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RE: Last to post wins - Creeperopolis - 07-08-2023

The Third Test of the 1948 Ashes series was one of five Tests in the Ashes cricket series between Australia and England. The match was played at Old Trafford in Manchester from 8 to 13 July 1948, with a rest day on 11 July. The match was drawn after the whole of the fourth day and the first half of the fifth day was washed out due to rain; England had the upper hand before the weather intervened. The draw maintained Australia's 2–0 lead in the series, which was established through victories in the first two Tests. As Australia were the holders of The Ashes, the draw meant that England could do no better than level the series 2–2 by winning the last two Tests, and thus Australia retained The Ashes.

The Test started amid controversy following the omission of leading England batsman Len Hutton for performing poorly in the previous match. Having largely failed—apart from brief periods—to challenge Australia in the first two Tests, the hosts had made four changes to their team in an attempt to find a combination that could threaten the visitors' supremacy. Australia made their first change for the series, ending the Test career of veteran batsman Bill Brown after two poor matches. England captain Norman Yardley won the toss and elected to bat. Denis Compton left the field after being bloodied in the head by a Ray Lindwall bouncer. At this stage, the hosts were at 33/2 with an injured player, and they batted defensively for a period to try and regroup. Having received treatment, Compton returned with England in difficulty at 119/5 midway through the day and proceeded to score 145 not out, aided by several dropped catches, helping England to recover to 363 all out on the second afternoon.

Compton and seamer Alec Bedser were involved in a mix-up, resulting in the latter being run out and ending a 121-run partnership. Lindwall was the most successful bowler, taking 4/99. During the England innings, Australian opener Sid Barnes, who had gained much attention throughout the season for fielding at point-blank range in front of the batsman on strike, was hit in the ribs by a Dick Pollard pull shot and had to be carried from the ground and hospitalised. In reply, Australia batted steadily to be 126/3 by the end of the second day but then fell to 172/6—effectively seven wickets down with Barnes unable to bat after collapsing again—before evading the follow on by reaching 221. Australia scored slowly through the innings, finding the hosts' bowlers difficult to negotiate; Bedser took 4/81 and Pollard 3/53.

England began their second innings and were strongly placed on 174/3 at the end of the third day, an overall lead of 316 with seven wickets in hand. They had been aided by several dropped chances against Cyril Washbrook, who reached 85 by the close of play. However, rain meant that no play was possible on the fourth day and England did not have the opportunity to capitalise on their favourable position and set Australia a high runchase. Yardley declared on the final morning, but play did not start until mid-afternoon due to continuing inclement weather. The Australian batsman thereafter played for a draw; they batted slowly and reached 92/1 when stumps were drawn, not making an attempt to chase the 317 for victory. Arthur Morris made 54 not out, his second half-century of the match to go with his 51 in the first innings, registering Australia's top-score on both occasions. Despite the fact that 30% of the playing time was lost to rain, the match still managed to set a record for the highest attendance at a Test match in England, surpassing the mark set in the previous Test.


RE: Last to post wins - JackEmpire - 07-08-2023

(07-08-2023, 02:44 AM)Creeperopolis Wrote: The Third Test of the 1948 Ashes series was one of five Tests in the Ashes cricket series between Australia and England. The match was played at Old Trafford in Manchester from 8 to 13 July 1948, with a rest day on 11 July. The match was drawn after the whole of the fourth day and the first half of the fifth day was washed out due to rain; England had the upper hand before the weather intervened. The draw maintained Australia's 2–0 lead in the series, which was established through victories in the first two Tests. As Australia were the holders of The Ashes, the draw meant that England could do no better than level the series 2–2 by winning the last two Tests, and thus Australia retained The Ashes.

The Test started amid controversy following the omission of leading England batsman Len Hutton for performing poorly in the previous match. Having largely failed—apart from brief periods—to challenge Australia in the first two Tests, the hosts had made four changes to their team in an attempt to find a combination that could threaten the visitors' supremacy. Australia made their first change for the series, ending the Test career of veteran batsman Bill Brown after two poor matches. England captain Norman Yardley won the toss and elected to bat. Denis Compton left the field after being bloodied in the head by a Ray Lindwall bouncer. At this stage, the hosts were at 33/2 with an injured player, and they batted defensively for a period to try and regroup. Having received treatment, Compton returned with England in difficulty at 119/5 midway through the day and proceeded to score 145 not out, aided by several dropped catches, helping England to recover to 363 all out on the second afternoon.

Compton and seamer Alec Bedser were involved in a mix-up, resulting in the latter being run out and ending a 121-run partnership. Lindwall was the most successful bowler, taking 4/99. During the England innings, Australian opener Sid Barnes, who had gained much attention throughout the season for fielding at point-blank range in front of the batsman on strike, was hit in the ribs by a Dick Pollard pull shot and had to be carried from the ground and hospitalised. In reply, Australia batted steadily to be 126/3 by the end of the second day but then fell to 172/6—effectively seven wickets down with Barnes unable to bat after collapsing again—before evading the follow on by reaching 221. Australia scored slowly through the innings, finding the hosts' bowlers difficult to negotiate; Bedser took 4/81 and Pollard 3/53.

England began their second innings and were strongly placed on 174/3 at the end of the third day, an overall lead of 316 with seven wickets in hand. They had been aided by several dropped chances against Cyril Washbrook, who reached 85 by the close of play. However, rain meant that no play was possible on the fourth day and England did not have the opportunity to capitalise on their favourable position and set Australia a high runchase. Yardley declared on the final morning, but play did not start until mid-afternoon due to continuing inclement weather. The Australian batsman thereafter played for a draw; they batted slowly and reached 92/1 when stumps were drawn, not making an attempt to chase the 317 for victory. Arthur Morris made 54 not out, his second half-century of the match to go with his 51 in the first innings, registering Australia's top-score on both occasions. Despite the fact that 30% of the playing time was lost to rain, the match still managed to set a record for the highest attendance at a Test match in England, surpassing the mark set in the previous Test.

Test


RE: Last to post wins - New makasta - 07-08-2023

omposta


RE: Last to post wins - Raz - 07-08-2023

Boing


RE: Last to post wins - Creeperopolis - 07-09-2023

Tiberius III[b] (Greek: Τιβέριος, romanized: Tibérios), born Apsimar (Latin: Apsimarus; Greek: Αψίμαρος, romanized: Apsímaros), was Byzantine emperor from 698 to 705. Little is known about his early life, other than that he was a droungarios, a mid-level commander, who served in the Cibyrrhaeot Theme. In 696, Tiberius was part of an army sent by Byzantine Emperor Leontius to retake the North African city of Carthage, which had been captured by the Arab Umayyads. After seizing the city, this army was pushed back by Umayyad reinforcements and retreated to the island of Crete; some of the officers, fearing the wrath of Leontius, killed their commander, and declared Tiberius emperor. Tiberius swiftly gathered a fleet, sailed for Constantinople, and deposed Leontius. Tiberius did not attempt to retake Byzantine Africa from the Umayyads, but campaigned against them along the eastern border with some success. In 705 former emperor Justinian II, who had been deposed by Leontius, led an army of Slavs and Bulgars from the First Bulgarian Empire to Constantinople, and after entering the city secretly, deposed Tiberius. Tiberius fled to Bithynia, but was captured a few months later and beheaded by Justinian between August 705 and February 706. His body was initially thrown into the sea, but was later recovered and buried in a church on the island of Prote.


RE: Last to post wins - JackEmpire - 07-09-2023

Quebecshire, officially the Serene State of Quebecshire (Quebecshirite: l’État Serein du Québecshire) is a large nation on the Ecros continent of Terraconserva. It is bordered to the west by Malgax, to the east by the Vernier Ocean, to the south by the Yamachiche Bay. Quebecshire’s largest and capital city is Quebecshire City, but Bostonia and Orléans are also renowned and well known cities, among others.

Quebecshire is led by Grandmaster André Bellerose and Speaker of the Parliament Lucien LaRochelle. Quebecshire is known globally for its diplomatic and economic presence in the world, as well as its unique form of government which combines elements of monarchy, oligarchy, and democracy. Quebecshire is a member of the Terraconserva Economic Union and has close relations with the other member states of the organization, as well as having amicable relations with Creeperopolis and Eminople. The Quebecshirite language and ethnic diaspora have also given Quebecshire signifigant cultural influence on every continent of Terraconserva. Quebecshire is a founding member and is a permanent member and veto-able nation of the Terraconserva Council of Nations.


Contents
1 Etymology
2 History of Quebecshire
2.1 Ayeroshubic Era (Antiquity–2000 BC)
2.2 Quebecshirite Dark Era (2000 BC–300AD)
2.3 Exploration Era (300AD–1197)
2.4 Unification Era (1197–1607)
2.4.1 Early Congressional Period
2.4.2 Expeditionary Period
2.4.3 Decline of the Congressional Government
2.5 Civil War Era (1607–1624)
2.5.1 Civil War
2.5.2 Orléans Negotiations
2.5.3 CRNQ and Constitution
2.6 Reconstruction Era (1625–1750)
2.6.1 Immediate Aftermath of the Civil War
2.7 Industrialization Era (1751–1900)
2.7.1 Early Industrial Era
2.7.2 Later Industrial Era
2.8 Modern Era (1901–present)
2.8.1 Red April
2.8.2 Age of Good Feelings
2.8.3 Creeperian Civil War
2.8.4 Terraconserva Council of Nations
2.8.5 Post-Arceneaux
2.8.5.1 Early Bellerose Reign
2.8.5.2 Present day
3 Government and politics
3.1 Constitution of Quebecshire
3.2 Domestic Government and Politics
3.2.1 High Council of Quebecshire
3.2.2 Parliament of Quebecshire
3.2.3 Sub-national government and politics
3.3 International politics and agreements
4 Geography
4.1 Climate
4.2 Northern Quebecshire
4.3 Central and Southern Quebecshire
5 Economy
6 Demographics
6.1 Health
6.2 Education
6.3 Ethnicity
6.4 Religion
6.5 Language
7 Culture
8 See also
Etymology
It is a general consensus among researchers that the word Quebecshire means "the place where the river narrows." The prefix Quebec meaning "where the river narrows" and the suffix shire meaning place, division, or location. Given the close proximity of the city to the Franconian River, that is the theorized origin of the name. While the Franconian River flows outward, the Bay of Orléans narrows into the river from an upriver-moving perspective.

History of Quebecshire
Ayeroshubic Era (Antiquity–2000 BC)
The Ayeroshubic Kingdom was a large nation that dominated the areas of the western landmass that are now parts of Quebecshire, Greater Sacramento, and some regions of Malgax. It's most notable contribution is the primary writing script used by Quebecshirites in the modern era, and it is referred to in the present as the Ayeroshubic script. It is also the distant parent language of modern Quebecshirite, and other languages common to the western continent.

The Ayeroshubic Kingdom collapsed around 2000BC, causing for it to abandon its territories in what is now modern Quebecshire. Due to the destructive collapse, there is little concise record about the Ayeroshubics in the modern era. This collapse plunged the tribes and settlements in the regions of Quebecshire to into a general instability and chaos.

Quebecshirite Dark Era (2000 BC–300AD)
The period from the collapse of the Ayeroshubic Kingdom up until the point of roughly 300AD is referred to by most Quebecshirite historians and documents as the "dark times", or a similar play on that phrase. Most historians dispute that the entire era would have been engulfed in the instability of the fall of the Ayeroshubics, as the era itself is quite expansive, but it is acknowledged that there was not a widespread change on a region-wide level until about 300AD.

Following the Ayeroshubic collapse, the regions of Quebecshire that had been settled by them were plunged into disorder, leading to a dis-unified collection of civilizations. This stayed this way for quite some time, with most groups expanding and settling more on their own, and some tribal groups were seen to have been formed, but there is somewhat of a lack of information on this subject.

Development of relevant technology and tools to this era continued, but on more local scales than an empire sized one, whoever diffusion of ideas as well as some level of commerce did happen between the regions that had been settled and well established.

Exploration Era (300AD–1197)
The exploration era represented a great shift in society in the areas that would become Quebecshire. Beginning roughly around the year 300, there were concrete records showing the establishment of Quebecshire City by 321. The people who had established the city there, later under the initial leadership of who discovered records list as François le Grand, began to unify the surrounding bay. By the year 419, Bostonia had been permanently established alongside the rest of the lands in the immediate region of the bay which Quebecshire City rests in. Orléans was designated as an established and separate city in 428.

From the 500s through the 700s, there was a period of coastal expansion. This expansion first ventured northwards and expanded the new unified nation of Quebecshire up towards the regions that were formally declared Portsmouth in 602. Those waging expansion southward were able to gain control of significant coastal territory, and they ventured inland as well, reaching the area which would become the agricultural hub of Sanborn-Gaza.

It was at this point that large-scale westward integration became common. Explorers, farmers, those interested in the resources of the mountains, and envoys of leadership moved west for new opportunities. As a result of this new effort, Abraham was founded as a main settlement in the central western region, and Franconia was declared on the edges of the vast mountain ranges of the northwest. While Abraham served as an outpost, Franconia was the site of the Quebecshirite discovery of colored and unique crystals, given the name geodes, or gems from the earth, by those first documenting them around the year 844.

While there had been some movement south during the inland/western expansions prior, it became a much more appealing venture following this time for the purpose of more land to develop and possible trade options when the southern coast referred to on older maps could be reached. By the year 1163, the main southern areas of Quebecshire had been moved into, particularly those in the east. In the former half of the 1150s, Anticosti, Gaspésie, Laurent, and Sherbooke had all been created as new towns and then cities to build trade and connect the newfound lands more effectively. Following this, a brief expedition was sponsored to chart the rest of the south more effectively in the west, and then final incorporation of the re-charted territory was completed in 1197 with the creation of Yamachiche, marked as the first unification of modern day Quebecshire, thus ending the Exploration Era.

Unification Era (1197–1607)
Early Congressional Period
File:Quebecshire cantons map.png
General map of the Cantons of Quebecshire
Following the declaration of unification in 1197, the Charters of Quebecshire were signed in Quebecshire City. The Charters established the first unified and coherent government of Quebecshire in the primary form of the Congress of the Cantons (also referred to simply as the Congress). The Congress was endowed with the particular duties of foreign relations, management of the distribution of domestic commerce and resources, and any forming of a standing military force. There were eleven cantons established around the largest settlements and cities in Quebecshire.

Expeditionary Period
Following the stabilization of the Congress of the Cantons, the government in Quebecshire City financed a series of exploration initiatives around Terraconserva to improve Quebecshirite trade, mapping, and connectivity to the rest of the world. A noted figured in the navy, Captain Félix Vernier organized many expeditions to be carried out in many directions across the globe and even directly led some of them. By the early 1300s ocean-crossing expeditions on behalf of Quebecshire had begun. Earlier in his career, Vernier traveled to closer locations south of Greater Sacramento and helped chart and map the southern oceans and the broader island which today contains both Creeperopolis and surrounding regions.

Captain Vernier's most well-known voyage however, was the one on which he effectively sailed the entire world making several stops to inspire more expeditions and drastically improving global trade, mapping, and connectivity, not simply for Quebecshire but for several civilizations across Terraconserva, having a large influence on the current state of the world. Vernier departed from the Port of Quebecshire City and made made several stops, in Groffenord, Lyoa, Paleocacher, New Gandor, and Eminople before returning to Quebecshire. The trip is known in the modern day as the Great Voyage.

As a result of the Great Voyage, Quebecshire was able to establish several trade posts and settlements, and increase its contact with other nations existing at the time to set the stage for more future trade. All settlements were returned to the nations in the relevant area or abandoned around the time of the Quebecshirite Civil War, however the New Orléans settlement failed earlier under mysterious and controversial circumstances in Paleocacher. In addition, Quebecshire also established several trading settlements and outposts in a colonial fashion, which are listed below.

Outposts and Colonies of the First Quebecshirite Empire
Name Established Relinquished Notes
New Bostonia 1468 1609 Located in modern day Lyoa, remains a port city with the same name. Relinquished during the Quebecshirite Civil War.
New Abraham 1472 1567 Located in modern day Paleocacher. Settlement failed under mysterious circumstances. The region is now named Chicajun.
Vernier and his travels, the colonial outposts created, and the Expeditionary Period overall, are often given some credit for the size and span of the modern Quebecshirite economy, as well as the establishment of early global and international commerce routes.

Decline of the Congressional Government

Storming of the Congress by Monarchist forces, 1607.
The Congress of the Cantons began to heavily struggle following the Quebecshirite-Malgan War due to a few strong factors. In addition to the Abraham Debates over who was responsible for financial matters resulting from war, the Congress was unable to effectively manage trade and resource distribution between Cantons, leading several Cantons to ignore the Congress and its regulations when they deemed it reasonable. Sessions of the Congress became less productive and devolved in inefficiency and hostility.

Influential figures also began becoming extremely critical of the Congressional system in the years leading up to its decline, such as Gaston Delsarte in his older age. This caused an erosion of public support for the Congress, which was referred to as nothing more than a "temporary tolerance for a failing system" by Delsarte. This contributed to canton government officials listening to the congressional advice and authority left, as this authority was less-enforceable. Despite Gaston Delsarte's death before these disagreements became more inflammatory, many critics, often with different ideas and solutions, continued coming forward.

The first decade of the 1600s saw a complete devolution of Congressional effectiveness and authority. The Congress had low attendance numbers and was unable to enforce any decrees or documents it set into place. Due to these failings, there was a lack of effectively transported agriculture and other resources, and disputes over debt continued to rage in Quebecshire. The Congress of the Cantons was formally disbanded on 26 April 1607 when the Monarchist Coalition for the Reunification of Quebecshire stormed the chambers and formally dissolved and dismissed the congress permanently, sparking the Quebecshirite Civil War.

Civil War Era (1607–1624)
Civil War
Main article: Quebecshirite Civil War
The Quebecshirite Civil War was a civil armed conflict which raged from 26 April 1607 to 17 December 1623 in Quebecshire between the Monarchist Coalition for the Reunification of Quebecshire (CMRQ, Monarchists) and the Quebecshire Republican Assembly (ARQ, Republicans). The war ended in a ceasefire in 1623 beginning the Orléans Negotiations.

The civil war began when the minimally effective federalized democracy failed as the Congress of the Cantons was unable to handle economic downturn or properly facilitate the internal distribution of resources. Major battles were fought in the northern mountains and the mid-section of the nation in order to control natural resources and agriculture. Several battles were fought in the bay around Quebecshire City, Bostonia, and Orléans.

Quebecshire City became the major base of operations for the Monarchists, whereas the Republicans set up their functions from Bostonia. The Monarchists were able to eventually force the Republicans out of most of the southeastern peninsula, nonetheless the Republicans held strong in the midlands and many maritime locations. Due to this, Monarchist progress was largely slowed.

In 1620 large-scale fighting decreased and the conflict was almost entirely reduced to border skirmishes. Eventually, the separate provisional governments began to struggle due to lack of resources for the Republicans and a lack of trade opportunities for the Monarchist groups. In 1623, a ceasefire (but not reunification) agreement was made by the Monarchist Coalition for the Reunification of Quebecshire (CMRQ) and the Quebecshirite Republican Assembly (ARQ) to begin negotiations in Orléans on March 4th, 1623.

After about eight months (17 December 1623), an agreement for the basis of a new Constitution was reached. Both the CMRQ and the ARQ ratified the agreement and began the re-integration of the opposing sides. The Quebecshirite National Reorganization Council (CNRQ) was formed following this arrangement to provisionally reunify Quebecshire before the High Council and Parliaments of Quebecshire could be set up and have their offices filled. The Declaration of the Establishment of a New Constitution for a Unified Quebecshirite State generally entailed the following list contents. The conclusion of the Civil War also led to the creation of the Quebecshirite political philosophy of Revanchism, which is still prominent.

Orléans Negotiations
Main article: Orléans Negotiations

Delsarte and Champlain meet for negotiations, 1623.
The Orléans Negotiations took place from 4 March 1623 to 17 December 1623. Following a stalemate in the Quebecshirite Civil War where both sides struggled with supplies and necessities, the political leaders of the two major factions of the war, Yvon Delsarte and Arsène Champlain, convinced their advisors to allow for a series of negotiations to take place to ideally bring an end to the civil war and reunify Quebecshire.

As the Monarchists were situated in Quebecshire City and Republicans in Bostonia, the two sides agreed to meet in Orléans (City in Quebecshire) to discuss the future of Quebecshire. The official Monarchist delegation consisted of Yvon Delsarte, as well as Roland Rodier. The Republicans were officially represented by Arsène Champlain, Jacques Bourassa, and Jean Mossé. Nonetheless, advisors were present for both sides despite no official involvement or say in what was specifically created at negotiation sessions.

The first major point in the negotiations was reported to have come to a consensus on 13 June 1623 when both sides determined any future unified Quebecshire should be devoid of subdivisions similar to internal states or provinces in nature. This precedent set the stage for the remaining negotiations, which mainly focused on how the style of Quebecshirite leadership should be approached for the best merits of both popular will and national stability.

After 289 days of the ceasefire agreement between the two sides, Delsarte and Champlain signed the Declaration of the Establishment of a New Constitution for a Unified Quebecshirite State, which was to detail the future of Quebecshirite governance and how the new administration would be set up. The declaration’s key terms and points set the stage for the ratification of the Constitution of Quebecshire, and its key actions, points, and objectives are listed below.

The abolition of the CMRQ and ARQ in favor of the Quebecshirite National Reorganization Council (CNRQ), which will govern the nation until the new Constitution was ratified and enforceable.
The abolition of all governmental authorities and entities larger in jurisdiction than municipal bodies and smaller in jurisdiction than the national government of Quebecshire.
The formation of a judiciary and directive High Council of Quebecshire to serve as an oversight and unifying body, headed by a Grandmaster, to satisfy the monarchist sentiments in Quebecshire.
The formation and eventual election of a Parliament of Quebecshire to be headed by a Speaker of the Parliament to govern via legislation and satisfy Republican sentiments in Quebecshire.
The adoption of the title of “Serene State” for Quebecshire to decline any implications of political leanings.
Following the signing of landmark agreement, the Constitution was drafted. It was signed and formally ratified by the Quebecshirite National Reorganization Council on September 16th, 1624. With its ratification, Yvon Delsarte was inaugurated as the first Grandmaster of Quebecshire. Arsène Champlain was also inaugurated as the first Speaker of the Parliament of Quebecshire, with the Constitution’s ratification happening with the commencement of the new government, thus making it readily enforceable. Alongside these further events, the Quebecshirite National Reorganization Council was formally disbanded as the new government took over administering Quebecshire.

CRNQ and Constitution
Main article: Quebecshirite National Reorganization Council
The Quebecshirite National Reorganization Council was the provisional authority that governed Quebecshire unilaterally between 17 December 1623 and 16 September 1624. It was led by Yvon Delsarte and Arsène Champlain alongside their advisors. The Quebecshirite National Reorganization Council was birthed from the Quebecshirite Civil War and Orléans Negotiations as a reintegration agreement between the Monarchist Coalition for the Reunification of Quebecshire and Quebecshire Republican Assembly. It was the first unified government of Quebecshire since 1607.

During its short tenure, the CNRQ was the result of the agreement on Declaration of the Establishment of a New Constitution for a Unified Quebecshirite State and what it would entail. It served the purpose of integrating the two sides in the civil war and was expected to prepare the Constitution for ratification and then enforcement once was feasible.

The Quebecshirite National Reorganization Council was formally dissolved on 16 September 1624. This coincided with the inauguration of the first High Council and High Council with the enforcement of the Constitution and its government mandates, namely bestowed upon the Grandmaster and Speaker of the Parliament of Quebecshire.

The short-used yet unique flag of the Quebecshirite National Reorganization Council represents the convergence of the Monarchists and Republicans into a single Quebecshire with a single government.

The ideology of Revanchism was formed over time as a direct result of the actions and principles from the conclusion of and rebuilding following the Quebecshirite Civil War.


RE: Last to post wins - Creeperopolis - 07-10-2023

Pasqua Rosée (fl. 1651–1658) was a 17th-century servant who opened the first coffee-house in London and possibly Britain. He was born into the ethnic Greek community of the Republic of Ragusa (now southernmost Croatia). In 1651 he became the servant of Daniel Edwards, an English merchant of the Levant Company who was living in Smyrna (modern İzmir, Turkey) in the Ottoman Empire; Rosée's duties included preparing and serving Edwards's daily coffee.

In late 1651 Edwards returned to London, taking Rosée with him. The number and frequency of friends visiting Edwards to drink coffee with him disrupted his social life, and so he set up Rosée as the proprietor of a coffee-house near the Royal Exchange. As he was not a freeman of the City of London he was not able to trade; accordingly Edwards made his father-in-law's former apprentice, Christopher "Kitt" Bowman—a freeman of the City—join Rosée as a partner. The last known reference to Rosée was in 1658, after which Bowman ran the coffee-house with his wife until his death in 1662. There are stories that Rosée left London as a result of a misdemeanour and that he went to Holland or Germany to sell coffee, although there is no evidence this was the case.

The number of coffee-houses grew rapidly after Rosée opened his outlet. By 1708 there were 500–600 in London and Westminster, and others in provincial cities. The original premises of the coffee-house was destroyed in the 1666 Great Fire of London. On its location is a late nineteenth century building housing—in the twenty-first century—a pub, the Jamaica Wine House; a commemorative plaque is now on the spot, unveiled in 1952—the tercentenary of the founding of Rosée's shop.


RE: Last to post wins - Creeperopolis - 07-11-2023

The United States trade dollar was a dollar coin minted by the United States Mint to compete with other large silver trade coins that were already popular in East Asia. The idea first came about in the 1860s, when the price of silver began to decline due to increased mining efforts in the western United States. A bill providing in part for the issuance of the trade dollar was eventually put before Congress, where it was approved and later signed into law as the Coinage Act of 1873. The act made trade dollars legal tender up to five dollars. A number of designs were considered for the trade dollar, and an obverse and reverse created by William Barber were selected.

The first trade dollars were struck in 1873, and the majority of the coins were sent to China. Eventually, bullion producers began converting large amounts of silver into trade dollars, causing the coins to make their way into American commercial channels. This caused frustration among those to whom they were given in payment, as the coins were largely maligned and traded for less than one dollar each. In response to their wide distribution in American commerce, the coins were officially demonetized in 1876, but continued to circulate. Production of business strikes ended in 1878, though the mintage of proof coins officially continued until 1883. The trade dollar was re-monetized when the Coinage Act of 1965 was signed into law.


RE: Last to post wins - Creeperopolis - 07-12-2023

The Dance of the Twisted Bull (Spring/Summer 2002; Spanish: El baile del toro retorcido) is the nineteenth collection by British designer Alexander McQueen for his eponymous fashion house. Twisted Bull was inspired by Spanish culture and art, especially the traditional clothing worn for flamenco dancing and bullfighting. In McQueen's typical fashion, the collection included sharp tailoring and historicist elements and emphasised femininity and sexuality.

The runway show for Twisted Bull was staged during Paris Fashion Week on 6 October 2001 at the headquarters of the Stade Français sports club [fr]. It was McQueen's first collection following his departure from Givenchy and the sale of his company to the Gucci Group in 2001. Compared to his previous seasons, which tended to be theatrical and artistic, the runway show was simple, and the clothing designs were unusually commercial. McQueen confirmed that this was a business decision intended to drive sales for his first season under Gucci. Sales for the collection were reportedly strong.

Reception for Twisted Bull was mostly positive, especially from British journalists, who highlighted the accessible designs and polished presentation. American journalists were less impressed, particularly with the dressmaking. The most noted look from the collection was a showpiece dress made to look as though its torso was pierced through by spears, which later appeared in both stagings of the retrospective exhibition Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty. Other looks appeared in the 2022 retrospective exhibition Lee Alexander McQueen: Mind, Mythos, Muse.


RE: Last to post wins - Creeperopolis - 07-13-2023

Margaret Alice Murray (13 July 1863 – 13 November 1963) was an Anglo-Indian Egyptologist, archaeologist, anthropologist, historian, and folklorist. The first woman to be appointed as a lecturer in archaeology in the United Kingdom, she worked at University College London (UCL) from 1898 to 1935. She served as president of the Folklore Society from 1953 to 1955, and published widely over the course of her career.

Born to a wealthy middle-class English family in Calcutta, British India, Murray divided her youth between India, Britain, and Germany, training as both a nurse and a social worker. Moving to London, in 1894 she began studying Egyptology at UCL, developing a friendship with department head Flinders Petrie, who encouraged her early academic publications and appointed her junior lecturer in 1898. In 1902–03 she took part in Petrie's excavations at Abydos, Egypt, there discovering the Osireion temple and the following season investigated the Saqqara cemetery, both of which established her reputation in Egyptology. Supplementing her UCL wage by giving public classes and lectures at the British Museum and Manchester Museum, it was at the latter in 1908 that she led the unwrapping of Khnum-nakht, one of the mummies recovered from the Tomb of the Two Brothers – the first time that a woman had publicly unwrapped a mummy. Recognising that British Egyptomania reflected the existence of a widespread public interest in Ancient Egypt, Murray wrote several books on Egyptology targeted at a general audience.

Murray also became closely involved in the first-wave feminist movement, joining the Women's Social and Political Union and devoting much time to improving women's status at UCL. Unable to return to Egypt due to the First World War, she focused her research on the witch-cult hypothesis, the theory that the witch trials of Early Modern Christendom were an attempt to extinguish a surviving pre-Christian, pagan religion devoted to a Horned God. Although later academically discredited, the theory gained widespread attention and proved a significant influence on the emerging new religious movement of Wicca. From 1921 to 1931 Murray undertook excavations of prehistoric sites on Malta and Menorca and developed her interest in folkloristics. Awarded an honorary doctorate in 1927, she was appointed assistant professor in 1928 and retired from UCL in 1935. That year she visited Palestine to aid Petrie's excavation of Tall al-Ajjul and in 1937 she led a small excavation at Petra in Jordan. Taking on the presidency of the Folklore Society in later life, she lectured at such institutions as the University of Cambridge and City Literary Institute, and continued to publish in an independent capacity until her death.

Murray's work in Egyptology and archaeology was widely acclaimed and earned her the nickname of "The Grand Old Woman of Egyptology", although after her death many of her contributions to the field were overshadowed by those of Petrie. Conversely, Murray's work in folkloristics and the history of witchcraft has been academically discredited and her methods in these areas heavily criticised. The influence of her witch-cult theory in both religion and literature has been examined by various scholars, and she herself has been dubbed the "Grandmother of Wicca".