Wembley Stadium (usually shortened to just Wembley) is located in the Borough of Brent in North West London, England. Primarily a football venue, Wembley is owned by The Football Association (The FA) via its subsidiary Wembley National Stadium Limited, and hosts England's home international football matches and the main English domestic cup finals. The Stadium is also used for music concerts and other sporting events. Wembley will host the 2011 UEFA Champions League Final.
The most expensive stadium ever built, Wembley's 90,000 capacity makes it the second largest stadium in Europe, and is the largest in the world with every seat under cover. Immediately following its opening, it was often referred to as the "new Wembley Stadium" to distinguish it from the original stadium.
The previous Wembley Stadium (originally known as the British Empire Exhibition Stadium or Empire Stadium) was one of the world's most famous football stadiums, being England's national stadium for football, and because of the geographical origins of the game was often referred to as "The Home of Football". It hosted the European Cup (now the UEFA Champions League) final a record five times, and is one of seventeen stadiums to have held a FIFA World Cup final. Though the original structure was closed in 1999, it was not demolished until 2003, after which construction began on the new stadium, originally intended to open in 2006. This was later delayed until early 2007. The final completion date of the stadium was 9 March 2007, when the keys to the stadium were handed over to the FA.
Building
Wembley was designed by architects Populous (formerly HOK Sport) and Foster and Partners with engineers Mott MacDonald, built by Australian company Brookfield Multiplex and funded by Sport England, WNSL (Wembley National Stadium Limited), the Football Association, the Department for Culture Media and Sport and the London Development Agency. It is the most expensive stadium ever built at a cost of £798 million (roughly US$1.57 billion) and has the largest roof-covered seating capacity in the world.
Construction of the new Wembley, looking east, taken January 2006The all-seater stadium is based around a bowl design with a capacity of 90,000, protected from the elements by a sliding roof that does not completely enclose it. It can also be adapted as an athletic stadium by erecting a temporary platform over the lowest tier of seating[citation needed]. The stadium's signature feature is a circular section lattice arch of 7 m (23 ft) internal diameter with a 315 m (1,033 ft) span, erected some 22° off true, and rising to 140 m (459 ft) tall. It supports all the weight of the north roof and 60% of the weight of the retractable roof on the southern side. The archway is the world's longest unsupported roof structure. Instead of the 39 steps climbed, in the original stadium, to enter the Royal Box and collect a trophy, there are now 107.
A "platform system" has been designed to convert the stadium for athletics use, but its use would decrease the stadium's capacity to approximately 60,000. No athletics events have taken place at the stadium, and none are scheduled.
The stadium is linked to Wembley Park Station on the London Underground via Olympic Way, and Wembley Central via the White Horse Bridge. It also has a rail link—provided by the Wembley Stadium railway station—to London Marylebone and Birmingham.
The initial plan for the reconstruction of Wembley was for demolition to begin before Christmas 2000, and for the new stadium to be completed some time during 2003, but this work was delayed by a succession of financial and legal difficulties. It was scheduled to open on 13 May 2006, with the first game being that year's FA Cup Final. However, worries were expressed as to whether the stadium would actually be completed on time.[8] The new stadium was completed and handed over to the FA on 9 March 2007, with the total cost of the project (including local transport infrastructure redevelopment and the cost of financing) estimated to be £1 billion (roughly US$1.97 billion).
The stadium in its very early stages of construction, circa August 2003
New Wembley Stadium looking south, down the new Wembley Way, January 2007In October 2005, Sports Minister Richard Caborn announced: "They say the Cup Final will be there, barring six feet of snow or something like that". However in December 2005, the builders admitted that there was a "material risk" that the stadium might not be ready in time for the Cup Final[9] and in February 2006, these worries were confirmed by the FA moving the game to Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.
The delays started as far back as 2003. In December 2003, the constructors of the arch, subcontractors Cleveland Bridge, warned Multiplex about rising costs and a delay on the steel job of almost a year due to design changes which Multiplex rejected. Cleveland Bridge were removed from the project and replaced by Dutch firm Hollandia with all the attendant problems of starting over. On 20 March 2006, a steel rafter in the roof of the new development fell by a foot and a half, forcing 3,000 workers to evacuate the stadium and raising further doubts over the completion date which was already behind schedule. On 23 March 2006, sewers beneath the stadium buckled due to ground movement. GMB Union leader Steve Kelly said that the problem had been caused by the pipes not being properly laid, and that the repair would take months. A spokesman for developers Multiplex said that they did not believe this would "have any impact on the completion of the stadium", which was then scheduled to be completed on 31 March 2006.
On 30 March 2006, the developers announced that Wembley Stadium would not be ready until 2007. All competitions and concerts planned were to be moved to suitable locations. On 19 June 2006 it was announced that the turf had been laid. On 19 October 2006 it was announced that the venue was now set to open in early 2007 after the dispute between The Football Association and Multiplex had finally been settled. WNSL, a subsidiary of The Football Association, is expected to pay around £36m to Multiplex, as well as the amount of the original fixed-price contract. This meant that the Wembley Stadium was ready for the 2007 FA Cup Final on 19 May 2007. The official Wembley Stadium website announced that the stadium would be open for public viewing for local residents of Brent on 3 March 2007, however the event was delayed by two weeks and instead happened on 17 March. The keys to the new Wembley stadium were finally handed over to the owners on 9 March 2007 ready to be open and used for upcoming FA Cup football matches, concerts and other events.
A short documentary of its redevelopment can be found on the Queen Live at Wembley '86 DVD. The reconstruction of the stadium is part of the wider regeneration of Wembley.
Although not completed or opened at the time, EA Sports added Wembley Stadium into the video game FIFA 07.
A statue of Bobby Moore—the captain of the England national football team when they won the 1966 Football World Cup at Wembley—was unveiled outside the stadium on Friday 11 May 2007.
Structure
Inside the stadiumThe new Wembley is the largest stadium in the world with every seat under cover.
The stadium contains 2,618 toilets, more than any other venue in the world.
The stadium has a circumference of 1 km (0.6 mi).
At its peak, there were more than 3,500 construction workers on site.
4,000 separate piles form the foundations of the new stadium, the deepest of which is 35 m (115 ft).
There are 56 km (35 miles) of heavy-duty power cables in the stadium.
90,000 m³ (120,000 cu yds) of concrete and 23,000 tonnes (25,000 short tons) of steel were used in the construction of the new stadium.
The total length of the escalators is 400 m (¼ mi).
The Wembley Arch has a diameter greater than that of a cross-channel Eurostar train.
Pitch
Inside the stadium, in the daytimeThe new pitch is 13 ft (4.0 m) lower than the previous pitch. The pitch size is 115 yards (105 m) long by 75 yards (69 m) wide, slightly narrower than the old Wembley Since the completion of the new Wembley, the pitch has come into major disrepute when it was commented on being "no good" and "not in the condition that Wembley used to be known for" by Slaven Bilić before the game between England and the team he managed, Croatia. It was confirmed when the pitch was terribly cut up during the game, which was blamed by some as the reason England did not qualify for UEFA Euro 2008 despite previous results also being blamed by others. The Football Association admitted in April 2009 after the FA Cup semi-finals that improvements are needed to the Wembley pitch after criticism of the surface by Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger and David Moyes. The grass has been re-laid five times since the stadium re-opened in 2007 and will be re-laid again in the summer of 2009, ahead of the 2009 Community Shield.
Roof
Detail of the archThe new 6,350 tonne roof covers an area of over 45,000 square metres (11 acres), 4 acres (16,000 m2) of which are movable and rise to 52 m (170 ft) above the pitch. With a span of 317 m (1040 ft), the arch is the longest single span roof structure in the world and is 134 m (440 ft) above the level of the external concourse, and is designed not to cast a shadow on the pitch. Contrary to popular belief, the stadium's roof is not fully retractable, meaning it cannot cover the playing surface in inclement weather.
Tenants
The English national football team is a major user of Wembley Stadium. Given the ownership by The Football Association as of 10 March 2007, the League Cup final moved back to Wembley from Cardiff following the FA Cup final and FA Community Shield. Other showpiece football matches that were previously staged at Wembley, such as the Football League promotion play-offs and the Football League Trophy final, have returned to the stadium, as has the Football Conference play-off final. Additionally, the Rugby League Challenge Cup final returned to Wembley Stadium in 2007. The new Wembley is a significant part of the plan for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London; the stadium will be the site of several games in both the men's and women's football tournaments, with the finals planned to be held there.
The Race of Champions staged their 2007 and 2008 events at the stadium. Should the NFL grant a European franchise, London and Wembley are the preferred location and venue.
Music
The stage at the Live Earth concert held at Wembley on 7 July 2007.Besides football, Wembley can be configured to hold many other events, particularly major concerts. The first concert at the new stadium was given by George Michael on 9 June 2007. Other acts to have performed at the stadium are Westlife, Muse who were the first artists to sell out Wembley, Metallica, Foo Fighters and Madonna. Coldplay, AC/DC, U2 and Oasis are due to perform in 2009.
Two large charity concerts have been held at the new Wembley stadium, the Concert for Diana, a memorial concert ten years after the Death of Diana, Princess of Wales, and Live Earth. Bon Jovi were scheduled to be the first artists to perform at the new Wembley but the late completion of the stadium saw the concerts relocated to the National Bowl and the KC Stadium.
Past concerts
Date Artist
9 June 2007 George Michael
10 June 2007 George Michael
16 June 2007 Muse
17 June 2007 Muse
1 July 2007 Concert for Dian
7 July 2007 Live Earth
8 July 2007 Metallica
6 June 2008 Foo Fighters
7 June 2008 Foo Fighters
11 September 2008 Madonna
On 16 June 2007, Muse became the first performance to sell out the new Wembley Stadium
On 7 June 2008 The Foo Fighters played to a record crowd of 86,000 fans. They had surprise guests of John Paul Jones and Jimmy Page from Led Zeppelin.
On 11 September 2008, Madonna performed to a sell-out crowd of over 74,000 fans and a gross of over $12 million USD and surpassed all previous grosses at both the old and the new Wembley Stadiums.
Firsts at the new Wembley Stadium
This article may contain an excessive amount of intricate detail that may only interest a specific audience. Please relocate any relevant information, and remove excessive trivia, praise, criticism, lists and collections of links. (October 2008)
Football
League Two Play-Off Final 2008The first match at the stadium was a game played behind closed doors between Multiplex and Wembley Stadium staff. The first game in front of spectators was between the Geoff Thomas Foundation Charity XI and the Wembley Sponsors Allstars on 17 March 2007. The Geoff Thomas Foundation Charity XI won 2-0 (scorers Mark Bright and Simon Jordan). The first official match involving professional players was England U21s vs Italy U21s on 24 March 2007, which finished 3-3. Official attendance was 55,700 (although all of the 60,000 tickets that were made available were sold in advance). The first player to score in a FIFA sanctioned match was Italian striker Giampaolo Pazzini after 28 seconds of the same game. Pazzini went on to score twice more in the second half of the match making him the first person to score a hat-trick at Wembley Stadium since Paul Scholes for England in 1999. The first English player to score in a full-scale match was David Bentley with a free kick in the same game.
The first club game, competitive game, and cup final held at the new Wembley took place on 12 May 2007 when Kidderminster Harriers met Stevenage Borough in the FA Trophy final. Kidderminster striker James Constable was the first player to score a goal in a final at the new Wembley. Kidderminster became the first team to play at both the old and new stadium. Stevenage Borough were the first team to win a final at the new Wembley beating Kidderminster 3-2, despite trailing 2-0 at half time. The first players to play at both the old and new Wembley stadia were Steve Guppy (for Stevenage Borough) and Jeff Kenna (for Kidderminster Harriers). Ex-England international Guppy was the first player to win a final at both stadia (with Leicester City, Wycombe Wanderers and Stevenage)
The first penalty save and first red card came in the Conference National playoff final between Exeter City and Morecambe. The penalty was saved by Paul Jones of Exeter City from Morecambe striker Wayne Curtis. The red card was given to Matthew Gill of Exeter for a headbutt on Craig Stanley of Morecambe.
The first FA Cup Final at the new Wembley (between Manchester United and Chelsea) was on 19 May 2007. Chelsea won 1-0 with a goal by Didier Drogba, making him the first player to score in the FA Cup final at the new Wembley. Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech also became the first goalkeeper not to concede a goal in a competitive game at Wembley. Chelsea were the last winners of the cup final at the old Wembley and the first winners at the new.
The first game involving the full English national team was a friendly played on 1 June 2007, against Brazil. The match saw captain John Terry become the first England international goal scorer at the new stadium when he scored in the 68th minute. Diego became the first full international player to score for a visiting team when he scored in stoppage time, with the fulltime result being a 1-1 draw. The first competitive senior international was played on 8 September 2007 between England and Israel. This game ended 3-0. The first player to score international goals at both the old and new stadia was Michael Owen when he scored for England against Israel. On 22 August Germany beat England 2-1 to become the first team to beat them in the new Wembley Stadium England's first competitive defeat at the new stadium was on 21 November 2007 when Croatia won 3-2. This match cost England qualification to Euro 2008 and head coach Steve McClaren his job.
Rugby league
The Rugby League Challenge Cup Final had previously been played annually at the old Wembley Stadium since 1929, when Wigan were the victors, and in 2007 the cup final returned to its traditional home after the re-building of Wembley.
When Catalans Dragons played St Helens in the 2007 Challenge Cup Final on 25 August, they became the first non-English rugby league team to play in the final. The result saw St Helens retain the cup by a score of 30-8.
The first Rugby League team to win a game at the new Wembley Stadium, were in fact Normanton Freeston. The West Yorkshire secondary school beat Castleford High School in the Year 7 boys Carnegie Champion Schools final, which was played immediately prior to the 2007 Challenge Cup Final.
The first official try at Wembley was scored by James Roby of St Helens, although there had been several tries scored in the schools game that took place before the 2007 Challenge Cup final.
Rugby union
The first rugby union International at the new Wembley stadium was between the Barbarians and Australia on 3 December 2008.
The first rugby union match at the Wembley stadium was played as part of a school tournament before the first International. The match was won by East Barnet School from North London with a score of 25-0, and the first ever rugby union coach to win at the new Wembley was one Russell David Christie from Christchurch, New Zealand.
American football
On 28 October 2007, the New York Giants defeated the Miami Dolphins by a score of 13-10 in the first NFL regular-season game to be played outside of North America, and first ever to be played in Europe.
The first touchdown scored at Wembley was on a run by quarterback Eli Manning of the New York Giants.
Source: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (This page was last modified on 15 June 2009 at 15:08)
Showing posts with label uk. Show all posts
Showing posts with label uk. Show all posts
Thursday, 18 June 2009
Friday, 12 June 2009
Setanta tv financial crisis
Tycoon confirms Setanta rescue bid.
(Tycoon Len Blavatnik has tabled a rescue deal for pay-television firm Setanta)
US tycoon Len Blavatnik has tabled a proposed rescue deal for pay-television firm Setanta, it has been confirmed.
The £20 million offer for 51% of Setanta is aimed at securing the future of the cash-strapped Irish broadcaster by helping it avoid administration.
The Irish-based broadcaster has around 1.2 million subscribers, but that is short of the reported 1.9 million it needs to break even.
Setanta's potential white knight founded Access Industries, a privately owned industrial group, in 1986. It also has interests in Top-up TV, which is Freeview's pay TV service, Israeli television's Sport 5 and online sports provider Perform Group.
Access currently has a holding of less than 5% in Setanta.
A statement from the firm said: "Access Industries can confirm that this morning it submitted a proposal to the board of Setanta to acquire a majority interest in Setanta, refinancing the company.
"The Access proposal is subject to a number of pre-conditions being met.
"Access believes that this proposal would secure the future of the broadcaster for customers, football and employees."
The spokesman said he was unable to disclose the terms of the proposal.
Setanta has TV rights including the FA Cup, World Cup qualifiers, Premier League, Scottish Premier League, and the Blue Square Conference - but is struggling to pay for them as customer numbers have dwindled in the recession.
source: http://uk.news.yahoo.com
(Tycoon Len Blavatnik has tabled a rescue deal for pay-television firm Setanta)
US tycoon Len Blavatnik has tabled a proposed rescue deal for pay-television firm Setanta, it has been confirmed.
The £20 million offer for 51% of Setanta is aimed at securing the future of the cash-strapped Irish broadcaster by helping it avoid administration.
The Irish-based broadcaster has around 1.2 million subscribers, but that is short of the reported 1.9 million it needs to break even.
Setanta's potential white knight founded Access Industries, a privately owned industrial group, in 1986. It also has interests in Top-up TV, which is Freeview's pay TV service, Israeli television's Sport 5 and online sports provider Perform Group.
Access currently has a holding of less than 5% in Setanta.
A statement from the firm said: "Access Industries can confirm that this morning it submitted a proposal to the board of Setanta to acquire a majority interest in Setanta, refinancing the company.
"The Access proposal is subject to a number of pre-conditions being met.
"Access believes that this proposal would secure the future of the broadcaster for customers, football and employees."
The spokesman said he was unable to disclose the terms of the proposal.
Setanta has TV rights including the FA Cup, World Cup qualifiers, Premier League, Scottish Premier League, and the Blue Square Conference - but is struggling to pay for them as customer numbers have dwindled in the recession.
source: http://uk.news.yahoo.com
Monday, 8 June 2009
Apprentice 2009 Candidates
Anita Shah Fired: Week 1
"My CV is strong. I am articulate. I can deal with questions and make impactful statements. Many lawyers can’t. People want to chat with me."
Ben Clarke Fired: Week 9
"To me making money is better than sex."
Debra Barr Fired: Week 11
"When I set my sights on something I have to make sure I get it. I am very cautious and only let the people that I can trust see the softer side of me."
Howard Ebison Fired: Week 10
"I am a credible businessman who wants to go far. I'm incredibly ambitious. If I don't go far down this route I shall go far down another route."
James McQuillan Fired: Week 11
"I'm astute and shrewd and smart... maybe blunt at times."
Kate Walsh "My CV speaks for itself. I've always excelled academically and I have really achieved within a corporate environment across sales, marketing and a number of different aspects of business."
Kimberly Davis Fired: Week 5
"I bring honesty and integrity to the table, I don't lie, cheat or backstab. I am not the stereotypical New Yorker and it's a stereotype I've faced."
Lorraine Tighe Fired: Week 11
"I've fought against all the odds. I'm a single mum with no education and I've had a very hard time. It is tough, but to have the confidence I have I should be very proud of myself."
Majid Nagra Fired: Week 3
"I think that business is the backbone to this world. Without companies buying and selling there wouldn't be any economy."
Mona Lewis Fired: Week 8
"I knew I would be selected, not to sound big-headed... I've succeeded in the companies I've worked for because I work hard and I'm honest."
Noorul Choudhury Fired: Week 6
"I have always been ambitious and driven and I've got the capabilities to deliver. I am not all talk... I can manage a team of people, total strangers even, because I am feisty and have attitude."
Paula Jones Fired: Week 4
"I am the girl with a plan. I have great wit and strength of character, and I am resilient to the core."
Philip Taylor Fired: Week 7
"Business is the new rock 'n' roll and I'm Elvis Presley"
Rocky Andrews Fired: Week 2
"For me business is about hard-work, attention to detail, being willing to make mistakes and learning from these mistakes."
Yasmina Siadatan "Business is about a simple formula. Make more than you spend. That's what I do, I keep business simple and it works. I'm good at it."
"My CV is strong. I am articulate. I can deal with questions and make impactful statements. Many lawyers can’t. People want to chat with me."
Ben Clarke Fired: Week 9
"To me making money is better than sex."
Debra Barr Fired: Week 11
"When I set my sights on something I have to make sure I get it. I am very cautious and only let the people that I can trust see the softer side of me."
Howard Ebison Fired: Week 10
"I am a credible businessman who wants to go far. I'm incredibly ambitious. If I don't go far down this route I shall go far down another route."
James McQuillan Fired: Week 11
"I'm astute and shrewd and smart... maybe blunt at times."
Kate Walsh "My CV speaks for itself. I've always excelled academically and I have really achieved within a corporate environment across sales, marketing and a number of different aspects of business."
Kimberly Davis Fired: Week 5
"I bring honesty and integrity to the table, I don't lie, cheat or backstab. I am not the stereotypical New Yorker and it's a stereotype I've faced."
Lorraine Tighe Fired: Week 11
"I've fought against all the odds. I'm a single mum with no education and I've had a very hard time. It is tough, but to have the confidence I have I should be very proud of myself."
Majid Nagra Fired: Week 3
"I think that business is the backbone to this world. Without companies buying and selling there wouldn't be any economy."
Mona Lewis Fired: Week 8
"I knew I would be selected, not to sound big-headed... I've succeeded in the companies I've worked for because I work hard and I'm honest."
Noorul Choudhury Fired: Week 6
"I have always been ambitious and driven and I've got the capabilities to deliver. I am not all talk... I can manage a team of people, total strangers even, because I am feisty and have attitude."
Paula Jones Fired: Week 4
"I am the girl with a plan. I have great wit and strength of character, and I am resilient to the core."
Philip Taylor Fired: Week 7
"Business is the new rock 'n' roll and I'm Elvis Presley"
Rocky Andrews Fired: Week 2
"For me business is about hard-work, attention to detail, being willing to make mistakes and learning from these mistakes."
Yasmina Siadatan "Business is about a simple formula. Make more than you spend. That's what I do, I keep business simple and it works. I'm good at it."
Friday, 29 May 2009
Starting a Business
Starting a business
Thousands of people set up their own businesses every year. Some do it because they want to work for themselves, others because they have a great idea and have spotted a gap in the market. And of course there are those that think they can make lots of money.
These are all valid reasons for starting a business. Commitment and motivation are vital and whatever it is that drives you to make it a success good.
Although enthusiasm is important, good planning is a must. Without a good business plan you could struggle to make a go of it.
There are many issues to think about:
1. What will the business do?
2. Where can it operate?
3. Will I need premises?
4. Do I need people to make it happen, or will I be flying solo for some time?
5. Can I fund the business myself, or do I need financial support?
6. How long will it take to get the business into profit?
7. Have I got what it takes to make it work?
There is no right or wrong type of person to run a business. If you are determined to make it succeed, and are prepared to work long hours, then you have the ingredients for success.
If you look at top business people, the one thing they have in common is determination. They do not give up at the first hurdle and they keep going until they succeed.
Be your own boss
Obstacles and setbacks
There will be many of these but how you overcome them will be critical to deciding whether or not you will ultimately succeed. If you are not the sort of person who responds well to setbacks, you ought to ask yourself whether you are the right person to be trying to get a business off the ground.
Finances
You need good advisers - usually an accountant and a lawyer - when you are handling complex issues such as finances, tax and business law. All businesses require a certain amount of administration and you will have to spend time going through paperwork. If you tend to bury your head in the sand and ignore detail, you need a good right-hand person who will concentrate on the detail. Not all great business leaders were good at the small print, but all good business people have someone close to them who is.
(source: www.thisismoney.co.uk/help-and-advice)
.........................................................
ONE RED PAPERCLIP BUSINESS!!
My name is Kyle MacDonald and I traded one red paperclip for a house. I started with one red paperclip on July 12 2005 and 14 trades later, on July 12, 2006 I traded with the Town of Kipling Saskatchewan for a house located at 503 Main Street.
That's right, Dom and I are trading the red paperclip house. With who? For what? Well that's where things get interesting:
We have no idea yet.
I'm not looking for anything in particular in exchange for the house, other than maybe several 1990 Burgundy Dodge Caravana with low miles. That aside, it would be great to trade with somebody who:
-Plans to live or operate a business in the house.
-Understands the house is a tourist attraction in Kipling, and important to the community.
-Also, if you know who these guys are, it will come in handy in a tie-breaker situation. -- Watch this video!.
If you'd like to make a trade offer for the house, please contact me at oneredpaperclip@gmail.com or call the number in the contact section of this website.
Really, I'm looking for nothing in particular, just to make a trade and see where this goes. So if you have anything you'd like to offer in exchange for the house, and I mean anything, be sure to send in your offer!
Details about the red paperclip house:
Located at 503 Main Street in Kipling Saskatchewan Canada
Fully furnished.
Two floors + basement
Three bedrooms
Two bathrooms
Refinished hardwood floors.
Fridge, stove, sinks, drawers, shelves...all the regular kitchen stuff.
Electricity!
Large grass front yard + large grass backyard.
Gas hot water tank + gas furnace.
close proximity to schools, restaurants, grocery stores, hospital, etc. Kipling has most services in town.
Giant red paperclip on the front lawn.
located a stone's throw away from the world's largest red paperclip.
Click on thumbs to see more pics of the house:
Once again, if you'd like to make a trade offer for the house, please contact me at oneredpaperclip@gmail.com or call the number in the contact section of this website.
Have fun,
Kyle
Labels: kipling, one red paperclip, oneredpaperclip, red paperclip, saskatchewan, who are these guys
6/17/2008 01:48:00 PM - permalink 76 comments links to this post
How to make an offer for the house To make an offer for the house, please:
1. Send your offer via email to oneredpaperclip@gmail.com
or
2. Call my cell in the contact section of this website.
You can read more about the house by clicking here.
Thanks!
Kyle
6/16/2008 12:50:00 AM - permalink 24 comments links to this post
franglais ***UPDATE: It looks like the video link is down. If anyone has a copy of the link, let me know!****
So I wound up in France on TV to promote the release of the french version of the one red paperclip book, which is called "un trombone rouge." The producers weren't comfortable with my learned-while-drinking-with-friends anglo-quebecois french, so they opted for the live french dub. The effect makes it pretty much impossible to understand what's going on, although my comprehension of french isn't exactly 100%, but the monsieur who did the live voice over has a very nice accent. Highlights of this video include the seemingly rude phenomenon of a guy answering live questions on french TV in english, sharing the stage with Jean Claude Van Damme, and giving the "who are these guys" guys not one, but two plugs. How sweet would it be if Jean Claude Van Damme starred in the one red paperclip movie, and those guys were the bad guys?
source: onepaperclip.blospot.com, by Kyle Macdonald
Thousands of people set up their own businesses every year. Some do it because they want to work for themselves, others because they have a great idea and have spotted a gap in the market. And of course there are those that think they can make lots of money.
These are all valid reasons for starting a business. Commitment and motivation are vital and whatever it is that drives you to make it a success good.
Although enthusiasm is important, good planning is a must. Without a good business plan you could struggle to make a go of it.
There are many issues to think about:
1. What will the business do?
2. Where can it operate?
3. Will I need premises?
4. Do I need people to make it happen, or will I be flying solo for some time?
5. Can I fund the business myself, or do I need financial support?
6. How long will it take to get the business into profit?
7. Have I got what it takes to make it work?
There is no right or wrong type of person to run a business. If you are determined to make it succeed, and are prepared to work long hours, then you have the ingredients for success.
If you look at top business people, the one thing they have in common is determination. They do not give up at the first hurdle and they keep going until they succeed.
Be your own boss
Obstacles and setbacks
There will be many of these but how you overcome them will be critical to deciding whether or not you will ultimately succeed. If you are not the sort of person who responds well to setbacks, you ought to ask yourself whether you are the right person to be trying to get a business off the ground.
Finances
You need good advisers - usually an accountant and a lawyer - when you are handling complex issues such as finances, tax and business law. All businesses require a certain amount of administration and you will have to spend time going through paperwork. If you tend to bury your head in the sand and ignore detail, you need a good right-hand person who will concentrate on the detail. Not all great business leaders were good at the small print, but all good business people have someone close to them who is.
(source: www.thisismoney.co.uk/help-and-advice)
.........................................................
ONE RED PAPERCLIP BUSINESS!!
My name is Kyle MacDonald and I traded one red paperclip for a house. I started with one red paperclip on July 12 2005 and 14 trades later, on July 12, 2006 I traded with the Town of Kipling Saskatchewan for a house located at 503 Main Street.
That's right, Dom and I are trading the red paperclip house. With who? For what? Well that's where things get interesting:
We have no idea yet.
I'm not looking for anything in particular in exchange for the house, other than maybe several 1990 Burgundy Dodge Caravana with low miles. That aside, it would be great to trade with somebody who:
-Plans to live or operate a business in the house.
-Understands the house is a tourist attraction in Kipling, and important to the community.
-Also, if you know who these guys are, it will come in handy in a tie-breaker situation. -- Watch this video!.
If you'd like to make a trade offer for the house, please contact me at oneredpaperclip@gmail.com or call the number in the contact section of this website.
Really, I'm looking for nothing in particular, just to make a trade and see where this goes. So if you have anything you'd like to offer in exchange for the house, and I mean anything, be sure to send in your offer!
Details about the red paperclip house:
Located at 503 Main Street in Kipling Saskatchewan Canada
Fully furnished.
Two floors + basement
Three bedrooms
Two bathrooms
Refinished hardwood floors.
Fridge, stove, sinks, drawers, shelves...all the regular kitchen stuff.
Electricity!
Large grass front yard + large grass backyard.
Gas hot water tank + gas furnace.
close proximity to schools, restaurants, grocery stores, hospital, etc. Kipling has most services in town.
Giant red paperclip on the front lawn.
located a stone's throw away from the world's largest red paperclip.
Click on thumbs to see more pics of the house:
Once again, if you'd like to make a trade offer for the house, please contact me at oneredpaperclip@gmail.com or call the number in the contact section of this website.
Have fun,
Kyle
Labels: kipling, one red paperclip, oneredpaperclip, red paperclip, saskatchewan, who are these guys
6/17/2008 01:48:00 PM - permalink 76 comments links to this post
How to make an offer for the house To make an offer for the house, please:
1. Send your offer via email to oneredpaperclip@gmail.com
or
2. Call my cell in the contact section of this website.
You can read more about the house by clicking here.
Thanks!
Kyle
6/16/2008 12:50:00 AM - permalink 24 comments links to this post
franglais ***UPDATE: It looks like the video link is down. If anyone has a copy of the link, let me know!****
So I wound up in France on TV to promote the release of the french version of the one red paperclip book, which is called "un trombone rouge." The producers weren't comfortable with my learned-while-drinking-with-friends anglo-quebecois french, so they opted for the live french dub. The effect makes it pretty much impossible to understand what's going on, although my comprehension of french isn't exactly 100%, but the monsieur who did the live voice over has a very nice accent. Highlights of this video include the seemingly rude phenomenon of a guy answering live questions on french TV in english, sharing the stage with Jean Claude Van Damme, and giving the "who are these guys" guys not one, but two plugs. How sweet would it be if Jean Claude Van Damme starred in the one red paperclip movie, and those guys were the bad guys?
source: onepaperclip.blospot.com, by Kyle Macdonald
Tuesday, 26 May 2009
Sir Matt Busby (100 years!)
Sir Matt remembered
One of English football's greatest-ever managers was born 100 years ago this Tuesday (26 May) in the Scottish village of Orbiston.
A former Manchester City and Liverpool player, Matt Busby accepted the position of United manager on 19 February 1945, and then joined the club full-time on his demobilisation from the armed forces in October 1945.
Together with his loyal assistant manager Jimmy Murphy, Busby created a team good enough to win the FA Cup in 1948 and to challenge for the League Championship. After finishing runners-up four times, Busby's men won the title in 1952.
Far from being blinded by their success, Busby and Murphy had the foresight to plan ahead and prepare for the day when their first great team would need replacing. The club's scouting system was expanded and reorganised, soon yielding a young team that won the title again in 1956 and 1957 and reached the FA Cup final in 1957. This young team was christened the 'Busby Babes.'
Busby trailblazed the way for English clubs by entering the European Cup in 1956/57 - initially against the wishes of the Football League. United reached the semi-finals, losing to eventual winners Real Madrid.
The following season, 1957/58, bristled with promise and United were still challenging in all three competitions by February when disaster struck. On 6 February 1958, the aeroplane bringing the team home from a European Cup match against Red Star Belgrade crashed after refuelling in Munich. Twenty-three people were killed, including eight of Busby's players and three club officials.
Busby almost lost his life as well - he was twice given the last rites while lying gravely ill in a German hospital. Fortunately, he survived and returned to Manchester 71 days after the crash. Taking up the managerial reigns again in August 1958, Busby began to rebuild United, bringing in some big money purchases to add to his homegrown talent. The new group of players reached the FA Cup final in 1963 and beat Leicester City 3-1 to claim the club's first trophy after Munich.
League titles followed in 1965 and 1967, giving Busby the chance to conquer Europe in the following seasons. In 1965/66, United reached the semi-finals, just as they had done in 1956/57 and 1957/58. But in 1967/68 they went further, to the final at Wembley where they faced Portuguese side Benfica.
On another night of great emotion, United triumphed 4-1 after extra-time to win the European Cup. It was a fitting tribute to the players and staff killed and injured 10 years before and was Busby's crowning achievement as United manager. Busby retired at the end of the following season, but stayed on as general manager while Wilf McGuinness became the man in charge of the team on a day-to-day basis. The new arrangement lasted little more than a year - on 28 December 1970, Busby was invited by the Directors to return to his old job and replace McGuinness until the end of the season.
A respected figure throughout his career, Busby was awarded the CBE in 1958. Ten years later, was knighted following United's European Cup triumph. In 1993 Warwick Road North, the road which runs past Old Trafford, was renamed Sir Matt Busby Way in honour of the man described as 'Mr Manchester United'.
When, after a short illness, Sir Matt died on 20 January 1994, thousands of people lined the streets of Manchester and similar numbers of shirts, wreaths, pictures and scarves were laid in tribute at Old Trafford. A bronze statue of Sir Matt was unveiled at the stadium on 27 April 1996, as a permanent memorial to the man who epitomised the club.
Five years after Busby's death, United won the European Cup for the first time since 1968. Poignantly, the date of that triumph for Sir Alex Ferguson's side, 26 May 1999, would have been Matt's 90th birthday.
source: www.manutd.com 25/05/2009 07:10 BST
(This article is an extract from Sir Matt's profile on ManUtd.com. Read his full profile in our Players & Staff section. -man utd)
One of English football's greatest-ever managers was born 100 years ago this Tuesday (26 May) in the Scottish village of Orbiston.
A former Manchester City and Liverpool player, Matt Busby accepted the position of United manager on 19 February 1945, and then joined the club full-time on his demobilisation from the armed forces in October 1945.
Together with his loyal assistant manager Jimmy Murphy, Busby created a team good enough to win the FA Cup in 1948 and to challenge for the League Championship. After finishing runners-up four times, Busby's men won the title in 1952.
Far from being blinded by their success, Busby and Murphy had the foresight to plan ahead and prepare for the day when their first great team would need replacing. The club's scouting system was expanded and reorganised, soon yielding a young team that won the title again in 1956 and 1957 and reached the FA Cup final in 1957. This young team was christened the 'Busby Babes.'
Busby trailblazed the way for English clubs by entering the European Cup in 1956/57 - initially against the wishes of the Football League. United reached the semi-finals, losing to eventual winners Real Madrid.
The following season, 1957/58, bristled with promise and United were still challenging in all three competitions by February when disaster struck. On 6 February 1958, the aeroplane bringing the team home from a European Cup match against Red Star Belgrade crashed after refuelling in Munich. Twenty-three people were killed, including eight of Busby's players and three club officials.
Busby almost lost his life as well - he was twice given the last rites while lying gravely ill in a German hospital. Fortunately, he survived and returned to Manchester 71 days after the crash. Taking up the managerial reigns again in August 1958, Busby began to rebuild United, bringing in some big money purchases to add to his homegrown talent. The new group of players reached the FA Cup final in 1963 and beat Leicester City 3-1 to claim the club's first trophy after Munich.
League titles followed in 1965 and 1967, giving Busby the chance to conquer Europe in the following seasons. In 1965/66, United reached the semi-finals, just as they had done in 1956/57 and 1957/58. But in 1967/68 they went further, to the final at Wembley where they faced Portuguese side Benfica.
On another night of great emotion, United triumphed 4-1 after extra-time to win the European Cup. It was a fitting tribute to the players and staff killed and injured 10 years before and was Busby's crowning achievement as United manager. Busby retired at the end of the following season, but stayed on as general manager while Wilf McGuinness became the man in charge of the team on a day-to-day basis. The new arrangement lasted little more than a year - on 28 December 1970, Busby was invited by the Directors to return to his old job and replace McGuinness until the end of the season.
A respected figure throughout his career, Busby was awarded the CBE in 1958. Ten years later, was knighted following United's European Cup triumph. In 1993 Warwick Road North, the road which runs past Old Trafford, was renamed Sir Matt Busby Way in honour of the man described as 'Mr Manchester United'.
When, after a short illness, Sir Matt died on 20 January 1994, thousands of people lined the streets of Manchester and similar numbers of shirts, wreaths, pictures and scarves were laid in tribute at Old Trafford. A bronze statue of Sir Matt was unveiled at the stadium on 27 April 1996, as a permanent memorial to the man who epitomised the club.
Five years after Busby's death, United won the European Cup for the first time since 1968. Poignantly, the date of that triumph for Sir Alex Ferguson's side, 26 May 1999, would have been Matt's 90th birthday.
source: www.manutd.com 25/05/2009 07:10 BST
(This article is an extract from Sir Matt's profile on ManUtd.com. Read his full profile in our Players & Staff section. -man utd)
Saturday, 4 April 2009
Martin Luther King, Jr
Saturday, April 04, 2009
Martin Luther King, Jr., (January 15, 1929-April 4, 1968) was born Michael Luther King, Jr., but later had his name changed to Martin. His grandfather began the family's long tenure as pastors of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, serving from 1914 to 1931; his father has served from then until the present, and from 1960 until his death Martin Luther acted as co-pastor. Martin Luther attended segregated public schools in Georgia, graduating from high school at the age of fifteen; he received the B. A. degree in 1948 from Morehouse College, a distinguished Negro institution of Atlanta from which both his father and grandfather had graduated. After three years of theological study at Crozer Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania where he was elected president of a predominantly white senior class, he was awarded the B.D. in 1951. With a fellowship won at Crozer, he enrolled in graduate studies at Boston University, completing his residence for the doctorate in 1953 and receiving the degree in 1955. In Boston he met and married Coretta Scott, a young woman of uncommon intellectual and artistic attainments. Two sons and two daughters were born into the family.
In 1954, Martin Luther King became pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. Always a strong worker for civil rights for members of his race, King was, by this time, a member of the executive committee of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the leading organization of its kind in the nation. He was ready, then, early in December, 1955, to accept the leadership of the first great Negro nonviolent demonstration of contemporary times in the United States, the bus boycott described by Gunnar Jahn in his presentation speech in honor of the laureate. The boycott lasted 382 days. On December 21, 1956, after the Supreme Court of the United States had declared unconstitutional the laws requiring segregation on buses, Negroes and whites rode the buses as equals. During these days of boycott, King was arrested, his home was bombed, he was subjected to personal abuse, but at the same time he emerged as a Negro leader of the first rank.
In 1957 he was elected president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, an organization formed to provide new leadership for the now burgeoning civil rights movement. The ideals for this organization he took from Christianity; its operational techniques from Gandhi. In the eleven-year period between 1957 and 1968, King traveled over six million miles and spoke over twenty-five hundred times, appearing wherever there was injustice, protest, and action; and meanwhile he wrote five books as well as numerous articles. In these years, he led a massive protest in Birmingham, Alabama, that caught the attention of the entire world, providing what he called a coalition of conscience. and inspiring his "Letter from a Birmingham Jail", a manifesto of the Negro revolution; he planned the drives in Alabama for the registration of Negroes as voters; he directed the peaceful march on Washington, D.C., of 250,000 people to whom he delivered his address, "l Have a Dream", he conferred with President John F. Kennedy and campaigned for President Lyndon B. Johnson; he was arrested upwards of twenty times and assaulted at least four times; he was awarded five honorary degrees; was named Man of the Year by Time magazine in 1963; and became not only the symbolic leader of American blacks but also a world figure.
At the age of thirty-five, Martin Luther King, Jr., was the youngest man to have received the Nobel Peace Prize. When notified of his selection, he announced that he would turn over the prize money of $54,123 to the furtherance of the civil rights movement.
On the evening of April 4, 1968, while standing on the balcony of his motel room in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was to lead a protest march in sympathy with striking garbage workers of that city, he was assassinated.
source: www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1964/king-bio.html
Martin Luther King, Jr., (January 15, 1929-April 4, 1968) was born Michael Luther King, Jr., but later had his name changed to Martin. His grandfather began the family's long tenure as pastors of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, serving from 1914 to 1931; his father has served from then until the present, and from 1960 until his death Martin Luther acted as co-pastor. Martin Luther attended segregated public schools in Georgia, graduating from high school at the age of fifteen; he received the B. A. degree in 1948 from Morehouse College, a distinguished Negro institution of Atlanta from which both his father and grandfather had graduated. After three years of theological study at Crozer Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania where he was elected president of a predominantly white senior class, he was awarded the B.D. in 1951. With a fellowship won at Crozer, he enrolled in graduate studies at Boston University, completing his residence for the doctorate in 1953 and receiving the degree in 1955. In Boston he met and married Coretta Scott, a young woman of uncommon intellectual and artistic attainments. Two sons and two daughters were born into the family.
In 1954, Martin Luther King became pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. Always a strong worker for civil rights for members of his race, King was, by this time, a member of the executive committee of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the leading organization of its kind in the nation. He was ready, then, early in December, 1955, to accept the leadership of the first great Negro nonviolent demonstration of contemporary times in the United States, the bus boycott described by Gunnar Jahn in his presentation speech in honor of the laureate. The boycott lasted 382 days. On December 21, 1956, after the Supreme Court of the United States had declared unconstitutional the laws requiring segregation on buses, Negroes and whites rode the buses as equals. During these days of boycott, King was arrested, his home was bombed, he was subjected to personal abuse, but at the same time he emerged as a Negro leader of the first rank.
In 1957 he was elected president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, an organization formed to provide new leadership for the now burgeoning civil rights movement. The ideals for this organization he took from Christianity; its operational techniques from Gandhi. In the eleven-year period between 1957 and 1968, King traveled over six million miles and spoke over twenty-five hundred times, appearing wherever there was injustice, protest, and action; and meanwhile he wrote five books as well as numerous articles. In these years, he led a massive protest in Birmingham, Alabama, that caught the attention of the entire world, providing what he called a coalition of conscience. and inspiring his "Letter from a Birmingham Jail", a manifesto of the Negro revolution; he planned the drives in Alabama for the registration of Negroes as voters; he directed the peaceful march on Washington, D.C., of 250,000 people to whom he delivered his address, "l Have a Dream", he conferred with President John F. Kennedy and campaigned for President Lyndon B. Johnson; he was arrested upwards of twenty times and assaulted at least four times; he was awarded five honorary degrees; was named Man of the Year by Time magazine in 1963; and became not only the symbolic leader of American blacks but also a world figure.
At the age of thirty-five, Martin Luther King, Jr., was the youngest man to have received the Nobel Peace Prize. When notified of his selection, he announced that he would turn over the prize money of $54,123 to the furtherance of the civil rights movement.
On the evening of April 4, 1968, while standing on the balcony of his motel room in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was to lead a protest march in sympathy with striking garbage workers of that city, he was assassinated.
source: www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1964/king-bio.html
Tuesday, 17 March 2009
Commonwealth
The English noun commonwealth dates from the fifteenth century. The original phrase "common-wealth" or "the common weal" comes from the old meaning of "wealth," which is "well-being." The term literally meant "common well-being." Thus commonwealth originally meant a state or nation-state governed for the common good as opposed to an authoritarian state governed for the benefit of a given class of owners. Commonwealth derives from the Latin term res publica, a broad concept which is also sometimes translated as "public affairs" or "the state" in certain contexts. Res publica is also the term from which the English word republic arises.
Today the term is more general and means a political community.
The type of community indicated by the term commonwealth varies. For instance, in different contexts it might indicate:
a political unit founded in law by agreement of the people for the common good;
a federated union of constituent states;
a community of sovereign states;
a republic;
a democratic constitutional monarchy;
When capitalized, "Commonwealth" normally refers to the 53 member Commonwealth of Nations
(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
Today the term is more general and means a political community.
The type of community indicated by the term commonwealth varies. For instance, in different contexts it might indicate:
a political unit founded in law by agreement of the people for the common good;
a federated union of constituent states;
a community of sovereign states;
a republic;
a democratic constitutional monarchy;
When capitalized, "Commonwealth" normally refers to the 53 member Commonwealth of Nations
(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
Monday, 23 February 2009
Disability Discrimination should be eradicated!
Disability charities have expressed anger after a number of parents complained that a one-armed children's TV presenter was frightening their kids. Skip related content
Related photos / videos One-Armed CBeebies Host 'Scaring' Children Cerrie Burnell, who was born with one arm, began co-presenting Cbeebies 'Do And Discover' slot with Alex Winters last month.
She has a broad range of success as an actor, both in the theatre and on television.
But parents on online forums have claimed she 'frightens' their children.
Poster Barry wrote: "Is it just me, or does anyone else think the new woman presenter on Cbeebies (Cerrie Burnell) may scare the kids because of her disability?
"I didn't want to let my children watch the filler bits on the bedtime hour last night because I know it would have played on my eldest daughter's mind and possibly caused sleep problems... and yes, this is a serious post."
Other posters suggest the BBC employed Miss Burnell to 'score points' and accused the channel of positive discrimination.
But the vast majority of comments have offered support to the presenter, who they describe as 'lovely' and 'talented'.
"As for Cerrie, I think her being 'disabled' ensures that children are exposed to 'different' people and situations," wrote 'Caligula' on the Digital Spy forum.
Sue Stokes, from the charity Reach, said they were appalled by the negative reaction.
"We are appalled that parents are talking on behalf of their children," she said.
"Children don't notice the differences. The parents need to think about how they would feel if it were their child born without an arm.
"It is great for children with disabilities to see people like them on the television."
A BBC spokesman said nine official complaints had been made about Miss Burnell, who has a four-month-old daughter.
CBeebies controller Michael Carrington said she is 'warm and natural'.
"It's a big ask to entertain millions of children every day," he said.
"We think that in time all mums and dads and children will love her as much as we do."
Miss Burnell was disappointed by the criticism but welcomed the discussion.
"It can only be a good thing that parents are using me as a chance to talk disability with their children," she said.
"It just goes to show how important it is to have positive disabled role models on CBeebies and television in general."
source: yahoo news website
Related photos / videos One-Armed CBeebies Host 'Scaring' Children Cerrie Burnell, who was born with one arm, began co-presenting Cbeebies 'Do And Discover' slot with Alex Winters last month.
She has a broad range of success as an actor, both in the theatre and on television.
But parents on online forums have claimed she 'frightens' their children.
Poster Barry wrote: "Is it just me, or does anyone else think the new woman presenter on Cbeebies (Cerrie Burnell) may scare the kids because of her disability?
"I didn't want to let my children watch the filler bits on the bedtime hour last night because I know it would have played on my eldest daughter's mind and possibly caused sleep problems... and yes, this is a serious post."
Other posters suggest the BBC employed Miss Burnell to 'score points' and accused the channel of positive discrimination.
But the vast majority of comments have offered support to the presenter, who they describe as 'lovely' and 'talented'.
"As for Cerrie, I think her being 'disabled' ensures that children are exposed to 'different' people and situations," wrote 'Caligula' on the Digital Spy forum.
Sue Stokes, from the charity Reach, said they were appalled by the negative reaction.
"We are appalled that parents are talking on behalf of their children," she said.
"Children don't notice the differences. The parents need to think about how they would feel if it were their child born without an arm.
"It is great for children with disabilities to see people like them on the television."
A BBC spokesman said nine official complaints had been made about Miss Burnell, who has a four-month-old daughter.
CBeebies controller Michael Carrington said she is 'warm and natural'.
"It's a big ask to entertain millions of children every day," he said.
"We think that in time all mums and dads and children will love her as much as we do."
Miss Burnell was disappointed by the criticism but welcomed the discussion.
"It can only be a good thing that parents are using me as a chance to talk disability with their children," she said.
"It just goes to show how important it is to have positive disabled role models on CBeebies and television in general."
source: yahoo news website
Friday, 13 February 2009
Charles Robert Darwin
Charles Darwin (1809 - 1882)
Throughout 2009, the BBC is celebrating the life and work of Charles Darwin with a variety of special programmes. Find out more at bbc.co.uk/darwin.
Charles Darwin was a British scientist who laid the foundations of the theory of evolution and transformed the way we think about the natural world.
Charles Robert Darwin was born on 12 February 1809 in Shrewsbury, Shropshire into a wealthy and well-connected family. His maternal grandfather was china manufacturer Josiah Wedgwood, while his paternal grandfather was Erasmus Darwin, one of the leading intellectuals of 18th century England.
Darwin himself initially planned to follow a medical career, and studied at Edinburgh University but later switched to divinity at Cambridge. In 1831, he joined a five year scientific expedition on the survey ship HMS Beagle.
At this time, most Europeans believed that the world was created by God in seven days as described in the bible. On the voyage, Darwin read Lyell's 'Principles of Geology' which suggested that the fossils found in rocks were actually evidence of animals that had lived many thousands or millions of years ago. Lyell's argument was reinforced in Darwin's own mind by the rich variety of animal life and the geological features he saw during his voyage. The breakthrough in his ideas came in the Galapagos Islands, 500 miles west of South America. Darwin noticed that each island supported its own form of finch which were closely related but differed in important ways.
On his return to England in 1836, Darwin tried to solve the riddles of these observations and the puzzle of how species evolve. Influenced by the ideas of Malthus, he proposed a theory of evolution occurring by the process of natural selection. The animals (or plants) best suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on the characteristics which helped them survive to their offspring. Gradually, the species changes over time.
Darwin worked on his theory for 20 years. After learning that another naturalist, Alfred Russel Wallace, had developed similar ideas, the two made a joint announcement of their discovery in 1858. In 1859 Darwin published 'On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection'.
The book was extremely controversial, because the logical extension of Darwin's theory was that homo sapiens was simply another form of animal. It made it seem possible that even people might just have evolved - quite possibly from apes - and destroyed the prevailing orthodoxy on how the world was created. Darwin was vehemently attacked, particularly by the Church. However, his ideas soon gained currency and have become the new orthodoxy.
Darwin died on 19 April 1882 and was buried in Westminster Abbey.
source: bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/darwin_charles.shtml
Throughout 2009, the BBC is celebrating the life and work of Charles Darwin with a variety of special programmes. Find out more at bbc.co.uk/darwin.
Charles Darwin was a British scientist who laid the foundations of the theory of evolution and transformed the way we think about the natural world.
Charles Robert Darwin was born on 12 February 1809 in Shrewsbury, Shropshire into a wealthy and well-connected family. His maternal grandfather was china manufacturer Josiah Wedgwood, while his paternal grandfather was Erasmus Darwin, one of the leading intellectuals of 18th century England.
Darwin himself initially planned to follow a medical career, and studied at Edinburgh University but later switched to divinity at Cambridge. In 1831, he joined a five year scientific expedition on the survey ship HMS Beagle.
At this time, most Europeans believed that the world was created by God in seven days as described in the bible. On the voyage, Darwin read Lyell's 'Principles of Geology' which suggested that the fossils found in rocks were actually evidence of animals that had lived many thousands or millions of years ago. Lyell's argument was reinforced in Darwin's own mind by the rich variety of animal life and the geological features he saw during his voyage. The breakthrough in his ideas came in the Galapagos Islands, 500 miles west of South America. Darwin noticed that each island supported its own form of finch which were closely related but differed in important ways.
On his return to England in 1836, Darwin tried to solve the riddles of these observations and the puzzle of how species evolve. Influenced by the ideas of Malthus, he proposed a theory of evolution occurring by the process of natural selection. The animals (or plants) best suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on the characteristics which helped them survive to their offspring. Gradually, the species changes over time.
Darwin worked on his theory for 20 years. After learning that another naturalist, Alfred Russel Wallace, had developed similar ideas, the two made a joint announcement of their discovery in 1858. In 1859 Darwin published 'On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection'.
The book was extremely controversial, because the logical extension of Darwin's theory was that homo sapiens was simply another form of animal. It made it seem possible that even people might just have evolved - quite possibly from apes - and destroyed the prevailing orthodoxy on how the world was created. Darwin was vehemently attacked, particularly by the Church. However, his ideas soon gained currency and have become the new orthodoxy.
Darwin died on 19 April 1882 and was buried in Westminster Abbey.
source: bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/darwin_charles.shtml
Friday, 23 January 2009
UK in recession
UK recession confirmed
-Fears over the state of the economy have been confirmed after figures showed Britain is in recession.
-Britain in recession, data confirms
The economy contracted by 1.5 per cent in the final three months of 2008 - the worst performance in more than 28 years, according to the Office for National Statistics.
The estimated fall in quarter-on-quarter gross GDP comes after a 0.6 per cent decline in the previous three months - a "technical" recession, as defined by two successive quarters of negative output.
The annual rate of output in 2008 is also set to make for grim reading in what will be a far cry from the 3 per cent seen in 2007.
Figures already published this week confirm an increasingly gloomy economic picture.
In the latest manufacturing sector survey, data showed activity slumped to its worst since July 1991 over the past three months, with the outlook the bleakest in 28 years.
Official statistics revealed that unemployment increased by 131,000 to 1.92 million in the three months to November to the highest level in more than a decade
(source: www.uk.news.yahoo.com, 10:45 GMT)
-Fears over the state of the economy have been confirmed after figures showed Britain is in recession.
-Britain in recession, data confirms
The economy contracted by 1.5 per cent in the final three months of 2008 - the worst performance in more than 28 years, according to the Office for National Statistics.
The estimated fall in quarter-on-quarter gross GDP comes after a 0.6 per cent decline in the previous three months - a "technical" recession, as defined by two successive quarters of negative output.
The annual rate of output in 2008 is also set to make for grim reading in what will be a far cry from the 3 per cent seen in 2007.
Figures already published this week confirm an increasingly gloomy economic picture.
In the latest manufacturing sector survey, data showed activity slumped to its worst since July 1991 over the past three months, with the outlook the bleakest in 28 years.
Official statistics revealed that unemployment increased by 131,000 to 1.92 million in the three months to November to the highest level in more than a decade
(source: www.uk.news.yahoo.com, 10:45 GMT)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)