title: 96th Engineer Battalion (United States)

abstract: The 96th Engineer Battalion was a military engineer unit in the United States Army. The battalion, which was composed mainly of African-American troops, served during World War II and was also known as the 96th Engineer General Service Regiment.

text:
# 96th Engineer Battalion (United States)

The **96th Engineer Battalion** was a military engineer unit in the United States Army. The battalion, which was composed mainly of African-American troops, served during World War II and was also known as the **96th Engineer General Service Regiment**.

## History

The 96th Engineer Battalion was activated as the 9th Engineer Battalion (Separate) at Fort Bragg on 1 June 1941. It embarked at New York on 4 March 1942 and arrived in Australia on the north-eastern coast of Queensland, on 9 April 1942.

Troops from US 96th Engineers were stationed at a base on Townsville's western outskirts known as Kelso. This was the site for a large-scale siege lasting eight hours known as the Townsville mutiny, which was sparked by racial taunts and violence. The soldiers took to the machine guns and anti-aircraft weapons and fired into tents where their white American counterparts were drinking, killing one, severely injuring dozens and expending 700 rounds.

After this they were stationed at Port Moresby on 28 April. On 29 July 1942 it was redesignated the 96th Engineer General Service Regiment, and moved to the Philippines on 22 April 1945, where it was inactivated on 15 February 1946.

## InfoBox

| 96th Engineer Battalion | |
| --- | --- |
| 96th Engineer Battalion distinctive unit insignia | |
| Active | 1941–1946 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Army Corps of Engineers |
| Type | Engineer battalion |
| Motto(s) | "Ecce Signum" (Latin: *Behold the Sign*) |
| Engagements |  |


title: Picea koyamae

abstract: Picea koyamae is a rare spruce, endemic to the Akaishi Mountains and Yatsugatake Mountains in central Honshu, Japan. It is an evergreen tree growing to 25 m (82 ft) tall, with a trunk diameter of up to a metre. It grows in small isolated stands in a limited area and the total area of occupation is less than 100 square kilometres (39 sq mi). Trees that are lost to typhoons are normally replaced with other faster-growing species and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed the tree as being "critically endangered". Some trees are in cultivation for their ornamentality.

text:
# Picea koyamae

***Picea koyamae*** (**Koyama's spruce**; Japanese: ヤツガタケトウヒ or やつがたけとうひ *yatsugatake-touhi*) is a rare spruce, endemic to the Akaishi Mountains and Yatsugatake Mountains in central Honshu, Japan. It is an evergreen tree growing to 25 m (82 ft) tall, with a trunk diameter of up to a metre. It grows in small isolated stands in a limited area and the total area of occupation is less than 100 square kilometres (39 sq mi). Trees that are lost to typhoons are normally replaced with other faster-growing species and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed the tree as being "critically endangered". Some trees are in cultivation for their ornamentality.

## Description

It is a monoecious evergreen tree growing to 25 m tall, with a trunk diameter of up to 1 m. The shoots are orange-brown, with scattered pubescence. The leaves are needle-like, 8–16 mm long, rhombic in cross-section, dark bluish-green with conspicuous stomatal lines. The cones are cylindric-conic, 4–9 cm long and 2 cm broad, maturing pale brown 5–7 months after pollination, and have stiff, smoothly rounded scales 6–18 mm long and 6–12 mm wide. Pollination takes place in late spring.

## Distribution

Koyama's spruce is native to the Akaishi Mountains and Yatsugatake Mountains, or Nagano and Yamanashi Prefectures in central Honshū, Japan, where it grows at 1500–2000 m altitude. It is found growing in groups of 10–20, with a total population of only about 250 mature trees. The main cause of decline is the loss of natural regeneration after typhoons, with windblown trees being replaced by the planting of other faster-growing commercially valuable species. Other threats include wildfires, landslides and changes in temperature and precipitation associated with climate change. There is little genetic exchange between different fragmentary locations where it grows, and the total area of occupation by this tree is less than 100 square kilometres (39 sq mi).

The tree is named after the Japanese botanist Mitsua Koyama. The name was first published as "koyamai", but this is an orthographical error to be corrected under the provisions of ICBN Article 60.

It is occasionally planted as an ornamental tree. The wood is similar to that of other spruces, but the species is too rare to be of economic value.

## InfoBox

| *Picea koyamae* | |
| --- | --- |
|  | |
| Cultivated Specimen
Morton Arboretum accession 126-65-1 | |
| Conservation status | |
|
Critically Endangered  (IUCN 3.1) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| *Clade*: | Tracheophytes |
| *Clade*: | Gymnospermae |
| Division: | Pinophyta |
| Class: | Pinopsida |
| Order: | Pinales |
| Family: | Pinaceae |
| Genus: | *Picea* |
| Species: | ***P. koyamae*** |
| Binomial name | |
| ***Picea koyamae***
Shiras. | |
|


title: William Neville, Earl of Kent

abstract:
William Neville, Earl of Kent KG and jure uxoris 6th Baron Fauconberg, was an English nobleman and soldier.
He fought during the latter part of the Hundred Years' War, and during the English dynastic Wars of the Roses.

text:
# William Neville, Earl of Kent

**William Neville, Earl of Kent** KG (c. 1405  9 January 1463) and *jure uxoris* 6th Baron Fauconberg, was an English nobleman and soldier. He fought during the latter part of the Hundred Years' War, and during the English dynastic Wars of the Roses.

## Early life

Born circa 1405, he was the third son of Ralph Neville, 1st Earl of Westmorland, and his second wife, Joan Beaufort.

His mother was the legitimised daughter of John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and Katherine Swynford. John of Gaunt was the third surviving son of King Edward III of England and Philippa of Hainault. William was therefore a great-grandson of Edward III. However, the terms of the legitimisation of the Beaufort family specifically excluded them and their descendants from succession to the throne.

William was one of a number of the Neville sons to make a good match, marrying the Fauconberg heiress, Joan de Fauconberg, 6th Baroness Fauconberg *suo jure*, daughter of Thomas de Fauconberg, 5th Baron Fauconberg by his second wife, Joan Brounflete (died 1409), and taking the title **Lord Fauconberg**; just as his nephew, Richard Neville, married the Warwick heiress and became Earl of Warwick. William's marriage took place at some point before 1422. His wife was four years older than he and was described as an idiot from birth. The Fauconberg estates were in North Yorkshire, a centre of power for other members of the Neville family.

## Loyalty to the Crown

He seemingly had a conventional military career during the earlier part of Henry VI's reign. Knighted in May 1426, he was serving on the Scottish Borders in 1435. In 1436, he was serving with his brother-in-law Richard, Duke of York, in Francehis first contact with a man who was later to receive his allegiance. By 1439, he was a field commander in France, with Lords Talbot and Scales. At the siege of Harfleur in 1440, he was made a Knight of the Garter for his part in the campaigns of 1438–39, in particular the capture and garrisoning of Meaux.

The town where Henry V had died was a crucial marches town for English Normandy. They had re-supplied the town, also retaking Montargis and Gerberoy. Fauconberg fought with the relief at Meaux when Richemont seized the stronghold by storm on 12 August 1439. The English lords forced a confrontation, but the French fled, leaving twenty barges laden with supplies.

As one of the three field commanders, Neville had been put on the royal council since 30 April, on Warwick's death, before a new regent could emerge. In October, Fauconberg helped recapture Harfleur, expelling the French garrison; only Dieppe remained intransigent. The field commander's pre-eminence was supplanted in March 1442 by the appointment of William, Lord Bourgchier, as governor-general of Normandy.

On 7 March 1443, after his return to England, he took custody of Roxburgh Castle in Scotland. He was granted £1,000 per annum (around £1,000,000 at 2005 prices) during peacetime, twice this if at war with Scotland, and until 1448, satisfactory payment was made. However, in 1449, he returned to France as part of a diplomatic mission, and in May 1449 he spent the night that the French chose to capture Pont de l'Arche in Normandy. One hundred and twenty men were taken in all.

Neville was reluctant to surrender to a lowly archer, who almost killed him. While in captivity in France, he spent two years of his own income supporting the upkeep of the castle. In spite of a grant from Parliament in 1449, by 1451 he was owed £4,109. He was forced to settle for less. The loss of such an experienced captain was a blow to English administration. The English had already lost the Bretons for taking their salt fleet, and then in July 1449, Somerset refused Fauconberg's return in a deal for Fougeres.

In 1453, he was ransomed (for 8,000 French ecus) and freed from captivity. He still had the custody of Roxburgh Castle, but was impoverished by maintaining this and by his captivity in France. By now, he was owed £1,000 by the government. He settled this by accepting a grant of 1,000 marks from the customs at Newcastle. Not only was this only worth about two-thirds of the original amount, there was no guarantee that he would ever get the money. Griffths says, "What is so remarkable about his tale is that the Lancastrian crown could command \[his\] loyalty".

## Alliance with York

Until this point, he can be seen as a loyal supporter of the House of Lancaster. However, at some time during the next two years, his allegiance began to shift. He was a member of the council of Richard, Duke of York, during Henry VI's second period of madness. Although he was with the Lancastrian nobility at the First Battle of St Albans (1455), he was appointed by York to be joint Constable of Windsor Castle after the battle. His alignment with York, who was his brother-in-law, was natural, as his brother, the Earl of Salisbury and his nephew the Earl of Warwick (the "Kingmaker") were Richard's principal allies.

In 1457, he joined Warwick (appointed Captain of Calais) as his deputy. Warwick used Calais as a base for what was essentially piracy, and Fauconberg seems to have been happy to assist. He was in England in 1458, and in May he was briefly imprisoned in Londonbut he was bailed by Warwick and returned to Calais.

## Awards and appointments

The rewards of victory followed. He was made a member of the King's Council and appointed Lieutenant of the North. On 1 November, he was created **Earl of Kent** and appointed Steward of the Royal Household. In July 1462, he was appointed Lord Admiral, and in August that year he was granted 46 manors in the West Country.

Edward IV relied on him for both land and naval warfare. Following the victory at Towton, he took part in the gradual establishment of royal control in Northumberland, heading a garrison of 120 men at Newcastle in the summer of 1461, and taking part in the siege of Alnwick in November 1462. Between these dates, he was back in Calais, raiding the Breton coast in August 1462, then burning Le Conquet near Brest, and raiding the Ile de Re.

He died on 9 January 1463, and was buried at Gisborough Priory in the heart of his Fauconberg lands. As he had no surviving legitimate sons, the earldom became extinct. He was survived by his wife, who died in 1490 at the age of 84 (thus living through the reigns of all the English kings of the fifteenth century). He had three daughters and one son from his marriage, and one acknowledged illegitimate son, Thomas Neville. Known as the Bastard of Fauconberg, he was to align himself with Warwick and lead a revolt later in Edward IV's reign.

William Neville is an underrated figure in the rise to power of the Yorkist regime. More successful as a military leader than the more famous Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick, his reputation is summed up in Goodman's words: "No other veteran of the Anglo-French Wars won such distinction in the Wars of the Roses".

## Ancestry

## Bibliography

## InfoBox

| William Neville | |
| --- | --- |
| Earl of Kent | |
| Born | c. 1405 |
| Died | 9 January 1463(1463-01-09) (aged 57–58) |
| Noble family | Neville |
| Spouse(s) | Joan de Fauconberg, *suo jure* 6th Baroness Fauconberg |
| Issue | Lady Alice Neville
Lady Elizabeth Neville
Lady Joan Neville
Thomas Neville, the Bastard of Fauconberg (illegitimate) |
| Father | Ralph Neville, 1st Earl of Westmorland |
| Mother | Joan Beaufort |


title: Ramaz Nikolaishvili

abstract: Ramaz Nikolaishvili is a Georgian politician who has served as Governor of Guria and Deputy Minister of Defense in 2008, Chairman of the Roads Department in 2008–2010, Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development in 2010-2012, and a member of Parliament since 2012. Starting his career in domestic intelligence through his work for the Financial Police where he led investigations into currency counterfeiting, he was appointed to serve a brief term in 2008 as Governor of Guria, before becoming Deputy Minister of Defense during the 2008 Russo-Georgian War. Becoming Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure in 2010, he became one of the most popular members of the Saakashvili administration, leading the government's massive infrastructure jobs program meant to address Georgia's response to the 2008-2009 global recession. In office, he was responsible for the completion of several high-level projects, including the Rikoti Pass and the East-West Highway, while securing international funds to build the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway. A member of the United National Movement, he has been in Parliament since the 2012 parliamentary election that saw the victory of Georgian Dream, while briefly serving as an independent in 2017-2020. In Parliament, his term has mostly been focused on foreign policy.

text:
# Ramaz Nikolaishvili

**Ramaz Nikolaishvili** (Georgian: რამაზ ნიკოლაიშვილი; born June 17, 1965) is a Georgian politician who has served as Governor of Guria and Deputy Minister of Defense in 2008, Chairman of the Roads Department in 2008–2010, Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development in 2010-2012, and a member of Parliament since 2012.

Starting his career in domestic intelligence through his work for the Financial Police where he led investigations into currency counterfeiting, he was appointed to serve a brief term in 2008 as Governor of Guria, before becoming Deputy Minister of Defense during the 2008 Russo-Georgian War. Becoming Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure in 2010, he became one of the most popular members of the Saakashvili administration, leading the government's massive infrastructure jobs program meant to address Georgia's response to the 2008-2009 global recession. In office, he was responsible for the completion of several high-level projects, including the Rikoti Pass and the East-West Highway, while securing international funds to build the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway.

A member of the United National Movement, he has been in Parliament since the 2012 parliamentary election that saw the victory of Georgian Dream, while briefly serving as an independent in 2017-2020. In Parliament, his term has mostly been focused on foreign policy.

## Biography

### Family and education

Ramaz Nikolaishvili was born on June 17, 1965, in Tbilisi, the capital of then-Soviet Georgia. Starting his studies in 1983, he received a degree in civil engineering in 1990 from the Lenin Polytechnic University of Tbilisi, a Master's in Finance in 1997 from Tbilisi State University, and a degree in law in 2003 from the same institution.

He speaks Georgian, English, and Russian fluently. He has a wife and three children.

### Early career

Ramaz Nikolaishvili first entered the private sector in 1990 as an engineer for the public energy contractor Tbilkalaki until 1993 and the *Krebi* association until 1994, before joining the public field through the Tax Inspection's Operative Division. In 2000, he would become Deputy Head of the Special Task Division of the same department.

From 2003 to 2004, he served as Deputy Chief of the Information and Analysis Department of the Financial Police, the main domestic intelligence agency aimed at investigating white collar crimes, and eventually became head of the police's Statistics and Information Services, a powerful position in the administration of President Mikheil Saakashvili as the latter had waged a large-scale attack against corruption. From 2005 to 2007, Ramaz Nikolaishvili headed the Tbilisi division of the Financial Police's investigative department, before being promoted as head of the Revenue Service's investigative department following the abolition of the Financial Police. As such, he was notably in charge of investigating cases of currency counterfeit.

In 2005, Nikolaishvili received the rank of Colonel. On September 17, 2007, he was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Saakashvili.

### Governor of Guria

Shortly after his second inauguration, President Saakashvili appointed Ramaz Nikolaishvili as Governor of the Black Sea region of Guria as part of his gubernatorial reshuffle, replacing Mikheil Svimonishvili. His term coincided with the May 2008 parliamentary elections, during which he campaigned for the United National Movement in Guria. Following the UNM's victory, he was replaced in Guria and appointed as Deputy Minister of Defense. As such, Nikolaishvili led an MOD mission to the South Ossetian conflict zone on July 29, 2008, to plant a flag on the Sarabuki Hill, considered a strategic height for Georgia as shootouts were increasing between Georgian and South Ossetian forces. Nikolaishvili served during the August Russo-Georgian war and was awarded the Order of Honor by President Saakashvili on December 4, 2008.

### Infrastructure Minister

After his work at the Ministry of Defense, Ramaz Nikolaishvili was appointed in late 2008 as chairman of the Roads Department, a government agency in charge of overseeing road construction across Georgia. As such, he oversaw a 521 million GEL budget to build new roads in 2009 as part of the stimulus package set out by President Saakashvili in response to the economic fallout from the global recession and the Russo-Georgian war. Among these projects were the Rikoti Tunnel, linking the regions of Imereti and Shida Kartli through the Likhi range, and the so-called "New Road", a highway in downtown Tbilisi meant to alleviate traffic. He would receive the "Engineer of the Year" award by the Scientific and Engineering Association of Georgia. On June 30, 2010, Ramaz Nikolaishvili was appointed as Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure (MRDI) in the cabinet of Nika Gilauri, a signal that the Georgian government was setting infrastructure development as a priority, while Parliament approved a massive budget of 1.3 billion GEL, making the MRDI one of the best-funded government agencies.

Nikolaishvili sought a series of foreign investments to boost Georgia's domestic development budget, often traveling abroad and securing Dutch participation in the Georgian water system, Swiss funding for railway rehabilitation, Chinese investments in the country's highway network. In 2011, he signed a memorandum of cooperation with EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn to launch European funding programs in regional development, while successfully negotiating 190 million EUR and 43 million USD in loans and grants from the European Investment Bank and International Development Association respectively to fund the East-West Highway, a major trade road linking Tbilisi to the Western part of the country. Ramaz Nikolaishvili secured funding from the UNDP, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Asian Development Bank, and the World Bank.

On May 19, 2011, Nikolaishvili successfully negotiated a deal with the Azerbaijani government, with Baku agreeing to allocate an additional 575 million USD to build the Georgian section of the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway, with the goal of finalizing the railway in 2012. One month later, the Marabda-Kartsakhi section of the railway was finalized. With Turkey, he negotiated an increase in the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline's capacity from 1.2 million to 1.6 million barrels a day.

He notably introduced a "10-point plan" destined to modernize Georgia's infrastructure, an employment program meant to create 60,000 construction jobs between 2011 and 2015. As part of that project, the Ruisi-Sveneti Highway was opened in 2012, connecting Gori to the Rikoti Tunnel. By the end of his term, construction for bypasses around Kutaisi and Kobuleti had started, as did work for the Tbilisi-Rustavi Highway. He was also in charge of overseeing construction for a new parliament seat in Kutaisi. One of the most popular ministers in the Saakashvili administration, a 2011 poll by the International Republican Institute named road infrastructure as "the most important reform" in Georgia. In February 2011, the downsizing of the Ministry of Environmental Protection saw his own ministry grow significantly in size. Ramaz Nikolaishvili was named as a potential Prime Minister in 2012 to replace Nika Gilauri. As Minister, he was also tasked with overseeing the military conscription system as head of the Conscription Commission.

Ahead of the 2010 local elections, the NGO *Georgian Young Lawyers' Association* accused Ramaz Nikolaishvili of violating electoral law for attending a UNM campaign event in Guria and sought to have him fined by the Central Election Commission. An audit made by his successor Davit Narmania unveiled several violations in competitive bidding over street lighting contracts, while the ministry launched an investigation in 2014 over allegations that his administration had pressured private developers to launder money, although the case closed with any subpoena.

Ramaz Nikolaishvili resigned on August 31, 2012 to run as the UNM's nominee for the Parliament Majoritarian District of Ozurgeti.

### In Parliament

In the 2012 parliamentary election, Ramaz Nikolaishvili ran in the Ozurgeti parliamentary district, facing six other candidates, including Zviad Kvachantiradze, a former diplomat that had been nominated by the opposition Georgian Dream coalition. Though he would lose the race, he still won a seat in Parliament after being placed as 20th on the United National Movement's proportional electoral list. He would be reelected through the party's list in 2016 and 2020. He's been a member of Parliament's Ethics Council since 2019.

As an MP, he focused largely on foreign relations, being a member of the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy in 2012-2016, of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC) since 2016, of the Inter-Parliamentary Union since 2021, and of the Foreign Relations Committee since 2016. Elected Deputy Chairman of PABSEC, he was part of the monitoring groups in several presidential and parliamentary elections, including the 2018 Turkish presidential and primary elections, the 2019 European Parliament election in Bulgaria, the 2019 Kazakh presidential election, and the 2021 Moldovan parliamentary election. He visited the United States in 2019 and 2020 to meet with counterparts in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.

When a split in the UNM led to the creation of the European Georgia party in 2017, Nikolaishvili chose to remain neutral and became an independent lawmaker, affiliated to no faction. It's as an independent that he joined the UNM-led *Strength Is in Unity* faction during the 2020 parliamentary election. In the 2012-2016 parliamentary convocation, he was notably one of the most absent lawmakers, often missing key votes in protest of the Georgian Dream leadership. As such, he missed votes on adopting a key anti-discrimination bill in 2014 and on ratifying the Association Agreement between Georgia and the European Union. Nikolaishvili remained in boycott through most of 2020 and refused to attend a session to confirm the extension of the state of emergency over the COVID-19 pandemic in April. After allegations of massive voter fraud surfaced during the 2020 parliamentary election, Nikolaishvili was one of 49 elected MPs to not recognize the results and refused to take his seat for months, until a short-lived EU-facilitated agreement between Georgian Dream and the opposition ended the deadlock in April 2021.

## Awards

Caption text
| Ribbon | Award | Awarded by |
| --- | --- | --- |
|  | Medal of Honor
(September 17, 2007) | President Mikheil Saakashvili |
|  | Order of Honor
(December 4, 2009) | President Mikheil Saakashvili |
|  | Order of Excellence
(May 24, 2010) | President Mikheil Saakashvili |
|  | Certificate of Recognition
(January 1, 2012) | Ilia II, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia |
|  | Order of Victory of Saint George
(2012) | President Mikheil Saakashvili |
|  | Order of Vakhtang Gorgasali, I Rank | President Giorgi Margvelashvili |
|  | Order of Honor
(June 19, 2019) | Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation |

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38. "KAKHABER OKRIASHVILI, SIMON NOZADZE AND RAMAZ NIKOLAISHVILI WERE OBSERVERS AT THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN KAZAKHSTAN". *Parliament of Georgia*. 2019-06-10. Retrieved 2022-12-20.
39. "RAMAZ NIKOLAISHVILI IS ON AN OBSERVATION MISSION AT THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN MOLDOVA". *Parliament of Georgia*. 2019-02-25. Retrieved 2022-12-20.
40. "RAMAZ NIKOLAISHVILI, A MEMBER OF THE PARLIAMENT OF GEORGIA, IS ON A WORKING VISIT TO THE USA". *Parliament of Georgia*. 2019-02-05. Retrieved 2022-12-20.
41. "THE VISIT OF RAMAZ NIKOLAISHVILI, A MEMBER OF THE PARLIAMENT OF GEORGIA, TO THE USA". *Parliament of Georgia*. 2020-02-06. Retrieved 2022-12-20.
42. "Former, Incumbent UNM Members Form Two Factions in Tbilisi Sakrebulo". *Civil Georgia*. 2017-01-17. Retrieved 2022-12-20.
43. "დავით უსუფაშვილმა ყველაზე გამცდენ დეპუტატთა ათეული დაასახელა". *Netgazeti*. 2015-06-12. Retrieved 2022-12-20.
44. "Deputies who did not attend the vote on the anti-discrimination law". *Netgazeti*. 2014-05-02. Retrieved 2022-12-20.
45. "დეპუტატები, რომლებიც ასოცირების ხელშეკრულების კენჭისყრას არ დაესწრნენ". *Netgazeti*. 2014-07-18. Retrieved 2022-12-20.
46. "ევროპული საქართველო პლენარულ სხდომას ბოიკოტის გამო არ დაესწრება". *Radio Tavisupleba*. 2020-04-22. Retrieved 2022-12-19.

## InfoBox

| Ramaz Nikolaishvili | |
| --- | --- |
|  | |
| Member of the Parliament of Georgia | |
| **Incumbent** | |
| **Assumed office**
21 October 2012 | |
| Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure | |
| **In office**
30 June 2010  31 August 2012 | |
| Prime Minister | Nika Gilauri
Vano Merabishvili |
| Preceded by | David Tkeshelashvili |
| Succeeded by | Davit Narmania |
| Governor of Guria | |
| **In office**
4 February 2008  2008 | |
| President | Mikheil Saakashvili |
| Preceded by | Mikheil Svimonishvili |
| Succeeded by | Valerian Chitaishvili |
|  | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1965-06-17) June 17, 1965
Tbilisi (Georgian SSR) |
| Political party | United National Movement |
| Alma mater | Polytechnic University of Georgia
Tbilisi State University |
|  | |


title: Ramblers Stadium

abstract: The Ramblers Stadium is a football stadium in Windhoek, Namibia. It is the home of the Ramblers F.C. club and it has a capacity of 1,000 people.

text:
# Ramblers Stadium

The **Ramblers Stadium** is a football stadium in Windhoek, Namibia. It is the home of the Ramblers F.C. club and it has a capacity of 1,000 people.

22°59′03″S 17°07′19″E / 22.9842194444°S 17.1220222222°E / -22.9842194444; 17.1220222222

## InfoBox

Ramblers Stadium
|  | |
| --- | --- |
|  | |
| Location | Windhoek, Namibia |
| Type | Football stadium |
| Capacity | 1,000 |


title: Niki Kallithea

abstract: The Niki Kallithea is a Bulgarian autogyro designed and produced by Niki Rotor Aviation of Pravets, introduced in 2011. The aircraft is supplied complete and ready-to-fly.

text:
# Niki Kallithea

The **Niki Kallithea** (the best view) is a Bulgarian autogyro designed and produced by Niki Rotor Aviation of Pravets, introduced in 2011. The aircraft is supplied complete and ready-to-fly.

## Design and development

The Kallithea is a development of the 2009 Niki Lightning, differing mainly in its use of a conventional two-tube tail boom that passes under the pusher propeller instead of mounting the tail boom through the propeller hub.

The Kallithea features a single main rotor, a two-seats-in tandem enclosed cockpit with fold-up doors, tricycle landing gear and a four-cylinder, liquid and air-cooled, four stroke 100 hp (75 kW) Rotax 912 or six-cylinder, liquid cooled side-valve four-stroke flat six 4-litre petrol 120 hp (89 kW) D-Motor LF39 aircraft engine in pusher configuration. The doors can also be removed for flight.

The aircraft fuselage is a monocoque structure made from composites and fibreglass. Its two-bladed Vortech or Sport Copter rotor has a diameter of 8.5 m (27.9 ft) and a chord of 21 cm (8.3 in). The aircraft has a typical empty weight of 250 kg (551 lb) and a gross weight of 450 kg (992 lb), giving a useful load of 200 kg (441 lb). With full fuel of 80 litres (18 imp gal; 21 US gal) the payload for the pilot, passenger and baggage is 143 kg (315 lb).

## Specifications (Kallithea)

*Data from* Tacke

**General characteristics**

* **Crew:** one
* **Capacity:** one passenger
* **Empty weight:** 250 kg (551 lb)
* **Gross weight:** 450 kg (992 lb)
* **Fuel capacity:** 80 litres (18 imp gal; 21 US gal)
* **Powerplant:** 1 × D-Motor LF39 six-cylinder, liquid cooled side-valve four-stroke flat six 4-litre petrol aircraft engine, 89 kW (120 hp)
* **Main rotor diameter:** 8.5 m (27 ft 11 in)
* **Main rotor area:** 57 m2 (610 sq ft)
* **Propellers:** 4-bladed ground adjustable

**Performance**

* **Maximum speed:** 180 km/h (110 mph, 97 kn)
* **Cruise speed:** 150 km/h (93 mph, 81 kn)
* **Rate of climb:** 6 m/s (1,200 ft/min)
* **Disk loading:** 7.9 kg/m2 (1.6 lb/sq ft)

## InfoBox

| Kallithea | |
| --- | --- |
|  | |
| Role | Autogyro |
| National origin | Bulgaria |
| Manufacturer | Niki Rotor Aviation |
| Introduction | 2011 |
| Status | In production (2017) |
| Produced | 2011-present |
| Developed from | Niki Lightning |


title: R v Gruenke

abstract: R v Gruenke [1991] 3 S.C.R. 263 is a leading Supreme Court of Canada decision on privilege. The court developed a case-by-case test for determining if a communication is privileged. Prior to the test, only communications that fell into one of narrow set of privilege classes could gain protection from being submitted in a court of law.

text:
# R v Gruenke

***R v Gruenke*** \[1991\] 3 S.C.R. 263 is a leading Supreme Court of Canada decision on privilege. The court developed a case-by-case test for determining if a communication is privileged. Prior to the test, only communications that fell into one of narrow set of privilege classes could gain protection from being submitted in a court of law.

## Background

Adele Rosemary Gruenke was a 22-year-old reflexologist (a type of therapy similar to acupressure). Philip Barnett, an 82-year-old friend and client of Gruenke, had loaned her a significant amount of money including money to start a reflexology clinic. They lived together for a time in a platonic relationship – he had even put her in his will – until he began to make advances to her, at which point she moved home with her mother. Barnett's advances became more aggressive, to the point where she and her boyfriend plotted to kill him. One night in November 1986, she met with Barnett in his car and a fight broke out. She and her boyfriend beat Barnett to death.

Greunke, distraught, then spoke to a pastor and counsellor about her involvement in the murder, and the planning that went into it.

At trial the conversation between Greunke, the counsellor, and pastor was admitted and proved sufficient to convict Gruenke of first-degree murder.

## Opinion of the court

The court found that the trial judge was correct in admitting the evidence.

Chief Justice Antonio Lamer, writing for the majority, noted that Canadian law does not recognize privilege in religious communications; however, there may be situations where such a privilege may be required.

To accommodate this need the court adopted a four-step test proposed by the American jurist John Henry Wigmore to determine whether privilege is required.

1. the communications must originate in a confidence that they will not be disclosed;
2. this element of confidentiality must be essential to the full and satisfactory maintenance of the relation between the parties;
3. the relation must be one which in the opinion of the community ought to be sedulously fostered; and
4. the injury that would inure to the relation by the disclosure of the communications must be greater than the benefit thereby gained for the correct disposal of litigation.

In application to the facts of the case, Lamer found that they did not meet the requirements of the Wigmore test and so the communication was not privileged.

## InfoBox

| R v Gruenke | |
| --- | --- |
| **Supreme Court of Canada** | |
| Hearing: May 10, 1991
Judgment: October 24, 1991 | |
| Full case name | *Adele Rosemary Gruenke v Her Majesty The Queen* |
| Citations | \[1991\] 3 S.C.R. 263 |
| Prior history | Appeal from the Manitoba Court of Appeal |
| Ruling | Gruenke appeal dismissed |
| Court membership | |
| **Chief Justice:** Antonio Lamer
**Puisne Justices:** Bertha Wilson, Gérard La Forest, Claire L'Heureux-Dubé, John Sopinka, Charles Gonthier, Peter Cory, Beverley McLachlin, William Stevenson | |
| Reasons given | |
| Majority | Lamer, joined by La Forest, Sopinka, Cory, McLachlin, Stevenson, and Iacobucci |
| Concurrence | L'Heureux-Dubé, joined by Gonthier |


title: Pyrgulina yersini

abstract: Pyrgulina yersini is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Pyramidellidae, the pyrams and their allies.

text:
# Pyrgulina yersini

***Pyrgulina yersini*** is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Pyramidellidae, the pyrams and their allies.

## Distribution

This marine species occurs off Vietnam

## InfoBox

| *Pyrgulina yersini* | |
| --- | --- |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Family: | Pyramidellidae |
| Genus: | *Pyrgulina* |
| Species: | ***P. yersini*** |
| Binomial name | |
| ***Pyrgulina yersini***<br>Saurin, 1959 | |
|
| Synonyms | |
| *Chrysallida (Pyrgulina) yersini* (Saurin, 1959) | |


title: Picea martinezii

abstract: Picea martinezii, the Martinez spruce, is a medium-sized evergreen tree growing to 25–35 m tall, and with a trunk diameter of up to 1 m. It is native to northeast Mexico, where it occurs at six localities in the Sierra Madre Oriental mountains in Nuevo León. It grows at moderate altitudes from 2150–2600 m, growing along streamsides in mountain valleys, where moisture levels in the soil are greater than the otherwise low rainfall in the area would suggest. The bark is thin and scaly, flaking off in small circular plates 5–10 cm across. The crown is conic, with widely spaced branches with drooping branchlets. The shoots are stout, pale buff-brown, glabrous, and with prominent pulvini. The leaves are needle-like, 23–35 mm long, stout, moderately flattened in cross-section, bright glossy green with inconspicuous lines of stomata; the tip is viciously sharp. The cones are pendulous, broad cylindrical, 8–16 cm long and 3 cm broad when closed, opening to 6 cm broad. They have stiff, smoothly rounded scales 2-2.5 cm broad, and are green, maturing pale brown 6–8 months after pollination. The seeds are black, 4 mm long, with a 12–16 mm long pale brown wing. Martinez spruce was only discovered in 1981, and is critically endangered with just six small populations, comprising about 1,000 trees. Fossil evidence shows it had a wider distribution in the past, south to central Mexico. It is related to Chihuahua spruce from northwest Mexico, but differs in the longer, green leaves, and the larger, broader cones with larger scales. No other related spruces are found in North America, with its next-closest relatives in eastern Asia. It is a very attractive tree and is starting to be planted as an ornamental tree in botanical gardens, particularly valued in warm areas as it is one of the most heat-tolerant of all spruces. It is named after the Mexican botanist Maximino Martínez.

text:
# Picea martinezii

***Picea martinezii***, the **Martinez spruce**, is a medium-sized evergreen tree growing to 25–35 m tall, and with a trunk diameter of up to 1 m. It is native to northeast Mexico, where it occurs at six localities in the Sierra Madre Oriental mountains in Nuevo León. It grows at moderate altitudes from 2150–2600 m, growing along streamsides in mountain valleys, where moisture levels in the soil are greater than the otherwise low rainfall in the area would suggest.

The bark is thin and scaly, flaking off in small circular plates 5–10 cm across. The crown is conic, with widely spaced branches with drooping branchlets. The shoots are stout, pale buff-brown, glabrous, and with prominent pulvini. The leaves are needle-like, 23–35 mm long, stout, moderately flattened in cross-section, bright glossy green with inconspicuous lines of stomata; the tip is viciously sharp.

The cones are pendulous, broad cylindrical, 8–16 cm long and 3 cm broad when closed, opening to 6 cm broad. They have stiff, smoothly rounded scales 2-2.5 cm broad, and are green, maturing pale brown 6–8 months after pollination. The seeds are black, 4 mm long, with a 12–16 mm long pale brown wing.

Martinez spruce was only discovered in 1981, and is critically endangered with just six small populations, comprising about 1,000 trees. Fossil evidence shows it had a wider distribution in the past, south to central Mexico. It is related to Chihuahua spruce from northwest Mexico, but differs in the longer, green leaves, and the larger, broader cones with larger scales. No other related spruces are found in North America, with its next-closest relatives in eastern Asia.

It is a very attractive tree and is starting to be planted as an ornamental tree in botanical gardens, particularly valued in warm areas as it is one of the most heat-tolerant of all spruces. It is named after the Mexican botanist Maximino Martínez.

## InfoBox

| Martinez spruce | |
| --- | --- |
|  | |
| Conservation status | |
|
Endangered  (IUCN 3.1) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| *Clade*: | Tracheophytes |
| *Clade*: | Gymnospermae |
| Division: | Pinophyta |
| Class: | Pinopsida |
| Order: | Pinales |
| Family: | Pinaceae |
| Genus: | *Picea* |
| Species: | ***P. martinezii*** |
| Binomial name | |
| ***Picea martinezii***
T.F.Patt. | |
|


title: William H. Payne

abstract: William Harold Payne (1836–1907) was an American educator and translator. As professor of the Science and Art of Teaching at the University of Michigan in 1879, he was the first university professor of pedagogy in the United States. He served as the chancellor of the University of Nashville and the president of Peabody College from 1887 to 1901.

text:
# William H. Payne

**William Harold Payne** (1836–1907) was an American educator and translator. As professor of the Science and Art of Teaching at the University of Michigan in 1879, he was the first university professor of pedagogy in the United States. He served as the chancellor of the University of Nashville and the president of Peabody College (both of which later merged with Vanderbilt University) from 1887 to 1901.

## Early life

William H. Payne was born on May 12, 1836, in Farmington, New York. He was educated in state schools in New York, which offered classes in the winter months, until he attended an academy for three years and a seminary for a couple of months. Much of his education was self-taught.

Payne received a master of arts and a legum doctor from the University of Michigan. He received a doctorate from the University of Nashville.

## Career

Payne taught schoolchildren in Victor, New York, in 1856-1857. He served as the principal of the Union School in Three Rivers, Michigan, from 1858 to 1864. He was the superintendent of schools in Niles, Michigan, from 1864 to 1866. He served as the principal of the Holy Ghost Seminary in Ypsilanti, Michigan, from 1866 to 1869. Meanwhile, from 1864 to 1869, he was the editor and publisher of *The Michigan Teacher*, a review of pedagogy. He served as superintendent of schools in Adrian, Michigan, from 1869 to 1879.

Payne was appointed as the first professor of the Science and Art of Teaching at the University of Michigan by the Board of Regents in 1879. He was the first holder of a chair in pedagogy in any university in the United States. He established the Department of Education.

Replacing the late Eben S. Stearns, Payne served as the second chancellor of the University of Nashville and the president of Peabody College from 1887 to 1901. He was critical in working with the Peabody Education Fund to shape the future of the college. Under his leadership, the faculty went from 12 to 38. When he stepped down, he was succeeded by former Governor James D. Porter, who moved the Peabody College campus across the street from Vanderbilt University. Meanwhile, Payne returned to the University of Michigan in 1901.

Payne was the author of several books on pedagogy. He "consistently supported compulsory education, financed and supervised by the state." Instead of experience, he encouraged "academic pursuits." Moreover, he believed education to be "the most conservative of all arts." Indeed, he opposed innovation in teaching methods. Furthermore, he believed women were not qualified to teach senior years, science or mathematics, nor were they qualified to serve as superintendent or chancellor.

Payne translated *Emile, or On Education* by Jean-Jacques Rousseau and *The History of Pedagogy* by Gabriel Compayré from French into English.

## Personal life

Payne married Eva S. Fort in October 1856. After she died in 1899, he married Elizabeth Clark in 1901. He had a son, W.R. Payne, and four daughters: Mrs Henry McClelland, Mrs Tillman Jones, Mrs John A. Murkin, and Mrs B.F. Fields.

## Death

Payne died in June 1907.

## Bibliography

* *Chapters on School Supervision: A Practical Treatise in Superintendence, Grading, Arranging Courses of Study; The Preparation and Use of Blanks, Records, and Reports, Examinations for Promotion, etc.* (Cincinnati ; New York : Van Antwerp, Bragg & Co., c1875).
* *Outlines of Educational Doctrine* (Adrian, Michigan: C. Humphrey, 1882).
* *Contributions to the Science of Education* (New York, Harper & brothers, 1886).
* *Theory and Practice of Teaching, or, The Motives and Methods of Good School-Keeping* (New York : American Book Co., 1890).

## InfoBox

| William H. Payne | |
| --- | --- |
|  | |
| Born | William Harold Payne
(1836-05-12)May 12, 1836
Farmington, New York, U.S. |
| Died | June 1907 (aged 7071)
Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of Michigan
University of Nashville |
| Spouses | *   Eva S. Fort  (m. 1856; died 1899) *   Elizabeth Clark (m. 1901) |
| Children | 1 son, 4 daughters |
| Signature | |
|  | |


title: Rambynas Regional Park

abstract: Rambynas Regional Park is one of the Regional Parks in Lithuania, situated at Pagėgiai municipality on the right Nemunas river bend in Lithuanian Republic near the border of Kaliningrad Oblast. The park was founded in 1992 with its area of 4,786 ha.... Life is a constant movement. A Wide variety of different forms emerge and disappear... Over the thousand years, stones grow and decay. Life explodes, animals and people are born and so lost... These days, people learn how to look at nature at more calmed glance. And life effects are clearly visible in a strong relationship with nature as if the person opens the whole mystery of nature, all of the Mysteries...

text:
# Rambynas Regional Park

**Rambynas Regional Park** is one of the Regional Parks in Lithuania, situated at Pagėgiai municipality (Tauragė County) on the right Nemunas river bend in Lithuanian Republic near the border of Kaliningrad Oblast. The park was founded in 1992 with its area of 4,786 ha.

> ... Life is a constant movement. A Wide variety of different forms emerge and disappear... Over the thousand years, stones grow and decay. Life explodes, animals and people are born and so lost... These days, people learn how to look at nature at more calmed glance. And life effects are clearly visible in a strong relationship with nature as if the person opens the whole mystery of nature, all of the Mysteries...
>
> Vydūnas

## About Rambynas Regional Park

The Rambynas Regional Park territory for its natural and cultural heritage has been divided into eight protection and conservation zones (83.6% of the total park area) which are:

* Bitėnai Geomorphological Reserve
* Šilėnai Botanical Reserve
* Bitėnai Botanical and Zoological Reserve
* Ragainė Inflection Hydro-logical Reserve
* Šereitlaukis Architectural Reserve
* Jūra River Ichtiological Reserve
* Vilkyškių Geo-morphological Reserve
* Vilkyškiai Urban Reserve

Other areas include: recreation areas (3.2%), defense areas (7.2%), business areas (6, 0% of the total park area) and a park territory tangled in a relatively dense network of roads with about 5.4 km of roads in an area of 100 acres.

Among the eight park reserves the biggest protected park attractions are - the Nemunas valley landscape, Wetland meadows and their typical flora communities, Rambynas hill and its woods, Bitėnai and Bardėnai villages with preserved natural and cultural attractions, The ridge crest of Vilkyškiai, Regional forests characterized by a variety of woods, The environment of Šereitlaukis estate, The old town of Vilkyškiai and unique white stork colonies nesting in the pine trees. In the park area, there are eight villages: Bitėnai, Bardinai, Šereitlaukis, Opstainys, Pempynė, Vilkyškiai and part of Lumpėnai, with a population of 1340 inhabitants, 247 hectares of water ponds (5.1% of the park area).

13 kilometers from the Nemunas and Jūra river confluence to the Rambynas park boundary is the largest river in Lithuania, the Nemunas, and the Lithuanian state border with Russia's Kaliningrad enclave. The Nemunas valley is washed with 33 old river lakes, the largest - the Merguva (44.8 ha) and Bitežeris (13.8 ha).

## Protected Areas Management - *"Phase I" and "Phase II"*

State Service for Protected Areas under the Ministry of the Environment, together with a number of Authorities for protected areas in Lithuania will implement the EU Structural Funds for the project “Protected Areas Management"

The project objectives are:

* Facilitate public access to protected environments
* Facilitate visits to protected areas without harming the environment
* Create conditions for the “Natura 2000” sites improvement

***“Phase I”*** completion of the following activities:

Organisation and adaption of 4 heritage sites for visitors:

* Rambynas new stone altar ensemble
* Opstainiai I ( Vilkyskiai, Raudondvaris ) mound, Opstainiai II mound, Šereiklaukis mound
* Completion of Rambynas Regional Park Visitors Center in the Bitėnai village
* Completion of Visitor Centre exposition and display stands

***“Phase II”*** implementation and outgoing works of the following activities:

* Installation of field information system and visitors infrastructure
* Completed “Natura 2000” territory network of Šereiklaukis forest meadows (about 20 acres)

## Publications

In collaboration of Rambynas Regional Park direction and “Sandūra” Society in Pagėgiai implemented newspaper and magazine - almanac “Rambynas” publishing project. The newspaper “Rambynas” issued 2 times a year. This 8 -page publication is dedicated to Rambynas Regional Park residents and introduces park visitors to the park values also how Rambynas Regional Park Authority operates in a variety of topical issues related to the park. Magazine –almanac "Rambynas” released once a year. This is a richly illustrated 86 - page publication, a prominent Lithuanian historians and scientists examine Rambynas and Pagėgiai surrounding areas, as well as culture, history, environmental issues and to provide a wide popular readership of Lithuania Minor. The journal provides a summary in English language.

Press, Television, Radio Support Fund ( PTRSF) partially supports and funds project “Rambynas - Lithuania Minor ethnographic identity preservation" - already several years presented on magazine “Rambynas”.

## Park Goals

* Preserve the Nemunas River landscape, its natural ecosystem and cultural heritage and manage park resources rationally.
* Protect existent natural and cultural heritage.
* Restore destroyed natural and cultural heritage.
* Observe, gather information and conservation of cultural heritage protection, promote the natural and cultural heritage and its protection.
* Tourism development, expansion and renewal of recreational areas.

## Places to Visit

* An observation deck on the Rambynas hill (Beautiful Nemunas river valley view with its surrounding wetland planes)
* Lithuanian Minor pantheon - Bitėnai Cemetery (last resting place of many Lithuania Minor patrons and activists)
* Educational eco-tourism walking trails (Many kilometers of hiking and walking trails)
* White stork colony in Bitėnai village (Unique white stork colony nesting in pine trees (20-24 nests, depending on the year))
* Martynas Jankus Museum (Lithuania Minor patron and activist museum and exhibition)
* Šereiklaukis and Opstainiai (Vilkyškiai and Raudondvaris) mounds
* Barrow
* Place of Šereiklaukis Manor
* 39 “Oak Alley” (At the outskirts of Vilkyškiai woods stands 39 oak alley. Trees are 18–20 meters in height and size of 3–5 meters)
* Natural Monument "Witches Spruce" (Spruce declared a natural monument. Its height of 32 meter, 5 meters in waist and branching to the 18 stems. In 2007 after a major wind storms, one trunk break away, now it has 17 trunks)
* Vilkyškiai town urban reserve
* Viewing Platform ( Beautiful views from 15 meters high viewing platform of Merguva lake, wetland meadows and Ragainė (Neman) town in the distance)
* Rambynas Regional Park visitor centre and exposition (Modern visitor centre with exhibition, souvenir shop and place to rest)

The park contains several reserves established to protect both the nature (pine stands and oak stands) and ethnographic values in the (Bitėnai and Bardinai villages). Rambynas hill also belongs to the park territory. In nearby Vilkiškiai town, a number of old buildings representing the typical architecture of the area still exist.

## Landscape

The Nemunas river curve is surrounded by forests, the overgrown ridge crest of Vilkyškiai, covered with a variety of heights and shapes, continental dunes, the valley wetland flooded meadows, ancient lakes decorated with inlays that mark the beginning of the Nemunas delta. The landscape was formed by the last ice age, where the ice cap boundary was at the Rambynas.

## Nature

The hyssop (lat. Gratiola officinalis ) hedge is commonly found around the lake Merguva area. The hedge plant is used widely in pharmacy. Natures Monument - "Witches Spruce" - grows in Vilkyškiai forest. This is a 17 trunk spruce tree, nearby "Oak Alley", which is an object of Natural Heritage, can be found. In the centre of Bitėnai village a colony of white storks are located which in the summer time nest in the pine trees. The park area encounters 8 species of bats, of which, 5 are included in the Red Data Book of Lithuania (Book of highly endangered or near extinct animals and plants). In the woods of Šereiklaukis lives Fat Dormouse. In the Rambynas Regional Park 4 Wetland meadows and 8 forest habitats of European importance can also be found. Where Nemunas down the ridge of Vilkyškiai bends, nature and history have created a set of values with the shrine of the Skalvians tribe, Lithuanian national rebirth and a symbol of the book smuggling era - Rambynas hill, overlooking the views of the Ragainė, Tilžė and the beginning of the Nemunas Delta.

## Cultural Heritage

Tribal life and battles with the crusaders are commemorated by the series of mounds built by Skalvians (Opstainiai, Vilkyškiai, Šereiklaukis) and the ancient villages, temples and Balts shrine - Rambynas. In later centuries this land and its manors speal of the former glory of the Vilkyskiai, Šereiklaukis and Pempynė estates. An urban reserve exists in Vilkyškiai with a school, rectory and the Evangelical Lutheran church buildings. Martynas Jankus homestead still called "Book-smugglers" Mecca can also be found there. In the forest near Rambynas is a tight graveyard called the pantheon of Lithuania Minor. This is the final resting place of Vydūnas, Martynas Jankus, V.K. Banaitis, A. Žvinakis and E. Grigolaitytė.

## Events

After World War II, Lithuania Minor has lost many of its people so the way of life, traditions and customs also ceased. But some festivals are still celebrated like St. John's festival and Užgavėnės (Ash Wednesday eve). Bitėnai - literature, printing and book-smuggling spot in Lithuania, so on Rambynas are celebrated “Book-smugglers” Day. In the late 19th century on Rambynas first time in Lithuania was staged “Lithuanian Song Festival” and performed first Lithuanian play.

55°5′N 22°5′E / 55.083°N 22.083°E / 55.083; 22.083


title: Ramón Nomar

abstract: Ramon Nomar is a Venezuelan-born Spanish pornographic actor and director. His accolades include the Hot d'Or Award for Best New Actor and the XBIZ Award for Male Performer of the Year. Nomar broke into the pornographic film industry after being discovered by Italian director Luca Damiano at a casting contest. He has worked with pornographic film producers Reality Kings, Brazzers and New Sensation. Nomar eventually broke into both the European and U.S. industries. He is one of the most popular actors in the porn industry. He has stated in the past that he had always been in favor of well-scripted features as opposed to gonzo pornography, although he had no objections to appearing in films of either style.

text:
# Ramón Nomar

**Ramon Nomar** (born 9 January 1974) is a Venezuelan-born Spanish pornographic actor and director. His accolades include the Hot d'Or Award for Best New Actor and the XBIZ Award for Male Performer of the Year. Nomar broke into the pornographic film industry after being discovered by Italian director Luca Damiano at a casting contest. He has worked with pornographic film producers Reality Kings, Brazzers and New Sensation.

Nomar eventually broke into both the European and U.S. industries. He is one of the most popular actors in the porn industry. He has stated in the past that he had always been in favor of well-scripted features as opposed to gonzo pornography, although he had no objections to appearing in films of either style.

## Early life

Nomar was born in Caracas, Venezuela, but grew up in A Coruña, Spain. He built his first bicycle himself, searching for parts in various junkyards. At 16, he expressed a desire to perform in pornographic films after developing a fascination with Rocco Siffredi's films. He also became passionate about water sports such as surfing and spearfishing, used his additional funding for surf training, and participated in surfing competitions.

Nomar recalls being restless in school, often getting into trouble and showing a reluctance to learn. After quitting school, he started working in the events department of A Coruña, where he hung posters on the street. He also worked as a waiter. He completed the nine-month service in the Navy in the Canary Islands. In 1994, at the age of 21, he started working in a local sex shop, where, in addition to running the store, he also ran a peep-show for a year.

## Career

### Beginnings

In September 1995, Nomar traveled to the International Erotic Film Festival in Barcelona, where he participated in and won a casting contest organized by Italian director Luca Damiano. As a participant, Nomar engaged in sexual intercourse with a woman on a Poble Espanyol stage in front of about 2,000 spectators. Two weeks later, he filmed his first erotic film with Damiano: *Cindy with Selen*.

Early in his career, Nomar was credited under his given name "Ramón" or "Guevara". He played Guanche in the José María Ponce production *Showgirls in Madrid* (1996). Nomar became a frequent collaborator with Damiano, appearing in several of his high-budget productions. In 1997, he starred as John the Baptist in an erotic pastiche of Oscar Wilde's tragedy *Salomé* and appeared as a police officer in *Fucking Instinct*. The following year, he portrayed General Barras in *Napoleone* and appeared in erotic parodies of *The Night Porter* and *Anastasia*. He also played Frank in a parody of the 1960s Western *The Magnificent Seven: Rocco and the Magnific Seven* (1998) and 1954's *Seven Samurai: Rocco and the Mercenaries* (1999) with Rocco Siffredi. During this time, Nomar also performed in erotic shows at the Baghdad Party Hall in Barcelona.

### Rise to prominence in Europe

In 1998, Nomar received the Hot d'Or award for Best Newcomer at the Cannes Erotic Film Festival. The following year, he returned to Cannes to present a Lifetime Achievement Award to Larry Flynt, founder of *Hustler*. He participated in photo shoots, often with Andrea Moranty and Toni Ribas. He also appeared in the movies: *Anita Dark Forever* (1999) with Anita Dark, *Gothix* (2000) with Chipy Marlow and *Nosferatu* (2002) with Melinda Gale. Narcís Bosch hired him to produce IFGs such as *Lágrimas de esperma* (2001), *Sex Meat* (2001), *Mundo salvaje de Max* (2001), *Ruta 69* (2001), *Kryminalne tango* (*Crazy Bullets*, 2003), *Hot Rats* (2003), *Café diablo* (2006) and *El escándalo de la princesa del pueblo* (2011).

Nomar continued to work with Evil Angel, appearing in several productions: Rocco Siffredi's *Rocco Never Dies - The End* (1998), Christoph Clark's *Christoph's Beautiful Girls 4* (2002), *Euro Angels Hardball 17: Anal Savants*, *Beautiful Girls 4* (2002), and *Euro Angels Hardball 17: Anal Savants* (2002). He also began performing in BDSM scenes for Kink.com involving submission, deep throat, rimming, female ejaculation, anal and vaginal fisting, gang bang, bukkake, spitting, and slapping.

On two occasions, Nomar received the Ninfa Award for Best Spanish Actor at the Barcelona International Erotic Film Festival. The first win was in 2004 for playing a wrestler in *616 DF: El diablo español vs. Las luchadoras del este*. The second was in 2006 for playing a forest ranger in *Mantis: O Bosque do Tesão*. After appearing alongside Mick Blue in the Spanish production of Razorback (*The Gift*, 2006), he was awarded the statuette of Ninfa for the best Spanish film and the best Spanish screenplay (Roberto Valtueña), he collaborated with studios such as Vidéo Marc Dorcel, Mario Salieri Entertainment Group and Private Media Group.

Nomar participated in the feminist porn film *Five Hot Stories for Her* (2007), for which the director Erika Lust received an award at the 2005 Barcelona International Erotic Film Festival. In the drama *Wasteland* (2012) he appeared on the club scene.

From 1 to 4 October 2015 he participated in an erotic salon in Barcelona with artists such as Nacho Vidal, Steve Holmes, Erica Fontes, Tiffany Doll, Franceska Jaimes and Carolina Abril. In June 2018 he won the ranking of the Spanish website 20minutos.es *Guapo (letra R)*, beating world famous men such as Rubén Cortada, Ryan Reynolds, Ryan Kelley, Ryan Guzman, Ricky Martin and Robert Lewandowski.

From 9 to 11 June 2017 he participated in El Salón Erotic de Madrid (SEMAD) in Madrid together with Silvia Rubí, Amirah Adara, Erica Fontes, Nacho Vidal and Carolina Abril.

On 8 October 2017, at the 25th Barcelona International Erotic Film Festival, Nomar received the award for "Best International Actor Saló Erotic de Barcelona (SEB)" with a T-shirt with the inscription "There is no consent to the sexual abuse of minors"(*Abuso sexual infantil: STOP*) protesting against pedophilia.

In December 2017 he was ninth in the ranking of "Favorite Porn Actor" (*Mis Actores Porno Favoritos*), announced by the Spanish portal 20minutos.es.

In May 2019, at the erotic pub The Secret Garden in Medellín, Colombia, Nomar held workshops on the adult film industry, organized by former journalist Amaranta Hank.

### United States

In December 2010, due to the difficult economic situation in Spain, Nomar moved to Los Angeles. He participated in gonzo productions such as *Slutty & Sluttier 12* (2010) by Manuel Ferrara or *Belladonna: Manhandled 4* (2011) with Belladonna, and also collaborated with American brands such as Wicked Pictures, Reality Kings, New Sensations, Digital Playground, Evil Angel, Brazzers, Hard X, Kink, Porndoe Premium or Elegant Angel.

Due to his Spanish accent, Nomar was cast by director Jordan Septo as Zorro, who was based on historic Californian outlaw Joaquín Murieta, in his film *Zorro XXX: A Pleasure Dynasty Parody* (2012). The film won the NightMoves Award for Best Parody-Drama.

Joanna Angel cast him for the role of the monster in Burning Angel's *Fuckenstein* (2012) pastiche, for which he was nominated for an AVN Award in the category "Best Double Penetration Sex Scene" with James Deen and Joanna Angel. The film received the Industry AltPorn Award in the "Best Feature Video" category. He also acted as the neighbor in Masashi Kishimoto's *Naruto* shōnen manga parody - *Comic Book Freaks and Cosplay Geeks* (2015), directed by Joanna Angel with Annie Cruz and Wolf Hudson. Nomar also played a clergyman in *The Crucible: Parody Gangbang* (2016), a parody of Arthur miller's play directed by Maitresse Madeline Marlowe.

On 23 January 2016, he received nine AVN Awards nominations, including Favorite Pornstar and Male Performer of the Year. He was named 6th on Adult Entertainment Broadcast Network's "Pornstars 2017" list, 8th on AEBN's "Summer 2019 Pornstars" and entered the "Golden Three" on AEBN's "2020 Pornstars" list. Nomar was one of the stars of *Evil & Hot Halloween Orgy* (2017), which was nominated for the AltPorn Award for Best Gonzo Video. He also appeared in several Axel Braun porn parodies: *Deadpool* (2018) as Punisher, *Captain Marvel* (2019) as Chrell and *Black Widow* (2021) as Taskmaster. In Joanna Angel's *Evil Tiki Babes* (2020), which won the AVN Award for best screenplay, he played a bartender.

In 2020, Nomar started releasing his content on the subscription platform OnlyFans, gaining a large number of subscribers. He starred alongside Rebel Lynn in the production of *A Little R&R with Rebel & Ramon* (2021). On 15 January 2021, he was honored with the XBIZ Award for Male Performer of the Year. In 2021, he performed in his first transgender scene for the Evil Angel production *Aubrey Kate Is Ramon Nomar's First TS*, which he co-directed with Chris Streams. That same year, he made his solo directorial debut for Evil Angel's *TransInternational: Los Angeles* with Wolf Hudson and Joanna Angel. He also directed *TransInternational: Las Vegas*.

## Other works

Nomar completed an acting course at the Stella Adler School in Los Angeles. His photos appeared in the American women's magazine *Playgirl*, in August 1999 for Suze Randall and in November 2000.

On 2 March 2015, at The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel on Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, he was the star during the promotion of Patricia Velásquez's autobiographical book *Straight Walk: A Supermodel’s Journey To Finding Her Truth*. On 11 October 2016, Emily Witt's book *Future Sex* was published, in which he is also mentioned.

In the comedy *Original Sin* (2018) he acted as a news reporter.

## Personal life

On 11 January 2017, Nomar, along with porn film director Tony T., filed a lawsuit in the Los Angeles Supreme Court for defamation related to the allegations of porn star Nikki Benz, who on 20 December 2016, announced through social media that after the Brazzers session on *Nikki Goes Bananas* and the sex scene (since 19 December) she was sexually assaulted. Tony T. and Nomar maintain that the accusations were false.

## Awards

* 1998 Hot d'Or Award – Best New Actor
* 2004 Ninfa Prize – Best Spanish Actor (*616DF - El Diablo español vs las luchadoras del este*)
* 2006 Ninfa Prize – Best Spanish Actor (*Mantis*)
* 2012 AVN Award – Best Group Sex Scene (*Asa Akira Is Insatiable 2*) with Asa Akira, Erik Everhard, Toni Ribas, Danny Mountain, Jon Jon, Broc Adams & John Strong
* 2013 AVN Award – Best Double Penetration Sex Scene (*Asa Akira Is Insatiable 3*) with Asa Akira & Mick Blue
* 2013 AVN Award – Best Group Sex Scene (*Asa Akira Is Insatiable 3*) with Asa Akira, Erik Everhard & Mick Blue
* 2013 AVN Award – Best Three-Way Sex Scene (B/B/G) (*Lexi*) with Lexi Belle and Mick Blue
* 2013 XBIZ Award – Best Scene — Feature Movie (*Wasteland*)
* 2014 AVN Award – Best Three-Way Sex Scene (B/B/G) (*Anikka*) with Anikka Albrite and James Deen
* 2015 AVN Award – Best Group Sex Scene (*Gangbang Me*) with A.J. Applegate, John Strong, Erik Everhard, Mr. Pete, Mick Blue, James Deen and Jon Jon
* 2015 AVN Award – Best Three-Way Sex Scene (B/B/G) (*Allie*) with Allie Haze and Mick Blue
* 2019 AltPorn Award – Best Feature AltPorn Video (*Leigh Raven: Prove Something*)
* 2019 AVN Award – Best Boy/Girl Sex Scene (*The Possession of Mrs. Hyde*)
* 2019 NightMoves Award – Best Male Performer (Editor's Choice)
* 2020 AVN Award – Best Anal Sex Scene (*Emily Willis: The Anal Awakening*)
* 2020 AVN Award – Best Double-Penetration Sex Scene (*I Am Riley*)
* 2020 AVN Award – Best Foreign-Shot Anal Sex Scene (*Elements*)
* 2021 XBIZ Award – Male Performer of the Year
* 2022 XBIZ Award – Best Sex Scene — Feature Movie

## InfoBox

| Ramon Nomar | |
| --- | --- |
| Nomar in 2011 | |
| Born | (1974-01-09) 9 January 1974<br>Caracas, Venezuela |
| Nationality | Spanish |
| Other names | Todd |
| Years active | 1995–present |


title: Wang Pin

abstract: Wang Pin is a Chinese chess player. She was awarded the title of Woman Grandmaster by FIDE in 1992. Wang was the Chinese national women's champion of 2002. By finishing fifth in the 1991 Women's Interzonal Tournament, she qualified to play in the 1992 Women's Candidates Tournament, a stage of the Women's World Chess Championship 1993, and finished tied for last place. In 1993, Wang took part in the Women's Interzonal Tournament again and tied for 9th-11th places. Since the format of the Women's World Chess Championship was changed to a knockout tournament, she competed in the event in 2001 and 2004. She played for the China national chess team four times at the Women's Chess Olympiad, winning the team gold medal in 1998 and 2002, silver in 1996 and bronze in 1992. Wang represented China also the Women's Asian Team Chess Championship in 1999, winning two gold medals, and in the Russia vs China match in 2001.

text:
# Wang Pin

**Wang Pin** (Chinese: 王频; born December 11, 1974) is a Chinese chess player. She was awarded the title of Woman Grandmaster by FIDE in 1992. Wang was the Chinese national women's champion of 2002.

By finishing fifth in the 1991 Women's Interzonal Tournament, she qualified to play in the 1992 Women's Candidates Tournament, a stage of the Women's World Chess Championship 1993, and finished tied for last place. In 1993, Wang took part in the Women's Interzonal Tournament again and tied for 9th-11th places. Since the format of the Women's World Chess Championship was changed to a knockout tournament, she competed in the event in 2001 and 2004.

She played for the China national chess team four times at the Women's Chess Olympiad (1992, 1996, 1998, 2002), winning the team gold medal in 1998 and 2002, silver in 1996 and bronze in 1992. Wang represented China also the Women's Asian Team Chess Championship in 1999, winning two gold medals (team and individual on board 2), and in the Russia vs China match in 2001.

## InfoBox

| Wang Pin | |
| --- | --- |
| Wang Pin, Manila 1992 | |
| Country | China |
| Born | (1974-12-11) December 11, 1974<br>Shanghai, China |
| Title | Woman Grandmaster (1992) |
| FIDE rating | 2387 (January 2019) |
| Peak rating | 2506 (October 2000) |
| Peak ranking | No. 6 woman (January 2001) |


title: Nils Rosenius

abstract: Nils Rosenius was a Swedish figure skater who competed in pair skating. With partner Valborg Lindahl, he won the silver medal at the 1909 World Figure Skating Championships.

text:
# Nils Rosenius

**Nils Rosenius** was a Swedish figure skater who competed in pair skating. With partner Valborg Lindahl, he won the silver medal at the 1909 World Figure Skating Championships.

## Competitive highlights

**With Valborg Lindahl**

| Event | 1909 | 1910 | 1911 | 1912 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| World Championships | 2nd |  |  |  |
| Swedish Championships | *Not held* | | | 2nd |

## InfoBox

| Nils Rosenius | |
| --- | --- |
| Figure skating career | |
| Country | Sweden |
| Medal record      Representing  Sweden  Figure skating: Pairs  World Championships  1909 Stockholm Pairs | |


title: Racism by country

abstract:
The article lists the state of race relations and racism in a number of countries. Various forms of racism are practiced in most countries on Earth. In individual countries, the forms of racism which are practiced may be motivated by historic, cultural, religious, economic or demographic reasons. Wars created sentiments of ultra-nationalism, ethnic pride and racism. Racism is widely condemned throughout the world, with 89 states being signatories of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination as of 7 March 2013.
  - Racism in Asia
    - Racism in Indonesia
    - Racism in China
    - Racism in Israel
    - Racism in Japan
    - Racism in India
    - Racism in the Philippines
    - Racism in Malaysia
    - Racism in North Korea
    - Racism in South Korea
    - Racism in Thailand
    - Racism in UAE
    - Racism in Vietnam
  - Racism in Africa
    - Racism in Libya
    - Racism in South Africa
    - Racism in Sudan
    - Racism in Zimbabwe
  - Racism in Europe
    - Racism in Austria
    - Racism in Belarus
    - Racism in France
    - Racism in Finland
    - Racism in Germany
    - Racism in Italy
    - Racism in Iceland
    - Racism in Latvia
    - Racism in Lithuania
    - Racism in Poland
    - Racism in Portugal
    - Racism in Romania
    - Racism in Russia
    - Racism in Sweden
    - Racism in Switzerland
    - Racism in Spain
    - Racism in the Soviet Union
    - Racism in Ukraine
    - Racism in the United Kingdom
  - Racism in North America
    - Racism in Canada
    - Racism in Mexico
    - Racism in the Dominican Republic
    - Racism in the United States
      - Racism in Columbus, Ohio
      - Racism in Puerto Rico
      - Racism in Oregon
  - Racism in Oceania
    - Racism in Australia
  - Racism in South America
    - Racism in Argentina
    - Racism in Cuba
    - Racism in Chile
    - Racism in Brazil
  - Racism in the Arab world
    - Racism in Libya
    - Racism in Sudan
    - Racism in UAE

text:
# Racism by country

The article lists the state of **race relations and racism in a number of countries**.

Various forms of racism are practiced in most countries on Earth. In individual countries, the forms of racism which are practiced may be motivated by historic, cultural, religious, economic or demographic reasons. Wars created sentiments of ultra-nationalism, ethnic pride and racism.

Racism is widely condemned throughout the world, with 89 states being signatories of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination as of 7 March 2013.


title: Operation Nobilis

abstract: Operation Nobilis was a special forces and naval operation in 1984 by the South African Defence Force (SADF) during the Angolan Civil War and South African Border War. Its objective was the destruction of three Angolan OSA missile boats in Luanda harbour with alternative targets of other Angolan naval or commercial transport vessels in the military harbour.

text:
# Operation Nobilis

**Operation Nobilis** was a special forces and naval operation in 1984 by the South African Defence Force (SADF) during the Angolan Civil War and South African Border War. Its objective was the destruction of three Angolan OSA missile boats in Luanda harbour with alternative targets of other Angolan naval or commercial transport vessels in the military harbour.

## Background

From 1982 until 1983, six Osa II were transferred from the Soviet Navy to the Angolan Navy. Though the South African Navy Minister-class strike craft could outmatch these Angolan vessels, it was their missile systems and in particular their radar systems that could end the dominance the South African Navy (SAN) had in Angolan waters. These Angolan vessels were now being deployed not only in Luanda but other coastal ports such as Soyo, Lobito and Moçâmedes.

On 10 July, the SADF orders where issued to destroy three Osa II missile boats by the end of July. If these could not be attacked, then military cargo vessels should be attacked as long as they were not flying Soviet flags. UNITA would be asked to claim responsibility and hence the mines would be placed close to the surface so as to give the impression of divers not being used.

4 Reconnaissance Regiment would supply the attack team and the medical team came from 7 Medical Battalion Group. The navy would supply the SAS Oswald Pirow and SAS Jim Fouche strike craft to deliver the special forces team to the submarine SAS Johanna van der Merwe, before retreating back to the Cunene River, retrieving them at the end of the mission, with the SAS Protea in support off Luderitz. The attack dates were from 28 to 31 July.

Five 5 kg Torpex mines would be carried with a sixth dummy mine used to implicate UNITA. The mission would not use the entrance of the bay but the team would be boated close to land, leave the water and cross a peninsula, re-enter the water in the bay and resume swimming to the vessels to that were to be mined.

## Order of battle

### South African forces

* elements – 4 Reconnaissance Regiment
* elements – 7 Medical Battalion Group
* SAS Johanna van der Merwe
* SAS Oswald Pirow
* SAS Jim Fouche
* SAS Protea

## Operation

After loading the zodiac boats and the mission cargo on board the submarine SAS Johanna van der Merwe the previous evening, the submarine sailed from Simon's Town naval base at 11h00 on 16 July and headed north up South Africa's west coast. On the evening of 22 July, the strike craft SAS Oswald Pirow and SAS Jim Fouche arrived at Saldanha Bay. At 09h00 23 July, having boarded the special forces team and the medical team, the two craft would leave heading northwards. The three vessels would rendezvous on the early evening of 26 July with the special forces team transferring to the SAN submarine and removal of some of its personnel to make space.

On the night of the 27 July, the SAN submarine arrived off the Luanda. Late that evening, two zodiac boat was launched and headed to the peninsula that creates the bay in Luanda for a preliminary reconnaissance prior to the attack mission. Two divers were then launched and they swam to the shoreline close to the Panorama Hotel. The vehicle and pedestrian traffic was enough to prevent them leaving the water and by 03h10 the team was back aboard the submarine. During the briefing that followed the reconnaissance, the probability of using the bay entrance instead was discussed with another reconnaissance and possible mission planned for the following night. But on the night of 28 July, the mission was scrapped due to equipment engine issues and postponed until the next night.

On Sunday evening 29 July, the submarine surfaced and the three boats were launched and headed for the peninsula but the traffic was found to be too heavy to cross the road by foot to reach the harbour so the boats headed for the entrance of the bay.

The three boats approached the naval base in Luanda harbour and it was soon established that both the strong currents and patrols within the base made the targets too dangerous for a successful mission. But between the naval base and a military quay on the opposite side of the bay, the South African attack team found two merchant vessels at anchorage awaiting a space at the military berth and so were assumed to be carrying military cargo.

With the three boats and crews remaining tied to a wreck in the bay, six divers then swam for the wreck with their mines. On the swim to the ships, one mine was lost due to a faulty flotation device. The five remaining mines were attached and after all divers re-joined, swam back to the wreck. Their boats were forced to move around the wreck after a patrol boat illuminated the wreck. The boats and teams were recovered from 03h14 after the submarine had found them as they had drifted 1500 metres north from their rendezvous point due to strong currents.

Pick-up was rapid as radar contacts by a possible patrol boat had been made and the submarine would be followed before the contact was broken. Explosions were seen at 04h50 30 July followed by radio interceptions of Luanda's Port Authority of mayday calls being received from the two ships. By 21h00 on 1 August, the SAN submarine had rendezvoused with the two SAN strike craft and the attack team were transferred to the vessels. The two SAN would arrive back at Saldanha Bay on 3 August while the submarine would arrive back, after making repairs, on 7 August.

## Aftermath

UNITA would later claim responsibility when they released a communique out of Lisbon, Portugal on 2 August 1984 stating they had sunk a Soviet and Cuban ship, destroying war material. The Angolan news agency ANGOP announced an Angolan and East German ship had been damaged by saboteurs with American mines, a statement the Americans quickly denied. The Angolans and Russians had studied the dummy mine and their investigations concluded it was too unsophisticated to have been the type that had caused the destruction and that the operation was the work of the South African special forces though the use of a submarine was not suspected. Anti-diving countermeasures would be introduced in the harbour as well as increased naval patrols.

The two ships that had been attacked were, the *MV Arendsee* a 7,500 ton East German cargo vessel and the *MV Lundoge* a 9,000 ton Angolan vessel. *Arendsee*, carrying heavy vehicles, artillery and industrial cargo, was sunk by two explosions and resting on the bottom stern up would be towed to a sandbar four hours later.. A dummy mine would later be removed from her, her cargo removed and as she was unable to be repaired, towed out to sea and sunk on 30 August. The *Lundoge*, carrying military equipment and foodstuff, was hit by two explosions, was sailed by its crew to a nearby quay before settling. With most of her cargo destroyed she was patched up and sailed to Rio de Janeiro where she was repaired and re-entered service until 1995.

## Further reading

* George, Edward (2005). *The Cuban intervention in Angola : 1965-1991 : from Che Guevara to Cuito Cuanavale* (1. publ. ed.). London \[u.a.\]: Frank Cass. ISBN 0415350158.
* Scholtz, Leopold (2013). *The SADF in the Border War 1966-1989*. Cape Town: Tafelberg. ISBN 978-0-624-05410-8.
* Steenkamp, Willem (1989). *South Africa's border war, 1966-1989*. Gibraltar: Ashanti Pub. ISBN 0620139676.
* Steyn, Douw; Söderlund, Arné (2015). *Iron Fist From The Sea: South Africa's Seaborne Raiders 1978-1988* (Kindle ed.). Solihull, West Midlands: Helion & Company. ISBN 978-1909982284.

## InfoBox

| Operation Nobilis | |
| --- | --- |
| Part of the South African Border War | |
| Location | Angola<br>LuandaOperation Nobilis (Angola) |
| Objective | Destruction of three Angolan OSA missile boats or alternative ships. |
| Date | 15 July – 7 August 1984 |


title: Pyotr Kovalenko

abstract: Pyotr Kovalenko was a Soviet ski jumper. He competed in the normal hill and large hill events at the 1964 Winter Olympics.

text:
# Pyotr Kovalenko

**Pyotr Kovalenko** (10 October 1942  1993) was a Soviet ski jumper. He competed in the normal hill and large hill events at the 1964 Winter Olympics.

## InfoBox

Pyotr Kovalenko
| Personal information | |
| --- | --- |
| Nationality | Soviet |
| Born | (1942-10-10)10 October 1942
Sortavala, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union |
| Died | 1993 (aged 5051)
Saint Petersburg, Russia |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Ski jumping |


title: JaRico O'Quinn

abstract: Jarico Joseph O'Quinn is an American professional boxer competing in the Bantamweight division.

text:
# JaRico O'Quinn

**Jarico Joseph O'Quinn** (born April 22, 1995) is an American professional boxer competing in the Bantamweight division.

## Boxing career

### Amateur career

O'Quinn won the USA National Championship at bantamweight in 2014 in Spokane, Washington. He also won the 2013 USA Boxing Youth National Championship.

### Early professional career

O'Quinn made his professional debut against Hoy Mack on April 10, 2015. He won the fight by a first-round retirement. He amassed a 12-0-1 record over the course of the next four years, with eight stoppage victories, before being scheduled to face James Smith for the vacant WBO International super flyweight title on October 5, 2019, at the Dort Federal Credit Union Event Center in Flint, Michigan. O'Quinn won the fight by unanimous decision, with all three judges awarding him a 96-93 scorecard.

O'Quinn was scheduled to face Oscar Vasquez at the WinnaVegas Casino & Resort in Sloan, Iowa on January 17, 2020. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the fight 79-73 in his favor.

O'Quinn was scheduled to face Saul Sanchez in the main event of the three-fight "ShoBox: The New Generation" card. The card was scheduled for September 24, 2021 at the Central Park Community Center in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. He lost the fight by a first-round technical knockout. O'Quinn was knocked down three times in under two minutes, which prompted referee Gary Ritter to stop the fight.

O'Quinn is scheduled to face Jobert Alvarez on the undercard of a UFC Fight Pass broadcast event on April 15, 2022. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the bout 80–72 in his favor.

## 2024

On April 27, 2024 in Liverpool, England, O'Quinn was scheduled to face Peter McGrail in a rematch.

## Boxing record

| 19 fights | 17 wins | 1 loss |
| --- | --- | --- |
| By knockout | 9 | 1 |
| By decision | 8 | 0 |
| Draws | 1 | |

| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, Time | Date | Location | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 19 | Win | 17–1–1 | Peter McGrail | KO | 5 (10), 2:19 | 16 Dec 2023 | Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale, Arizona |
| 18 | Win | 16–1–1 | Carlos Mujica | UD | 10 | Jul 15, 2023 | Detroit Masonic Temple, Detroit, U.S. |  |
| 17 | Win | 15–1–1 | Jobert Alvarez | UD | 8 | Apr 15, 2022 | Garden Theater, Detroit, U.S. |  |
| 16 | Loss | 14–1–1 | Saul Sanchez | TKO | 1 (10), 1:58 | Sep 24, 2021 | Central Park Community Center, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, U.S. |  |
| 15 | Win | 14–0–1 | Oscar Vasquez | UD | 8 | Jan 17, 2020 | WinnaVegas Casino & Resort, Sloan, Iowa, U.S. |  |
| 14 | Win | 13–0–1 | James Smith | UD | 10 | Oct 5, 2019 | Dort Federal Credit Union Event Center, Flint, Michigan, U.S. | Won the vacant WBO International Super Fly Title. |
| 13 | Win | 12–0–1 | Vicente Alfaro Martinez | UD | 8 | Apr 13, 2019 | Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |  |
| 12 | Win | 11–0–1 | Alex Rangel | TKO | 3 (8), 2:38 | Feb 8, 2019 | Motor City Casino, Detroit, U.S. |  |
| 11 | Win | 10–0–1 | Christian Esquivel | TKO | 2 (6), 2:56 | Oct 26, 2018 | Motor City Casino, Detroit, U.S. |  |
| 10 | Win | 9–0–1 | Yaqub Kareem | TKO | 4 (8), 1:10 | Jun 22, 2018 | Detroit Masonic Temple, Detroit, U.S. |  |
| 9 | Win | 8–0–1 | Nick Otieno | UD | 6 | Feb 23, 2018 | DeCarlo's Convention Center, Warren, Michigan, U.S. |  |
| 8 | Draw | 7–0–1 | Jose Elizondo | MD | 6 | Aug 4, 2017 | MGM Grand Detroit, Detroit, U.S. |  |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | David Martino | UD | 6 | Jun 16, 2017 | Detroit Masonic Temple, Detroit, U.S. |  |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Szilveszter Kanalas | KO | 1 (6), 1:23 | Mar 10, 2017 | MGM Grand Detroit, Detroit, U.S. |  |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Angel Carvajal | TKO | 3 (6), 2:34 | Jan 22, 2017 | Detroit Masonic Temple, Detroit, U.S. |  |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Robert Allen Jr | KO | 1 (4), 1:30 | Nov 12, 2016 | Detroit Masonic Temple, Detroit, U.S. |  |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Jonathan Quiroz | UD | 4 | Aug 5, 2016 | Pechanga Resort & Casino, Temecula, California, U.S. |  |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Sergio Aguilar | RTD | 2 (4), 3:00 | Jul 16, 2016 | Detroit Masonic Temple, Detroit, U.S. |  |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Hoy Mack | RTD | 1 (4), 3:00 | Apr 10, 2015 | Detroit Masonic Temple, Detroit, U.S. |  |

## InfoBox

| JaRico O'Quinn | |
| --- | --- |
| Born | April 22, 1995 (1995-04-22) (age 29)<br>Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Other names | Great Lakes King |
| **Statistics** | |
| Weight(s) | Bantamweight |
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) |
| Reach | 67 in (170 cm) |
|  | |
| **Boxing record** | |
| Total fights | 19 |
| Wins | 17 |
| Wins by KO | 9 |
| Losses | 1 |
| Draws | 1 |
|  | |
| Medal record      Men's boxing  Representing  United States  2014 U.S. National Championship  U.S. National Championship  Bantamweight | |


title: Pierre-Athanase Chauvin

abstract: Pierre Athanase Chauvin was a French painter active in Italy. Chauvin was a student of the landscape painter Pierre-Henri de Valenciennes. He began his career at the Paris Salon in 1793 and won the First Class Medal in 1819 with his painting Charles VIII’s entry into Acquapendente. The painting was commissioned by Louis XVIII of France for the Galerie de Diane at the Palace of Fontainebleau. In 1813, Chauvin settled in Rome and became a member of the Accademia di San Luca. Chauvin’s views of Italy show the influence of Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres in their both classical and realist style. Chauvin knew Ingres and the latter painted portraits of Chauvin and his wife in 1814. Chauvin was elected Chevalier of the Legion of Honor in 1828. His work was represented in the exhibition An Enchanted Country. Italy depicted by Artists from Thomas Jones to Corot at the Centro Internazionale d’Arte e di Cultura di Palazzo Te in Mantua, Italy in 2001.

text:
# Pierre-Athanase Chauvin

**Pierre Athanase Chauvin** (9 June 1774 – 29 October 1832) was a French painter active in Italy.

Chauvin was a student of the landscape painter Pierre-Henri de Valenciennes. He began his career at the Paris Salon in 1793 and won the First Class Medal in 1819 with his painting *Charles VIII’s entry into Acquapendente*. The painting was commissioned by Louis XVIII of France for the Galerie de Diane at the Palace of Fontainebleau.

In 1813, Chauvin settled in Rome and became a member of the Accademia di San Luca. Chauvin’s views of Italy show the influence of Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres in their both classical and realist style. Chauvin knew Ingres and the latter painted portraits of Chauvin and his wife in 1814.

Chauvin was elected Chevalier of the Legion of Honor in 1828.

His work was represented in the exhibition *An Enchanted Country. Italy depicted by Artists from Thomas Jones to Corot* at the Centro Internazionale d’Arte e di Cultura di Palazzo Te in Mantua, Italy in 2001.

* *An Enchanted Country. Italy depicted by Artists from Thomas Jones to Corot Exhibition Catalogue*, Ottarri Cavina, Anna, Electa, Milan, 2001
* *De David a Delacroix: La Peinture francaise de 1774 à 1830* Exhibition Catalogue, Paris Grand Palais, 1974, pp 349–351
* *Grove Dictionary of Art*, Lorraine Peake, vol. 6, p. 519

## Further reading

## InfoBox

| Pierre-Athanase Chauvin | |
| --- | --- |
| *Pierre-Athanase Chauvin* by Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres, 1814 | |
| Born | 9 June 1774 (1774-06-09)
Paris, France |
| Died | 29 October 1832 (1832-10-30)
Rome, Italy |
| Occupation | Painter |


title: Mordella adipata

abstract: Mordella adipata is a species of beetle in the genus Mordella of the family Mordellidae. It was described in 1917.

text:
# Mordella adipata

***Mordella adipata*** is a species of beetle in the genus *Mordella* of the family Mordellidae. It was described in 1917.

## InfoBox

| *Mordella adipata* | |
| --- | --- |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Family: | Mordellidae |
| Genus: | *Mordella* |
| Species: | ***M. adipata*** |
| Binomial name | |
| ***Mordella adipata***<br>Lea, 1917 | |
|


title: Ramsgate Hoverport

abstract: The Ramsgate Hoverport or Ramsgate International Hoverport was the world's first purpose-built hoverport constructed on the coast at the village of Cliffsend, around 2 miles (3.2 km) from Ramsgate, with direct access to Pegwell Bay. The hoverport was purpose built in 1969 by hovercraft operator Hoverlloyd to serve the English Channel crossing market using SR.N4 hovercraft. It operated passenger services until 1982 following a merger with rival Seaspeed to form the combined Hoverspeed, and operated exclusively from Seaspeed's Dover hoverport. The site remained in use for administration and engineering until December 1987.

text:
# Ramsgate Hoverport

The **Ramsgate Hoverport** or **Ramsgate International Hoverport** was the world's first purpose-built hoverport constructed on the coast at the village of Cliffsend, around 2 miles (3.2 km) from Ramsgate, with direct access to Pegwell Bay. The hoverport was purpose built in 1969 by hovercraft operator Hoverlloyd to serve the English Channel crossing market using SR.N4 hovercraft. It operated passenger services until 1982 following a merger with rival Seaspeed to form the combined Hoverspeed, and operated exclusively from Seaspeed's Dover hoverport. The site remained in use for administration and engineering until December 1987.

## Construction

The Hoverlloyd company was formed in 1965 to take advantage of the new form of transport of hovercraft, with the intention of starting a cross-channel service to compete against the ferry services. The company initially started operating smaller SR.N6 craft from a pad within Ramsgate Harbour whilst looking for a longer term base for larger craft. Having discounted other options along the Kent coast, they settled on Pegwell Bay, which was sheltered from weather conditions by the Goodwin Sands.

The building of the hoverport was controversial, with objections from a range of interest parties including local residents represented by the "Pegwell Bay Committee", bird watchers, those wishing to conserve the coastline, and yacht operators. The Kent Trust for Nature Conservation raised money to purchase 100 acres of land in order to block the construction. Multiple rounds of public inquiry were held, before the inspector Charles Hilton recommended granting of permission, with the ministerial approval being given on 10 January 1968. A second inquiry was then held in September 1967, again by Hilton, following the announcement of British Rail building a hoverport for their Seaspeed service at the Port of Dover. It was agreed that both Dover and Ramsgate should have hoverports, as they were offering different types of service.

The construction was completed by Cementation, who started construction in July 1968. The build required the tipping of 300,000 long tons (670,000,000 lb) of colliery spoil to form the base.

The purpose-built hoverport opened on 2 May 1969 with the delivery of the company's first two large SR.N4 craft, *Swift* and *Sure*, which started operations on the route to Calais. The port cost £1.5 million, and the formal opening was performed by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

## Operations

The site continued to operate through the 1970s, eventually operating four craft, including the first SR.N4 Mark II, the *Prince of Wales* (GH-2054) which started operations from Ramsgate on 18 June 1977.

## Closure

The oil crisis of the 1970s caused significant cost pressure on hovercraft operators due to the amount of kerosene used by the craft, and in 1979 Hoverlloyd was put up for sale as a condition of the bailout of then parent company Broström Shipping Group by the Swedish Government. There was no successful interest and in 1981, the operator merged with the rival, and also loss making, British Rail-owned Seaspeed to form Hoverspeed. Thanet Member of Parliament William Rees-Davies went on the record to the Thanet Chambers of Commerce that any merger were not threaten operations at Ramsgate.

For the 1982 season, operations continued from Ramsgate Hoverport under the Hoverspeed branding, but following a final trip in late October 1982 all passenger and vehicle services were moved to Seaspeed's operating base at the Port of Dover.

The hoverport remained as an operational and maintenance base, with administration taking place on site until October 1985, and engineering (particularly hovercraft overhauls) continuing until December 1987.

The buildings on the site were demolished in August 1995.

## Post-closure use

A go-kart circuit trading as *Ramsgate Kart Circuit* was laid out on the North-east end of the site in 1993, including using part of the old maintenance building, and further parts of the site were used a satellite lorry parking and storage site for ferry operations from Port Ramsgate by Sally and Oostende Lines. Both uses finished in 1995.

In the mid-1990s the site was proposed to be the site of a major leisure complex with 250 holiday apartments, an indoor ski slope, ice rink, swimming pool, and other amenities, which was proposed to be part-funded with European Union development grants, and developed by Jimmy Godden who owned Dreamland Margate, and permission was gained from John Gummer, then the Environment Secretary, but negotiations broke down with Thanet District Council in 1996.

The site is disused although the hovercraft pad, car-marshalling area, and approach road are still identifiable at the site.

## InfoBox

| Ramsgate International Hoverport | |
| --- | --- |
| The SR.N4 hovercraft *Sir Christopher* on the landing pad at Ramsgate Hoverport | |
| Click on the map for a fullscreen view | |
| Location | |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Location | Cliffsend, Kent |
| Coordinates | 51°19′39″N 1°22′21″E / 51.32742°N 1.37244°E / 51.32742; 1.37244 |
| Details | |
| Opened | 1969 |
| Closed | To passengers 1982
Site closure 1987 |
| Owned by | Hoverlloyd |
| Type of harbour | Hoverport |
| Size | 11.5 acres (0.047 km2) |