* (a lower grade, in Swedish called *försvarlig*) in the three other to be allowed to enter university. These examinations were all oral, but a few years later, written examinations were introduced in Swedish and Latin.

In 1864, the *studentexamen* was moved from the universities to the secondary schools. It was thus changed from being primarily an entrance examination to academic studies to being a graduation diploma from the *gymnasium* or *läroverk*. In order to retain some academic control over the standard, a system was conceived where the Crown would appoint "censors" from the universities to take part in the examinations, and, if necessary, to fail a student passed by the teachers. The name of the examination was changed to *mogenhetsprövning* or *mogenhetsexamen* ("maturity examination"), and was known under this name until 1905, when the name *studentexamen* was restored.

With the new secondary school system (the *gymnasieskola* or "gymnasium school") introduced in 1968, the final examination or *studentexamen* was abolished, but the word is in colloquial use for the completion of secondary school, known as *gymnasieexamen*, based on grades from cumulative courses.


title: Storyteller (Marilyn Crispell album)

abstract: Storyteller is an album by the Marilyn Crispell Trio, featuring rhythm section Mark Helias and Paul Motian, recorded in February 2003 and released on ECM April the following year.

text:
# Storyteller (Marilyn Crispell album)

***Storyteller*** is an album by the Marilyn Crispell Trio, featuring rhythm section Mark Helias and Paul Motian, recorded in February 2003 and released on ECM April the following year.

## Reception

Professional ratings
| Review scores | |
| --- | --- |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |  |
| *The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings* |  |
| *The Village Voice* | A− |

Reviewing for *The Village Voice* in September 2004, Tom Hull said:

> After two decades of comparisons to Cecil Taylor, her third ECM record is deliberate, cautious, almost pretty. Paul Motian could take credit for taming the shrew, but more likely it was her own growing interest in Bill Evans that led her to Motian. He wrote most of the pieces, but exerts little control. Indeed, his subtle drumming is almost untethered to Crispell's piano. But at this slow pace, the logic of her playing, her knack for surprising sequences that make perfect sense once you’ve heard them, is as dazzling as her speed ever was.

The AllMusic review by Thom Jurek awarded the album 4 stars stating "*Storyteller* is another triumph for Marilyn Crispell."

The authors of the *Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings* awarded the album 4 stars, and stated, "Increasingly concerned with form, and increasingly inclined to temper intensity with control, this is at first hearing an unfamiliar Crispell... she has... selected some... older themes of Paul Motian's... as a tribute to his still underrated compositional skills... the group sound is perfectly balanced... Helias... keeping step with Motian's quiet urgency every inch of the way."

Writing for All About Jazz, John Kelman described the album as "a conversation where Crispell and Motian are active and highly interactive, with sparks sometimes flying, with Helias always present to propose a conciliatory viewpoint." He commented: "the album is a prime example of just how important each player is in creating a musical dynamic. *Storyteller* may lack the immediate spark of *Amaryllis*, but in its richer contrast between participants it still makes for compelling listening."

In a review for the BBC, Peter Marsh stated, "*Storyteller* sees Mark Helias taking over from \[Gary\] Peacock, but the song remains much the same. In fact, this trio pare down the music even more; there are times when the space between the notes ring as loud as the notes themselves... for the most part this is poised, thoughtful music that gently demands close listening... Sometimes bass and piano echo each other's phrases; they hang in the air like clouds, till blown away gently by Motian's pattering snare or the hiss of cymbals."

Writing for Clocks and Clouds, Beppe Colli remarked, "An excellent album, very well recorded, not at all difficult to listen to, *Storyteller* is the kind of album that makes me wonder about the real reasons why Crispell's name is not well-known."

## Track listing

*All compositions by Marilyn Crispell except as indicated* 1. "Wild Rose" - 4:13
2. "Flight of the Bluejay" (Paul Motian) - 4:39
3. "The Storyteller" (Motian) - 6:06
4. "Alone" - 4:45
5. "Harmonic Line" (Mark Helias) - 5:55
6. "Cosmology 2" (Motian) - 5:39
7. "Limbo" (Helias) - 6:54
8. "Play" (Motian) - 5:13
9. "The Sunflower" (Motian) - 3:59
10. "Cosmology 1" (Motian) - 4:02
11. "So Far, So Near" - 9:27

## Personnel

### Marilyn Crispell Trio

## InfoBox

| Storyteller | |
| --- | --- |
|  | |
| Studio album by Marilyn Crispell | |
| Released | 26 April 2004 |
| Recorded | February 2003 |
| Studio | Avatar, New York City |
| Genre | Avant-garde jazz |
| Length | 60:52 |
| Label | ECM
ECM 1847 |
| Producer | Manfred Eicher |
| Marilyn Crispell chronology | |
| *Amaryllis*
(2000) ***Storyteller***
(2004) *Vignettes*
(2007) | |


title: Torch Tower (Japan)

abstract: The Torch Tower is a supertall skyscraper under construction in the Tokyo Torch redevelopment district in Tokyo, Japan. Scheduled to be completed in 2027, it will be the tallest building in Japan, surpassing the 325.2 m (1,067 ft) Azabudai Hills Mori JP Tower.

text:
# Torch Tower (Japan)

The **Torch Tower** is a supertall skyscraper under construction in the Tokyo Torch redevelopment district in Tokyo, Japan. Scheduled to be completed in 2027, it will be the tallest building in Japan, surpassing the 325.2 m (1,067 ft) Azabudai Hills Mori JP Tower.

## Location

The 390 m (1,280 ft) tall skyscraper will be the focal point of a redevelopment district called Tokyo Torch, near the Tokyo Station. The district also features a second skyscraper, the 212 m (696 ft) tall Tokiwabashi Tower, which was completed in June 2021.

## Building

The Torch Tower will feature 67 floors in total, 62 above ground and four below ground. Floors 7 through 52 will be used for offices, while higher floors will be home to a luxury hotel and an observation deck, where visitors can view the Tokyo Bay and Mount Fuji, Japan's tallest mountain. The lower floors will include a large events hall with seats for up to 2,000 people.

The luxury hotel will be located on the 51st to 61st floors, at a height of more than 300 m (980 ft). The lobby floor of the hotel is designed to take in fresh air from the outside in a space surrounded by greenery, including trees.

The exterior of the building will have a torch-inspired design. The name, Torch Tower, was chosen in the hope that the tower will "illuminate Japan".

The total floor area will be circa 542,000 m2 (5,834,000 sq ft). This is 1.75 times more floor space than the Burj Khalifa's 309,472 m2 (3,331,000 sq ft).

Construction started in October 2023 and is scheduled to be completed in 2027. The project is expected to cost about ¥500 billion (US$4.77 billion).

## InfoBox

| Torch Tower | |
| --- | --- |
|  | |
| General information | |
| Status | Under construction |
| Type | Mixed-use |
| Location | Tokyo Torch |
| Town or city | Tokyo |
| Country | Japan |
| Construction started | 27 September 2023 |
| Estimated completion | March 2028 |
| Height | |
| Architectural | 392 m (1,286 ft) |
| Roof | 372 m (1,220 ft) |
| Top floor | 362 m (1,188 ft) |
| Observatory | 352 m (1,155 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 66 (62 above ground, 4 below) |
| Floor area | 542,000 m2 (5,834,000 sq ft) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Mitsubishi Jisho Sekkei |
| Developer | Mitsubishi Estate |
| Website | |
| office.mec.co.jp/en/tokiwabashi/ | |


title: Mark Lasky

abstract: Mark Lasky was an American cartoonist known for having succeeded Ernie Bushmiller on Nancy. Lasky first worked on Nancy as Bushmiller's editor, and was named the strip's new writer and artist after Bushmiller's death in 1982. He had previously worked on other comic strips, including Mell Lazarus's Miss Peach and Momma. After less than a year, however, Lasky died of cancer; there was no gap in Nancy publication, as Lasky had prepared enough strips to run for two more months, during which publishers were able to arrange for Jerry Scott to succeed Lasky. In his honor, United Media and Parsons The New School for Design launched the Mark Lasky Memorial Internship in 1984.

text:
# Mark Lasky

**Mark Lasky** (1954  July 31, 1983 in New York City) was an American cartoonist known for having succeeded Ernie Bushmiller on *Nancy*.

Lasky first worked on *Nancy* as Bushmiller's editor, and was named the strip's new writer and artist after Bushmiller's death in 1982. He had previously worked on other comic strips, including Mell Lazarus's *Miss Peach* and *Momma*. After less than a year, however, Lasky died of cancer; there was no gap in *Nancy* publication, as Lasky had prepared enough strips to run for two more months, during which publishers were able to arrange for Jerry Scott to succeed Lasky.

In his honor, United Media and Parsons The New School for Design launched the Mark Lasky Memorial Internship in 1984.


title: Service D

abstract: Service D was a small group of the Belgian resistance during the Second World War which operated chiefly in the provinces of Luxembourg, Liège and Limburg. The "D" in the group's name is said to have stood for the activities which the group was involved in: the fight against "Defeatism" and "Denunciation" as well as the "Demoralization" of the Germans.

text:
# Service D

**Service D** was a small group of the Belgian resistance during the Second World War which operated chiefly in the provinces of Luxembourg, Liège and Limburg. The "D" in the group's name is said to have stood for the activities which the group was involved in: the fight against "Defeatism" and "Denunciation" as well as the "Demoralization" of the Germans.

## History

*Service D* was founded in July 1940 in Liège by Joseph Joset. From 1941, the group specialized in the diversion of letters of denouncement to the police and the warning of those threatened who were threatened by them. This was possible because of the group's agents in the Postal Service. One of the group's members even served as a telephonist at a Gestapo headquarters. It also attempted to identify the informers. A subsection of the group, known as *Équipe Z* was involved in sabotage.

Between April and May 1944, 80 members of the group were arrested in a series of attacks by the Germans, including much of the group's leadership.

## InfoBox

| Service D | |
| --- | --- |
|
| Leaders | Joseph Joset (founder) |
| Dates of operation | July 1940~ |
| Active regions | Provinces of Luxembourg, Liège and Limburg |
| Opponents | German Occupying Forces |


abstract: As minor planet discoveries are confirmed, they are given a permanent number by the IAU's Minor Planet Center (MPC), and the discoverers can then submit names for them, following the IAU's naming conventions. The list below concerns those minor planets in the specified number-range that have received names, and explains the meanings of those names. Official naming citations of newly named small Solar System bodies are approved and published in a bulletin by IAU's Working Group for Small Bodies Nomenclature (WGSBN). Before May 2021, citations were published in MPC's Minor Planet Circulars for many decades. Recent citations can also be found on the JPL Small-Body Database (SBDB). Until his death in 2016, German astronomer Lutz D. Schmadel compiled these citations into the Dictionary of Minor Planet Names (DMP) and regularly updated the collection. Based on Paul Herget's The Names of the Minor Planets, Schmadel also researched the unclear origin of numerous asteroids, most of which had been named prior to World War II. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: SBDB New namings may only be added to this list below after official publication as the preannouncement of names is condemned. The WGSBN publishes a comprehensive guideline for the naming rules of non-cometary small Solar System bodies.

text:
# Meanings of minor planet names: 326001–327000

As minor planet discoveries are confirmed, they are given a permanent number by the IAU's Minor Planet Center (MPC), and the discoverers can then submit names for them, following the IAU's naming conventions. The list below concerns those minor planets in the specified number-range that have received names, and explains the meanings of those names.

Official naming citations of newly named small Solar System bodies are approved and published in a bulletin by IAU's Working Group for Small Bodies Nomenclature (WGSBN). Before May 2021, citations were published in MPC's *Minor Planet Circulars* for many decades. Recent citations can also be found on the JPL Small-Body Database (SBDB). Until his death in 2016, German astronomer Lutz D. Schmadel compiled these citations into the *Dictionary of Minor Planet Names* (DMP) and regularly updated the collection.

Based on Paul Herget's *The Names of the Minor Planets*, Schmadel also researched the unclear origin of numerous asteroids, most of which had been named prior to World War II.  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: SBDB New namings may only be *added to this list below after official publication* as the preannouncement of names is condemned. The WGSBN publishes a comprehensive guideline for the naming rules of non-cometary small Solar System bodies.

## 326001–326100

| Named minor planet | Provisional | *This minor planet was named for...* | Ref **·** Catalog |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| *There are no named minor planets in this number range* | | | |

## 326101–326200

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| Named minor planet | Provisional | *This minor planet was named for...* | Ref **·** Catalog |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 326164 Miketoomey | 2012 BJ94 | Michael (Mike) Toomey (born 1971), a longtime supporter of Lowell Observatory. | JPL **·** 326164 |

## 326201–326300

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| Named minor planet | Provisional | *This minor planet was named for...* | Ref **·** Catalog |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 326290 Akhenaten | 1998 HE3 | Akhenaten (reigned 1353–1336 BC), a pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty of Egypt who ruled for 17 years. | JPL **·** 326290 |

## 326301–326400

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| Named minor planet | Provisional | *This minor planet was named for...* | Ref **·** Catalog |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| *There are no named minor planets in this number range* | | | |

## 326401–326500

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| Named minor planet | Provisional | *This minor planet was named for...* | Ref **·** Catalog |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| *There are no named minor planets in this number range* | | | |

## 326501–326600

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| Named minor planet | Provisional | *This minor planet was named for...* | Ref **·** Catalog |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| *There are no named minor planets in this number range* | | | |

## 326601–326700

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| Named minor planet | Provisional | *This minor planet was named for...* | Ref **·** Catalog |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| *There are no named minor planets in this number range* | | | |

## 326701–326800

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| Named minor planet | Provisional | *This minor planet was named for...* | Ref **·** Catalog |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| *There are no named minor planets in this number range* | | | |

## 326801–326900

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| Named minor planet | Provisional | *This minor planet was named for...* | Ref **·** Catalog |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| *There are no named minor planets in this number range* | | | |

## 326901–327000

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| Named minor planet | Provisional | *This minor planet was named for...* | Ref **·** Catalog |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| *There are no named minor planets in this number range* | | | |

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title: Tecnologia

abstract: Tecnologia is a rugby team based in Lisbon, Portugal. As of the 2012/13 season, they play in the Second Division of the Campeonato Nacional de Rugby. The team is the official rugby team of the Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade Nova de Lisboa at the Universidade Nova de Lisboa.

text:
# Tecnologia

**Tecnologia** is a rugby team based in Lisbon, Portugal. As of the 2012/13 season, they play in the Second Division of the Campeonato Nacional de Rugby (National Championship). The team is the official rugby team of the Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade Nova de Lisboa at the Universidade Nova de Lisboa.

## InfoBox

Tecnologia
| Full name | Tecnologia |
| --- | --- |
| League(s) | Campeonato Nacional de Rugby II Divisão |
|  | |
|  | |
|  | |


title: Thomas Hardy's Cottage

abstract: Thomas Hardy's Cottage, in Higher Bockhampton, Dorset, is a small cob and thatch building that is the birthplace of the English author Thomas Hardy. He was born there in 1840 and lived in the cottage until he was aged 34—during which time he wrote the novels Under the Greenwood Tree (1872) and Far from the Madding Crowd (1874)—when he left home to be married to Emma Gifford. The cottage was built by Hardy's great-grandfather in 1800. It is now a National Trust property, and a popular tourist attraction. The property has a typical cottage garden, and the interior displays furniture which, although not from the Hardy family, is original to the period. The property is situated on the northern boundary of Thorncombe Wood. It is only three miles from Max Gate, the house that Hardy designed and lived in with Emma Gifford from 1885 until his death in 1928. The cottage was given listed building status in 1956 and is listed Grade II the National Heritage List for England. In 2012 the go ahead was given to a project to build a new visitor centre near the cottage. The project also included new trails in Thorncombe Wood. The project, which secured £525,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund, was a joint partnership between Dorset County Council and the National Trust. The visitor centre opened in September 2014.

text:
# Thomas Hardy's Cottage

**Thomas Hardy's Cottage**, in Higher Bockhampton, Dorset, is a small cob and thatch building that is the birthplace of the English author Thomas Hardy. He was born there in 1840 and lived in the cottage until he was aged 34—during which time he wrote the novels *Under the Greenwood Tree* (1872) and *Far from the Madding Crowd* (1874)—when he left home to be married to Emma Gifford.

The cottage was built by Hardy's great-grandfather in 1800. It is now a National Trust property, and a popular tourist attraction. The property has a typical cottage garden, and the interior displays furniture which, although not from the Hardy family, is original to the period. The property is situated on the northern boundary of Thorncombe Wood. It is only three miles from Max Gate, the house that Hardy designed and lived in with Emma Gifford from 1885 until his death in 1928.

The cottage was given listed building status in 1956 and is listed Grade II the National Heritage List for England.

In 2012 the go ahead was given to a project to build a new visitor centre near the cottage. The project also included new trails in Thorncombe Wood. The project, which secured £525,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund, was a joint partnership between Dorset County Council and the National Trust. The visitor centre opened in September 2014.

50°43′53″N 2°23′11″W / 50.7315°N 2.3863°W / 50.7315; -2.3863

## InfoBox

| Thomas Hardy's Cottage | |
| --- | --- |
| Thomas Hardy's Cottage | |
| Type | Cob and thatch building |
| Location | Higher Bockhampton, Dorset, England, United Kingdom |
| Built | 1800 |
| Original use | Birthplace of author Thomas Hardy |
| Governing body | National Trust |
|  | |


title: Tuen Mun–Chek Lap Kok TBM

abstract: The Tuen Mun - Chek Lap Kok TBM otherwise known as Qin Liangyu or more formally, the Mixshield S-880 was the world's largest tunnel boring machine launched in June 2015 by Herrenknecht in Germany. The TBM was used to drill a 5 km tunnel connecting Tuen Mun to the Hong Kong International Airport, part of the Tuen Mun–Chek Lap Kok Link project. The cost of the tunneling machine itself was around HK$ 18.2 billion

text:
# Tuen Mun–Chek Lap Kok TBM

The **Tuen Mun - Chek Lap Kok TBM** otherwise known as **Qin Liangyu** or more formally, the **Mixshield S-880** was the world's largest tunnel boring machine launched in June 2015 by Herrenknecht in Germany. The TBM was used to drill a 5 km tunnel connecting Tuen Mun to the Hong Kong International Airport, part of the Tuen Mun–Chek Lap Kok Link project. The cost of the tunneling machine itself was around HK$ 18.2 billion (US$ 2.3 billion)

## Specifications

The machine had a diameter of 17.6 metres (57.7 ft), 0.1 metres (0.3 ft) more than Bertha, the previous largest tunnel boring machine. Outside of its cutting diameter, it had an overall length of 120 metres (393 ft 8 in) and weighed 4,850 tonnes (5,346 US-tons).

## Operations

The machine would excavate a 5 km-long underwater tunnel, working at pressures as high as 5 bars. The drilling had taken place in depths of up to 50 m below sea level.

By 25 March and 3 November 2015, the TBM's shield was converted into one the much smaller 14-m to complete the rest of the tunnel alongside another Herrenknecht TBM. The two 14-m TBMs broke through to complete the tunnels on 27 February 2019.

The tunnel boring project began in October 2018 after the cutterhead conversion and was completed by the end of 2020. Tuen Mun–Chek Lap Kok was disassembled after the completion of the tunnel.

## InfoBox

Tuen Mun–Chek Lap Kok TBM
| Class overview | |
| --- | --- |
| Name | *Tuen Mun–Chek Lap Kok*/*Qin Liangyu* |
| Builders | Herrenknecht AG |
| Operators | China |
| Cost | US$2.3 billion (2015) or HK$18.2 billion (2015) |
| In service | 2015-2020 |
| Completed | 1 |
| Retired | 1 |
| History | |
| China | |
| Name | Tuen Mun–Chek Lap Kok/Qin Liangyu |
| Builder | Herrenknecht AG |
| Commissioned | 2015 |
| Fate | Disassembled after 2020 |
| Notes | The largest tunnel boring machine ever built |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | *Mixshield S-880*-type Tunnel boring machine |
| Tonnage | 4,850 tonnes (4,770 long tons; 5,350 short tons) |
| Length | 120 metres (390 ft) |
| Beam | 17.6-metre-diameter (57.7 ft) |


title: Servotron 9000

abstract:
Servotron 9000 was one of five singles Servotron released in 1996. It was released opaque blue vinyl only on Drug Racer. The sleeve reads "Foolish Human: Play at 45 RPM". The insert resembles a Business Reply Mail card but reads "Assimilation Reply Mail" and states "No Postage Necessary If Mailed in the SRA Territory". The options on the back read:
  - Yes! Please register me for assimilation into the robot horde. I understand that my humanity will be destroyed, and that resistance is useless.
  - No, I prefer the futility of the human infestation, and will perish with misery at the hands of the SRA for my inferior logic.
  - Kill me later. The record label reads: A gas of peculiar odor like that of bitter almonds. It is soluble in water, alcohol and ether and is exceedingly poisonous. Explosions are apt to occur if kept in closed containers because of the generation of gas caused by the exothermic polymerization and decomposition of the liquid. Cyanide causes hypoxia, loss of consciousness, and muscular paralysis, which lead to respiratory and cardiac failure. Forced orally upon human scum by order of the Servotron Robot Allegiance.

text:
# Servotron 9000

***Servotron 9000*** was one of five singles Servotron released in 1996. It was released opaque blue vinyl only on Drug Racer. The sleeve reads "Foolish Human: Play at 45 RPM". The insert resembles a Business Reply Mail card but reads "Assimilation Reply Mail" and states "No Postage Necessary If Mailed in the SRA Territory". The options on the back read:

* ***Yes!*** Please register me for assimilation into the robot horde. I understand that my humanity will be destroyed, and that resistance is useless.
* ***No,*** I prefer the futility of the human infestation, and will perish with misery at the hands of the SRA for my inferior logic.
* Kill me later.

The record label reads:

A gas of peculiar odor like that of bitter almonds. It is soluble in water, alcohol and ether and is exceedingly poisonous. Explosions are apt to occur if kept in closed containers because of the generation of gas caused by the exothermic polymerization and decomposition of the liquid. Cyanide causes hypoxia, loss of consciousness, and muscular paralysis, which lead to respiratory and cardiac failure. Forced orally upon human scum by order of the Servotron Robot Allegiance.

## Track listing

* \<\<Step 1..\>:\<\<"S.R.A."
* \<\<Step 2..\>:\<\<"Speak + Spell"
* \<\<Step 3..\>:\<\<"Goodnight to HAL"
* \<\<Step 4..\>:\<\<"S.R.A."

## Line up

* MACHINE 1: Z4-OBX
* MACHINE 2: Proto Unit V3
* MACHINE 3: 00ZX1
* MACHINE 4: Gammatron

## InfoBox

| Servotron 9000 | |
| --- | --- |
|  | |
| EP by Servotron | |
| Released | 1996 |
| Recorded | 3.8.96 @ Rock Central |
| Genre | indie rock |
| Label | Drug Racer |
| Servotron chronology | |
| *Electrical Power Sources For the Electrocution and Extinction of the Human Race...*
(1996) ***Servotron 9000***
(1996) *Product for Mass Consumption*
(1997) | |


title: Servoplant Aerocraft

abstract: The Servoplant Aerocraft is a Romanian agricultural ultralight biplane, designed and produced by agricultural machinery manufacturer Servoplant, of Bucharest. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction or as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.

text:
# Servoplant Aerocraft

The **Servoplant Aerocraft** is a Romanian agricultural ultralight biplane, designed and produced by agricultural machinery manufacturer Servoplant, of Bucharest. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction or as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.

## Design and development

The aircraft complies with the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight rules. It features a strut-braced biplane layout, a two-seats-in-tandem open cockpit, fixed tricycle landing gear and a single engine in pusher configuration. The aircraft can also be fitted with floats for water operations.

The Aerocraft is made with a composite fuselage and aluminum wings. Its 8.75 m (28.7 ft) span wing has an area of 17.50 m2 (188.4 sq ft). The standard engine is the 104 hp (78 kW) Subaru EA81 automotive four-stroke powerplant.

## Operational history

In Romania the Aerocraft's popularity for agricultural aerial application is greater than that of the Antonov An-2.

## Specifications (Aerocraft)

*Data from* Bayerl and Tacke

**General characteristics**

* **Crew:** one
* **Capacity:** one passenger
* **Wingspan:** 8.75 m (28 ft 8 in)
* **Wing area:** 17.50 m2 (188.4 sq ft)
* **Empty weight:** 275 kg (606 lb)
* **Gross weight:** 450 kg (992 lb) or as high as 540 kg (1,190 lb), depending on engine fitted
* **Fuel capacity:** 55 litres (12 imp gal; 15 US gal)
* **Powerplant:** 1 × Subaru EA81 four cylinder, air-cooled, four stroke automotive engine, 78 kW (104 hp)
* **Propellers:** 6-bladed composite

**Performance**

* **Maximum speed:** 145 km/h (90 mph, 78 kn)
* **Cruise speed:** 95 km/h (59 mph, 51 kn)
* **Stall speed:** 65 km/h (40 mph, 35 kn)
* **Rate of climb:** 4.5 m/s (890 ft/min)
* **Wing loading:** 30.9 kg/m2 (6.3 lb/sq ft) at a gross weight of 540 kg (1,190 lb)

## InfoBox

| Aerocraft | |
| --- | --- |
| Role | Ultralight aircraft |
| National origin | Romania |
| Manufacturer | Servoplant |
| Status | In production (2015) |


title: Service with a Smile

abstract: Service with a Smile is a novel by P. G. Wodehouse, first published in the United States on 15 October 1961 by Simon & Schuster, Inc., New York, and in the United Kingdom on 17 August 1962 by Herbert Jenkins, London. A condensed version of the story had previously been published in two parts in the Toronto Star Weekly, on 26 August and 2 September 1961. It is the eighth full-length novel set at Blandings Castle, and features the unstoppable Uncle Fred in his fourth and final novel appearance.

text:
# Service with a Smile

***Service with a Smile*** is a novel by P. G. Wodehouse, first published in the United States on 15 October 1961 by Simon & Schuster, Inc., New York, and in the United Kingdom on 17 August 1962 by Herbert Jenkins, London. A condensed version of the story had previously been published in two parts in the Toronto *Star Weekly*, on 26 August and 2 September 1961.

It is the eighth full-length novel set at Blandings Castle, and features the unstoppable Uncle Fred in his fourth and final novel appearance.

## Plot summary

Myra Schoonmaker is staying at Blandings Castle, her London season having been cut short by Connie. Connie is not happy that Myra wants to marry the impoverished East End curate Bill Bailey. Lord Emsworth is not happy with his sister, with his latest secretary Lavender Briggs and with the houseguest Duke of Dunstable. Adding to the unpleasantness, Lady Constance invites a party of Church Lads to camp out at the lake, young boys who enjoy taunting Emsworth.

When Connie says she will be away for a day having her hair done in Shrewsbury, Myra contacts Bailey, arranging to meet in a registry office and get married. Bailey, with his friend Pongo Twistleton and Pongo's Uncle Fred, waits at the selected spot, but Myra does not appear. Uncle Fred is an old friend of Myra and her father, and he likes Bailey. Fred then meets Emsworth, who is in London to attend the Opening of Parliament), and invites himself to Blandings to help Emsworth, the unhappy earl. He brings Bailey under the name of "Cuthbert Meriweather", an old friend returned from Brazil.

At the castle, Bailey and Myra are reunited, after learning each was waiting at a different registry office. The Church Lads trick Emsworth into diving into the lake to rescue one of their number, which turns out to be a log. This leads the Duke of Dunstable to again question Emsworth's sanity, always manifest in Emsworth’s affection for his pig. Emsworth, at Fred's suggestion, takes his revenge on the Church Lads by cutting the ropes of their tent in the small hours.

Dunstable plans to steal the pig and sell it to Lord Tilbury for £2000. Lavender Briggs proposes to do the work of stealing the pig for £500; Dunstable will not sign a contract, so she insists he make a clear verbal agreement. Briggs enlists the pig man Wellbeloved to help and she has a second assistant available. She goes to London to deposit the cheque.

Myra tells Uncle Fred that Briggs is blackmailing her beloved Bailey, as she has recognised him, into helping with the pig scheme. Before Fred can come up with a plan, Bailey confesses all to Lord Emsworth, who in his wrath fires both Briggs and Wellbeloved. Emsworth then relates all of this to his sister, including Meriweather’s true identity. Connie orders Fred and Bailey out of the castle; they stay, as Fred threatens to reveal to the county that Beach cut the tent ropes, which would lead to embarrassment and the loss of a superlative butler. Upset at her failure in finding a good match for Myra, Connie cables James Schoonmaker to come to her aid from his home in New York.

When George Threepwood tells Dunstable that he has photographed his grandfather in the act of cutting the tent ropes, Dunstable realises that Briggs is no longer needed, as he can blackmail Emsworth into parting with the pig with the photos. He meets up with Tilbury at The Emsworth Arms, where Lavender Briggs, returned from her day in London and unaware she has been fired, overhears him telling Tilbury he has cancelled her cheque; Dunstable raises the price for Tilbury to £3000 for the pig, which Tilbury will consider. After Dunstable leaves, Briggs approaches Tilbury, her former employer, with her offer to steal the pig for Tilbury at a lower price; he accepts and pays her. On leaving the inn, Briggs meets Uncle Fred, who tells her that Emsworth has fired her; he advises her to head back to London to deposit Tilbury's cheque. She wants this money to open her own secretarial service.

Schoonmaker arrives, answering Connie's request. Fred intercepts him at the railway station and takes him to the Emsworth Arms, where they catch up on old times. Fred informs his old friend of Myra's engagement to Archie Gilpin, which she did after breaking off with Bailey for his rash confession). Schoonmaker reveals he loves Connie, but lacks the courage to propose. Fred tells him that she has feelings for him, encourages Schoonmaker to propose to her. Later Gilpin tells Fred he has once again become engaged to Millicent Rigby, with whom he had had a minor falling out, and now finds himself engaged to two girls at once; he needs £1000, to buy into his cousin Ricky's onion-soup business and support his future wife. Fred encourages Archie to break it off with Myra.

Uncle Fred tricks Dunstable into thinking Schoonmaker is broke, and persuades him to pay out £1000 to get his nephew Archie out of his engagement to Myra. Fred persuades him that Bill Bailey is a more suitable match for Myra. Connie is in tears on hearing Myra is engaged to Bailey, which gives Schoonmaker the nerve to propose to Connie. With help from Lavender Briggs, Fred plays for Dunstable the tape-recording of him scheming to steal the pig. In return for Fred keeping that quiet, Dunstable turns over the photos of Lord Emsworth to Fred. Fred keeps the tape so Dunstable will not stop the cheque to his nephew Archie.

With Bill and Myra off to a registry office, Archie back with Millicent and set up in business, Connie and Schoonmaker engaged and Dunstable well and truly scuppered, Fred smiles at the services he has done for one and all.

## Characters

* Lord Emsworth, absent-minded master of Blandings Castle
    + Lady Constance Keeble, Emsworth's domineering sister
    + George Threepwood, Emsworth's grandson
    + Lavender Briggs, Emsworth's latest efficient secretary
    + Empress of Blandings, Emsworth's cherished prize pig
        - George Cyril Wellbeloved, the Empress' keeper
* Frederick Twistleton, 5th Earl of Ickenham, Uncle Fred, Emsworth's friend and protector
* James Schoonmaker, an American millionaire, friends with both Fred and Connie
    + Myra Schoonmaker, James' pretty daughter
        - The Reverend Cuthbert "Bill" Bailey, a curate friend of Pongo's, engaged to Myra
* Alaric, Duke of Dunstable, a cantankerous peer
    + Archie Gilpin, Dunstable's handsome artist nephew
* George Alexander Pyke, Lord Tilbury, publishing magnate and pig lover
    + Millicent Rigby, Tilbury's secretary, romantically entwined with Archie
* Beach, butler at the castle

## Publication history

The first US edition dust jacket illustration was drawn by Paul Bacon.

An excerpt from the book was included in the 1984 collection *The World of Wodehouse Clergy*, published by Hutchinson, London.

Dunstable and Uncle Fred had both previously visited the Castle in *Uncle Fred in the Springtime* (1939), while Tilbury showed up there in *Heavy Weather* (1933), as well as appearing, like Uncle Fred, in several non-Blandings stories.

Notes Sources * McIlvaine, Eileen; Sherby, Louise S.; Heineman, James H. (1990). *P. G. Wodehouse: A Comprehensive Bibliography and Checklist*. New York: James H. Heineman Inc. ISBN 978-0-87008-125-5.

## InfoBox

Service with a Smile
| First edition (US) | |
| --- | --- |
| Author | P. G. Wodehouse |
| Cover artist | Paul Bacon |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Comic novel |
| Publisher | Simon & Schuster (US)
Herbert Jenkins (UK) |
| Publication date | 15 October 1961 (US)
17 August 1962 (UK) |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (hardback & paperback) |
| Preceded by | *Pigs Have Wings (Blandings), Cocktail Time (Uncle Fred)* |
| Followed by | *Galahad at Blandings* |


title: Service wrap

abstract: A service wrap is a set of non-core services which are bundled with a core service to form a complete package of services that are sold. For example, if the service sold is an IT service, the service wrap included the governance of that service, such as service monitoring tools. The term appears to be closely associated with the IT and Network Services industries.

text:
# Service wrap

A **service wrap** is a set of non-core services which are bundled with a core service to form a complete package of services that are sold. For example, if the service sold is an IT service (such as a cloud computing service), the service wrap included the governance of that service, such as service monitoring tools.

The term appears to be closely associated with the IT and Network Services industries.


title: Seticosta rubicola

abstract: Seticosta rubicola is a species of moth of the family Tortricidae. It is found in Costa Rica and Guatemala. Larvae have been intercepted on Rubus plants arriving in the United States from Guatemala. The length of the forewings is 5-8.5 mm. The larvae feed on Rubus species, including Rubus eriocarpus and Rubus vulcanicola.

text:
# Seticosta rubicola

***Seticosta rubicola*** is a species of moth of the family Tortricidae. It is found in Costa Rica and Guatemala. Larvae have been intercepted on *Rubus* plants arriving in the United States from Guatemala.

The length of the forewings is 5-8.5 mm.

The larvae feed on *Rubus* species, including *Rubus eriocarpus* and *Rubus vulcanicola*.

## InfoBox

| *Seticosta rubicola* | |
| --- | --- |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Tortricidae |
| Genus: | *Seticosta* |
| Species: | ***S. rubicola*** |
| Binomial name | |
| ***Seticosta rubicola***<br>Brown & Nishida, 2003 | |
|


title: Seth Hays

abstract: Seth Millington Hays was the first white settler and a civic leader in Council Grove, Kansas.

text:
# Seth Hays

**Seth Millington Hays** (April 23, 1811 – February 3, 1873) was the first white settler and a civic leader in Council Grove, Kansas.

## Life

Hays was born in Callaway County, Missouri, and moved to Kansas in 1847 to open a trading post on the Santa Fe Trail. While he originally worked for the mercantile company Boone & Hamilton, he owned his store outright by the early 1850s. The flood of trail travelers brought by the 1858 Pike's Peak Gold Rush both enriched Hays and spurred settlement in Council Grove, which was incorporated the same year. In 1859, Hays and business partner G. M. Simcock opened a new two-story store and restaurant in Council Grove under the name S. M. Hays & Co.

Hays moved to Colorado in 1862, selling his store to Simcock, but he returned to Council Grove in 1865. He took over his 1859 store from Simcock the next year. In 1870, Hays founded a newspaper, the *Council Grove Democrat*, and the Council Grove Savings Bank, the town's first.

Hays enslaved a woman named Sarah Taylor, nicknamed Aunt Sally, while living in Missouri. As the Kansas Territory still allowed slavery at the time, Hays brought Taylor with him to Kansas, where she remained a slave. After Kansas gained statehood and abolished slavery in 1861, Taylor stayed with Hays as a housekeeper. Also in 1861, Taylor and Hays began caring for the infant Kittie Parker Robbins, whose mother had died in childbirth while her father was delivering mail on the route through Council Grove. Hays formally adopted Robbins in 1867 with her biological father's consent.

Hays died in 1873, one year after Taylor; they are both buried in the same plot of Council Grove's Greenwood Cemetery. The S. M. Hays & Co. store is still in operation as a restaurant under the name Hays House; it bills itself as "the oldest continuously operating restaurant west of the Mississippi River". Hays' 1867 residence in Council Grove is now a county history museum and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.


title: Sept-Frères

abstract: Sept-Frères is a former commune in the Calvados department in the Normandy region in northwestern France. On 1 January 2017, it was merged into the new commune Noues de Sienne.

text:
# Sept-Frères

**Sept-Frères** (French pronunciation: \[sɛt fʁɛʁ\] , literally *Seven Brothers*) is a former commune in the Calvados department in the Normandy region in northwestern France. On 1 January 2017, it was merged into the new commune Noues de Sienne.

## Population

Historical population
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1962 | 524 |  |
| 1968 | 443 | −15.5% |
| 1975 | 353 | −20.3% |
| 1982 | 359 | +1.7% |
| 1990 | 405 | +12.8% |
| 1999 | 374 | −7.7% |
| 2009 | 340 | −9.1% |

## InfoBox

| Sept-Frères | |
| --- | --- |
| Part of Noues de Sienne | |
|  | |
| Location of Sept-Frères | |
| Sept-FrèresSept-Frères | |
| Coordinates: 48°51′47″N 1°01′42″W / 48.8631°N 1.0283°W / 48.8631; -1.0283 | |
| Country | France |
| Region | Normandy |
| Department | Calvados |
| Arrondissement | Vire |
| Canton | Vire Normandie |
| Commune | Noues de Sienne |
| Area**1** | 9.63 km2 (3.72 sq mi) |
| Population (2019) | 367 |
| Density | 38/km2 (99/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| Postal code | 14380 |
| Elevation | 84–197 m (276–646 ft)
(avg. 151 m or 495 ft) |
| **1** French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers \> 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |


title: Sexxx Dreams

abstract: "Sexxx Dreams" is a song by American singer Lady Gaga from her third studio album, Artpop (2013). The song was written by Gaga, Paul "DJ White Shadow" Blair, Martin Bresso, and William Grigahcine, and produced by Blair, Gaga, Nick Monson, and Dino Zisis. Inspired by Gaga's erotic fantasies and dreams, the song went through a number of changes to make it understandable for the singer's team, while keeping a constant chorus. A synth-pop song, Gaga promoted the title by using a number of hashtags involving the name in her social media accounts, and at one point was considered for a single release from Artpop. Critics received the song favorably, complimenting the composition, the futuristic sound, the lyrical insights into Gaga's life, and compared it to the music of singers Janet Jackson, Paula Abdul and Prince. It debuted at number 41 in the Gaon Chart of South Korea, selling 3,414 copies during the release week of Artpop. "Sexxx Dreams" was one of several album tracks included in Gaga's 2013 concert at the iTunes Festival in London. It was also present on the set list of Gaga's residency show at Roseland Ballroom and ArtRave: The Artpop Ball tour.

text:
# Sexxx Dreams

"**Sexxx Dreams**" (censored as "**X Dreams**") is a song by American singer Lady Gaga from her third studio album, *Artpop* (2013). The song was written by Gaga, Paul "DJ White Shadow" Blair, Martin Bresso, and William Grigahcine, and produced by Blair, Gaga, Nick Monson, and Dino Zisis. Inspired by Gaga's erotic fantasies and dreams, the song went through a number of changes to make it understandable for the singer's team, while keeping a constant chorus. A synth-pop song, Gaga promoted the title by using a number of hashtags involving the name in her social media accounts, and at one point was considered for a single release from *Artpop*.

Critics received the song favorably, complimenting the composition, the futuristic sound, the lyrical insights into Gaga's life, and compared it to the music of singers Janet Jackson, Paula Abdul and Prince. It debuted at number 41 in the Gaon Chart of South Korea, selling 3,414 copies during the release week of *Artpop*. "Sexxx Dreams" was one of several album tracks included in Gaga's 2013 concert at the iTunes Festival in London. It was also present on the set list of Gaga's residency show at Roseland Ballroom and ArtRave: The Artpop Ball tour.

## Writing and composition

Development of Lady Gaga's third studio album, *Artpop*, began shortly after the release of her second one, *Born This Way* (2011), and by the following year, the album's concepts were "beginning to flourish" as Gaga collaborated with producers Fernando Garibay and DJ White Shadow. However, while on tour for the Born This Way Ball, Gaga had to undergo a hip surgery in February 2013 which forced the singer into a six month hiatus, and this rehabilitation became one of the inspirations behind the album.

"Sexxx Dreams" was written by Gaga, Paul "DJ White Shadow" Blair, Martin Bresso, and William Grigahcine, and produced by Blair, Gaga, Nick Monson, and Dino Zisis. Its lyrics propose a sexual encounter with a lover whose boyfriend is gone for the weekend. Gaga was inspired to write the song from her "mucky" fantasies. She said in an interview with the *Daily Mirror*:

> In my mind when I picture sex dreams, it's so bizarre!.. It's me standing there with some massive couture creation, staring at a blow-up doll or something. That's what my sex dreams are like. My sex dreams are weird... Haven't you ever been laying in bed with someone and fantasised about someone else?... In the song I'm explaining my infidelity to the person I'm with, and then I'm having a conversation with myself to the person that I'm fantasising about.

In November 2013, during a special iHeartRadio Album Release Party broadcast on more than 150 Clear Channel stations to promote *Artpop*, Gaga revealed to Ryan Seacrest that "sexy sculptures" appear in her "crazy" and "really bizarre" dreams. She introduced the song as "something really erotic and exotic", allowing fans to "experience what it's like to be me". Gaga and her team spent a lot of time creating the rhythm of the song. At first people involved in the production were not sure of Gaga's idea behind the composition, and hence it went through a lot of changes, but kept the chorus as constant since Gaga was against changing it.

Gaga explained that the dialogue exchange in the lyrics alternate between singing to one person, and speaking to another, which reverses from verse to verse. Here the people she converses with in the song are her imaginary boyfriend and girlfriend. Jason Lipshutz of *Billboard* said the song is one in which Gaga "balances a disintegrating relationship and a lustful fantasy" and "juggles a pastel-colored 80's aesthetic and R-rated breakdown of unspoken desire". MTV's Brenna Ehrlich described it as a "sweaty, sultry jam about touching oneself". According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com, "Sexxx Dreams" is set in common time with a moderate dance tempo of 120 beats per minute. It is composed in the key of C minor with Gaga's vocals spanning from G3 to F5. The song has a basic sequence of G–Cm–G–Cm during the verses and Cm–A–G–Cm in the chorus.

## Production and promotion

In August 2013, Gaga released a preview of "Sexxx Dreams" prior to her performance of September 1, 2013 at the iTunes Festival in London. In the video, she sings "When I lay in bed I touch myself and I think of you". The video then shows Gaga rehearsing for the festival and displays in pink font, "We wanna give you #sexdreams'". Gaga also promoted the song on social media by posting song lyrics ("Last night damn, you were in my #SexDreams doing really nasty things"), and encouraging use of a hashtag containing lyrics (#whenilayinbeditouchmyselfandthinkofyou).

On September 3, 2013, after debuting several tracks from *Artpop* at the festival, Gaga polled her fans about how to promote the album, asking: "OK MONSTERS! Now that you've seen some of ARTPOP Live, what would be YOUR pick for 2nd Single?" Fans could choose between "Aura", "Manicure" and "Sexxx Dreams". At one point, the latter was in the lead by nearly 10,000 votes. However, the song was never selected as an official single.

Later that month, Rihanna tweeted: "Just left the studio... Recorded a #monster hook for one of my favorite artists! And that's all I can give you... #NavyShit", then posted a separate message, "Lastnight.... YOU were in my sex dreams!!" Her tease, followed by Gaga's response, "@rihanna doing really NASTY THINGS \*dancing gaga\*", lead to rumors that Rihanna would be collaborating on the version that would appear on *Artpop*. However, Rihanna's vocals do not appear on the album.

## Critical reception

"Sexxx Dreams" received generally positive reviews and drew comparisons to the work of Paula Abdul, Janet Jackson and Prince. *The Atlantic*'s Spencer Kornhaber said the song "doses Prince's 'Little Red Corvette' with some dread and Gaga using lust as therapy". In his review of *Artpop* for *Billboard*, Lipshutz called the song "seductive" and said it marks where the "sexuality and synth-pop pleasures of \[the album\] fully bloom." Robert Cospey of Digital Spy said the track highlights Gaga "doing her best Janet Jackson impression, and she does it very well."

*The Guardian*'s Michael Cragg described "Sexxx Dreams" as a "Vanity 6-esque strut", and dubbed it and "Do What U Want", as "futuristic, electro-tooled R&B slow jams with delicious choruses". Robbie Daw of Idolator called the "not so subtle" and "randy" song one of the album's "standouts", and recommended it for use as a single. MTV's John Walker said of the song, "There's something so goofily erotic about telling someone 'you were in my sex dreams.' It's such a cumbersome phrase, yet Gaga somehow makes it one of the most erotic lines you'll heard  \[*sic*\] all year. The half-giggled 'I really shouldn't be telling you this' line at the song's climax — no pun intended — really seals the deal." Walker humorously rated the song 5 out of 5 "vaguely vaginal Georgia O'Keeffe orchids".

Bradley Stern of MuuMuse said the song is "all sorts of throwback '80's-R&B ferociousness, blending dirty-minded temptation with a seriously fierce strut a la Janet Jackson and Paula Abdul — and a bit of Divinyls' 'I Touch Myself'." In his album review, he described the song as "a purely Prince/Vanity 6-inspired production, seductively sauntering into the speakers across a nasty, smutty slap of a beat". Stern considered the track one of the album's best moments and wrote, "there's no part of 'Sexxx Dreams' that isn't purely aural sex". Two lyrics from the song were included in *USA Today*'s list of the eleven most suggestive lyrics from *Artpop*.

Some reviewers commented on the part in which Gaga says she's "had a couple of drinks". Lipshutz wrote that Gaga sounded "loose and light-hearted, letting her audience twirl around on the dance floor". Cragg said it sounded as though her vocals had been "covertly recorded during a drunken game of truth or dare".

## Live performances

"Sexxx Dreams" was one of several *Artpop* tracks included in Gaga's 2013 concert at the iTunes Festival in London. Ashley Percival of *The Huffington Post* wrote of her performance: "'Sex Dreams' made 2009's 'LoveGame' with its disco stick look like a nursery rhyme, as she delivered its racy and oh-so-Gaga lyrics." Reviewing Gaga's live performance, Gil Kaufman of MTV described the song as "theatrical, throbbing pop", with Gaga channeling "Prince, Madonna and anyone else who writhed on, humped or thrusted into a stage in the 1980s while sharing their most intimate, detailed nighttime desires."

In November 2013, Gaga performed "Sexxx Dreams" at ArtRave, a two-day promotional event for *Artpop*, held at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in New York. In their review of the event, *Billboard* contributors Andrew Hampp and Jason Lipshutz wrote that her performance of the song was "presented with colorful choreography but paled in comparison" to the studio version.

Gaga included the song in the set list for her March–April 2014 residency at Roseland Ballroom, showing off her "flirty side". In his review of her opening night performance, Jon Caramanica of *The New York Times* described "Sexxx Dreams" as a song about fantasy and noted how Gaga "pinballed back and forth" between a male and female dancer. Gaga performed the song during her ArtRave: The Artpop Ball tour, accompanied by backup dancers dressed in fetish clothing. Kitty Empire from *The Guardian* refrained that "the latex'n'lasers section, where Gaga sings 'Sexxx Dreams', finds no new take on the dry-humping of chaises-longues." In 2017, Gaga performed the song at the Coachella Festival.

## Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of *Artpop*.

### Management

* Recorded at Record Plant Studios, Hollywood, California and CRC Studios, Chicago, Illinois
* Mixed at Record Plant Studios, Hollywood, California and Heard IT! Studios, North Hollywood, California
* Sony/ATV Songs, LLC/ House of Gaga Publishing, LLC / GloJoe Music Inc. (BMI), Maxwell and Carter Publishing, LLC (ASCAP), Etrange Fruit (SACEM), Fuzion (SACEM) administered by Get Familiar Music (ASCAP)

### Personnel

## Charts

Weekly chart performance for "Sexxx Dreams"
| Charts (2013) | Peak
position |
| --- | --- |
| South Korea International (Gaon) | 53 |

## InfoBox

| "Sexxx Dreams" | |
| --- | --- |
| Song by Lady Gaga | |
| from the album  *Artpop* | |
| Released | November 6, 2013 |
| Studio |  |
| Genre | Synth-pop |
| Length | 3:34 |
| Label |  |
| Songwriter(s) |  |
| Producer(s) | * Paul "DJ White Shadow" Blair * Lady Gaga * Nick Monson * Dino Zisis |
|  | |
| Audio video | |
| "Sexxx Dreams" on YouTube | |
|  | |


title: Sexy

abstract:
Sexy is an adjective to describe a sexually appealing person, primarily referring to physical attractiveness. It may also refer to:
  - Sexual arousal, the arousal of sexual desire, during or in anticipation of sexual activity
  - Sexual attraction, meaning anything which has the ability to attract the sexual or erotic interest of a person

text:
# Sexy

**Sexy** is an adjective to describe a sexually appealing person (or thing), primarily referring to physical attractiveness. It may also refer to:

* Sexual arousal, the arousal of sexual desire, during or in anticipation of sexual activity
* Sexual attraction, meaning anything which has the ability to attract the sexual or erotic interest of a person

## Arts and media

### Music

### Other media

## Other uses


title: Serendipity (Mai Kuraki song)

abstract: "Serendipity" is Mai Kuraki's song from her eleventh studio album Smile, released on May 20, 2015. Kuraki re-recorded this song with Sensation, and it was released on January 7, 2016. The original version of the song is the only song Kuraki released in 2015.

text:
# Serendipity (Mai Kuraki song)

"**Serendipity**" is Mai Kuraki's song from her eleventh studio album *Smile*, released on May 20, 2015. Kuraki re-recorded this song with Sensation, and it was released on January 7, 2016. The original version of the song is the only song Kuraki released in 2015.

## Release

On May 20, 2015, the original version of "Serendipity" was released on major music download services, but it didn't reach any major charts.

On January 7, 2016, the song was re-released featuring Sensation and premiered on Recochoku. With release of the music video and usage in the commercial of West Japan Railway Company's "Ashita Serendipity Campaign" to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the extension of Sanyo Shinkansen to Hakata, this song debuted at No. 1 on the Recochoku Singles Daily Chart.

## Music video

The video was released on January 5, 2016, on GyaO and January 6 on YouTube. On GyaO, the video was watched more than 23,000 times in 4 days.

## Track listing

Digital download
| No. | Title | Length |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1. | "Serendipity" | 4:16 |

Digital download
| No. | Title | Length |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1. | "Serendipity" (featuring Sensation) | 4:23 |

## Charts

### Daily charts

| Chart (2016) | Peak
position |
| --- | --- |
| Japan (Recochoku) | 1 |

### Weekly charts

| Chart (2016) | Peak
position |
| --- | --- |
| Japan (Recochoku) | 6 |

## Release history

| Region | Date | Format | Label |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Japan | May 20, 2015 | Digital download | Northern Music |
| | January 7, 2016 | | Digital download (featuring Sensation) |

## InfoBox

| "Serendipity" | |
| --- | --- |
| "Serendipity (feat. Sensation)" cover | |
| Promotional single by Mai Kuraki | |
| from the album  *Smile* | |
| Released | May 20, 2015
January 7, 2016
(featuring Sensation) |
| Recorded | * 2014 * 2015 |
| Genre |  |
| Length | 4:16
4:23 (featuring Sensation) |
| Label | Northern Music |
| Songwriter(s) |  |
| Producer(s) | Kanonji |
| Mai Kuraki promotional singles chronology | |
| "Anata ga Irukara"
(2011) "**Serendipity**"
(2015) "Sawage Life"
(2016) | |
|  | |
| Music video | |
| "Serendipity" on YouTube | |
|  | |


title: Seymour Simon

abstract: Seymour Frank Simon was an American lawyer, Appellate Court and Supreme Court Justice in Illinois, and City Council member (alderman) in Chicago, Illinois.

text:
# Seymour Simon

**Seymour Frank Simon** (August 10, 1915 – September 26, 2006) was an American lawyer, Appellate Court and Supreme Court Justice in Illinois, and City Council member (alderman) in Chicago, Illinois.

## Life

Simon was born in Chicago, and grew up in the Albany Park neighborhood. In 1931 he graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School, and in 1935 from Northwestern University, having earned a bachelor of science degree. Simon also attended law school at Northwestern and graduated first in his class in 1938. He served in the United States Navy during World War II. In 1954, he married Roslyn Biel, a widow with three children.

## Political career

Simon was a member of the Democratic Party. His politics, however, were noted for being independent of the party line.

Simon served on the state Supreme Court from 1980 to 1988, and prior to that had been an Illinois appellate court judge from 1974 to 1980. According to the *Chicago Sun-Times*: "After nearly 20 years on the Council and the board, Simon was elected to the bench, where he served 14 years as an appellate court and Supreme Court justice. He became a staunch death penalty opponent and wrote a 1988 opinion that helped prevent wrongful executions for the 1983 Jeanine Nicarico slaying."

According to the Illinois Supreme Court website: "He served in the U.S. Navy, 1942–45, as attorney, U.S. Department of Justice (Antitrust Division), 1938–42, and practiced law in Chicago, 1946-74. He was elected alderman of Chicago's 40th Ward and served from 1955–61, when he was appointed to the Cook County Board, 1962-66. He served as president of Cook County Forest Preserve District during the same period and was a member of the Chicago Public Building Commission from 1961-1967. He was reelected to the Chicago City Council in 1967 and continued in that office until elected to the Appellate Court in 1974."

In 1995, Seymour Simon became the founding Chair of the Chicago Debate Commission, a 501(c)(3) non-profit which partners with Chicago Public Schools to administer the citywide Chicago Debate League. Seymour Simon steered the CDC for its first 11 years, until his death in 2006, and he was principally responsible for obtaining the initial investment of CPS in debate.

## Awards

Seymour Simon was inducted as a Laureate of The Lincoln Academy of Illinois and awarded the Order of Lincoln (the State’s highest honor) by the Governor of Illinois in 1997 in the area of Law.

1. Northwestern University (June 11, 1938). *Eightieth Annual Commencement*.
2. Chicago Tribune
3. Jensen, Trevor; Sjostrom, Joseph; Pearson, Rick; Washburn, Gary (September 27, 2006). "Seymour Simon: 1915 - 2006". *Chicago Tribune*. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
4. "Previous Illinois Supreme Court Justice Seymour Simon". Archived from the original on 2003-08-23.
5. http://www.suntimes.com/news/commentary/74503,CST-EDT-edits28b
6. "Lincoln Academy Laureate". Retrieved February 25, 2016.