The Boeing B-47 Stratojet is a retired American long-range, six-engined, turbojet-powered strategic bomber designed to fly at high subsonic speed and at high altitude to avoid enemy interceptor aircraft. The primary mission of the B-47 was as a nuclear bomber capable of striking targets within the Soviet Union. Development of the B-47 can be traced back to a requirement expressed by the United States Army Air Forces in 1943 for a reconnaissance bomber that harnessed newly developed jet propulsion. Another key innovation adopted during the development process was the swept wing, drawing upon captured German research. With its engines carried in nacelles underneath the wing, the B-47 represented a major innovation in post-World War II combat jet design, contributed to the development of modern jet airliners. Suitably impressed, in April 1946, the USAAF ordered two prototypes, designated "XB-47". Facing off competition such as the North American XB-45, Convair XB-46 and Martin XB-48, a formal contract for 10 B-47A bombers was signed on 3 September 1948.

This would be soon followed by much larger contracts. During 1951, the B-47 entered operational service with the United States Air Force's Strategic Air Command becoming a mainstay of its bomber strength by the late 1950s. Over 2,000 were manufactured to meet the Air Force's extensive demands, driven by the tensions of the Cold War; the B-47 was in service as a strategic bomber until 1965, at which point it had been supplanted by more capable aircraft, such as the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress. However, the B-47 was adapted to perform a number of other roles and functions, including photographic reconnaissance, electronic intelligence, weather reconnaissance. While never seeing combat as a bomber, reconnaissance RB-47s would come under fire near to or within Soviet air space; the type remained in service as a reconnaissance aircraft until 1969. The B-47 arose from an informal 1943 requirement for a jet-powered reconnaissance bomber, drawn up by the United States Army Air Forces to prompt manufacturers to start research into jet bombers.

Boeing was among several companies to respond to the request. In 1944, this initial concept evolved into a formal request-for-proposal to design a new bomber with a maximum speed of 550 mph, a cruise speed of 450 mph, a range of 3,500 mi, a service ceiling of 45,000 ft. In December 1944, North American Aviation, the Convair Corp. Boeing and the Glenn Martin Company submitted proposals for the new long-range jet bomber. Wind tunnel testing had shown that the drag from the engine installation of the Model 424 was too high, so Boeing's entry was a revised design, the Model 432, with the four engines buried in the forward fuselage; the USAAF awarded study contracts to all four companies, requiring that North American and Convair concentrate on four-engined designs, while Boeing and Martin were to build six-engined aircraft. The powerplant was to be General Electric's new TG-180 turbojet engine. In May 1945, the von Kármán mission of the Army Air Forces inspected the secret German aeronautics laboratory near Braunschweig.

Von Kármán's team included the chief of the technical staff at George S. Schairer, he had heard about the controversial swept-wing theory of R. T. Jones at Langley, but seeing German models of swept-wing aircraft and extensive supersonic wind-tunnel data, the concept was decisively confirmed, he changed the wing design. Analysis by Boeing engineer Vic Ganzer suggested an optimum sweepback angle of about 35 degrees. Boeing's aeronautical engineers modified the Model 432 with swept wings and tail to produce the "Model 448", presented to the USAAF in September 1945, it retained the four TG-180 jet engines in its forward fuselage, with two more TG-180s in the rear fuselage. The flush-mounted air intakes for the rear engines were inadequate while the USAAF considered the engine installation within the fuselage to be a fire hazard; the engines were moved to streamlined pylon-mounted pods under the wings, leading to the next iteration, the Model 450, which featured two TG-180s in a twin pod mounted on a pylon about a third of the way outboard on each wing, plus another engine at each wingtip.

The Army Air Force liked this new configuration, so Boeing's engineers refined it, moving the outer engines further inboard to about ​3⁄4 of the wingspan. The thin wings provided no space for tricycle main gear to retract so it would have needed a considerable bulge in the fuselage aft of the bomb bay for lateral stability; the only way to get a bomb-bay long enough for an A-bomb was to use a "bicycle landing gear", the two main gear assemblies arranged in a tandem configuration and outrigger struts fitted to the inboard engine pods. As the landing gear arrangement made rotation impossible, it was designed so that the aircraft rested on the ground at the proper angle for takeoff. Pleased with the refined Model 450 design, in April 1946, the USAAF ordered two prototypes, to be designated "XB-47". Assembly began in June 1947; the first XB-47 was rolled out on 12 September 1947, a few days before the USAAF became a separate service, the United States Air Force, on 18 September 1947. According to aviation authors Bill Gunston and Peter Gilchrist, Boeing subjected the first prototype to "one of the most comprehensive ground-test programmes undertaken".

The XB-47 prototype flew its first flight o

Verses of Steel is the twelfth studio album by the Polish thrash metal band Acid Drinkers. It was released on July 7, in Poland through Mystic Production, it is the only album to feature Alex "Olass" Mendyk due to his death in late November 2008. The album was recorded from March to April, 2008, it was mixed at Chimp Studio and Tower Studio, Wrocław. The cover art was created by fotos by Paulina Mencel. Tomasz "Titus" Pukacki - vocals, bass guitar Alex "Olass" Mendyk - guitar, vocals Dariusz "Popcorn" Popowicz - guitar, vocals Maciej "Ślimak" Starosta - drums Music and lyrics - Acid Drinkers Engineered - Maciej Feddek, Aleksander Mendyk Vocal co-producer - Przemysław "Perła" Wjemann Bartek Dębicki - solo in "Blues Beatdown" The album was well received in their country, gaining three nominations for the Fryderyk Musical Awards for production and best Heavy Metal album, it was described as a traditional European thrash metal album with a few crossover elements

Fenway Partners is an American private equity firm that makes leveraged buyout and growth capital investments in transportation, consumer products and manufacturing companies in the middle market. In 2002 Fenway acquired the molding customer base of Premier Tile; the price for the acquisition was 8.25 million. The firm was founded in 1994 by Richard Dresdale and Peter Lamm and has over $2 billion of capital under management. Since inception, the firm has raised three private equity funds. Fenway's first fund, closed on $525 million of capital commitments in 1996 and just two years in 1998, the firm raised an additional $900 million of capital; as a result of several investments made in the 1998 fund, prior to the collapse of the dot-com bubble, performance in that fund was affected. The firm was able to raise a successor fund in 2006 and 2007 with $700 million of commitments from institutional investors. Among the firms most notable investments are Targus, 1-800 Contacts, Coach America, Bell Sports and Easton.

Targus Corporation Fenway Partners acquired Targus Group International, an Anaheim, California-based company, for the sum of $382.5 million on November 22 of 2005. During the acquisition of Targus, the managing director at Fenway Partners, Timothy Mayhew, was quoted saying. Targus was the original creator of carrying cases for portable computers and have since expanded into multiple electronics accessories including; the price set for the acquisition of 1-800 Contacts was at premium of 21% over the highest reported share value within the last year and 34% over the closing price within the last month. In total, the purchase price was valued at $340 million. On June 20th of 2012, Co-Founder of Fenway Partners, Peter Lamm, was quoted stating “We are pleased with the outcome of our investment in 1-800 Contacts” after Fenway Partners sold 1-800 Contacts to WellPoint Inc. a health benefits firm, for a sum of $900 million. Riddell Sports Group On July 7, 2003, Fenway Partners proudly announced their acquisition of Riddell Sports Group a sporting goods manufacturer.

Riddell helmets are worn by more than 85% of NFL players, in 2002 they released the first computer engineered football helmet in its efforts to help reduce concussions among athletes. As the leading manufacturer of football helmets, among other products such as pads and collectible replica items, Riddell posted revenues of over $100 million in 2002, the same figure for which it was acquired by Fenway Partners the following year. Bell Sports Bell Sports, a helmet and apparel manufacturer, was acquired by Fenway Partners in August 2004. Bell was acquired for an estimated $240 million; the purchase of Bell Sports, whose owner investors had planned to sell the company back in April, was powerful move for Fenway Partners as it planned to merge its newest asset with their acquired Riddell Sports Group. Among the firm's most notable realized investments are high-end jewelry retailer Harry Winston and the Simmons Bedding Company. Riddell Sports Group/Bell Sports “This is a merger of strengths in a sense” stated Tim Mayhew, managing director for Fenway Partners, who acquired Riddell Sports Group in 2003, Bell Sports in 2004.

The purchase of Bell was fitting in expanding Fenway’s market share in the sports industries. By combining both these industry leaders, Bell from action sports and Riddell from the football industry, the company will now have the largest research and development facility, based in Santa Cruz, California. Geared towards head protection in the world. Combined, these companies will now be producing over 8 million helmets a year and is expected to earn revenues upwards of $300 million in 2004. CEO and president of Bell Sports, Bill Fry, was appointed to lead the combined companies’ management team due to his efforts in putting Bell back on top of their market, since he joined in 2001. Bill Sherman, Riddell CEO will remain in his current position as well as serving on the board of directors in regards to the company. Riddell Bell Holdings/Easton Sports Inc. Two years after the merger of Riddell and Bell, Fenway Partners were at it again by proposing a merger with their newest entity Riddell Bell Holdings and Easton Sports Inc.

Easton is a sporting goods industry leader with departments spanning from cycling to baseball, hockey and archery. In the past Easton has earned yearly revenues similar to those of Riddell Bell and as a combined entity is expected to break the $600 million mark. Easton Sports Inc. was a subsidiary company of Jas D. Easton and its only subsidiary, part of the merger; the head of Easton Sports, Jim Easton, was appointed Chair of the new combined entity. While the Riddel Bell merger earned Fenway a world leader in research and development in their fields, this merger created a behemoth in the sporting goods industry which will be “unsurpassed” stated Bill Sherman CEO of Riddell. Anthony Palma, who served as Easton’s CEO and president until 2008, said about Fenway’s new prized entity.

Sean Patrick Rush is an American soccer player who last played for Ribeirão in the Portuguese Second Division. Rush grew up through the ranks of Baltimore Football Club, before the club merged with Baltimore Bays. Rush won state and national titles with both teams. On a select trip to Italy, including a match against Milan at the Nereo Rocco Cup, Rush was invited by Milan's Franco Baresi to join their youth squad, but could not sign due to regulations. Rush returned to Italy. At age 19, Rush became only the second American to be signed by a team in Italy's top two divisions, Serie B side Treviso – the first was Alexi Lalas who played for Padova. In 2007, the coaching staff was changed, bringing in an new outfit. Rush and a few others who were expected to be a part of the next season were not offered another deal. Rush signed for Crystal Palace Baltimore of the USL Second Division for their inaugural 2007 season. Rush scored an important goal in the 92nd minute against New Hampshire on July 21, 2007, to keep Palace's playoff hopes alive.

After one season at Palace, Rush decided to take the advice of a close friend and went to Brazil to play, subsequently spending the year with Osvaldo Cruz in the Campeonato Paulista Serie A3. Rush signed to play with Real Maryland Monarchs on February 10, 2009. Starting and playing 80 minutes of the season opener against Bermuda Hogges, He scored the first goal of the season in the second minute of play. Rush Tallied 1 goal and 5 assists in 2009, he played in 16 games before leaving early to play in Europe. Following conclusion of the 2009 USL2 regular season, Rush went on trial and after three days signed a yearlong contract with Portuguese side Vila Meã. Rush made his first appearance in the 3-0 win over AD Olivereanse. In April 2010, Rush announced he would be signing back with Real Maryland Monarchs under head coach Anthony Hudson. For two consecutive seasons, Rush scored the seasons first goal for Real Maryland. In September 2010, Rush signed a yearlong contract with Ribeirão of the Portuguese Second Division.

Rush is the Owner and founder of Pipeline International Soccer Academy, an American-based training academy for youths playing soccer. Sean Rush and Santino Quaranta have started a non-profit premier soccer club in Baltimore, MD called Pipeline Soccer Club. Rush holds an Irish passport, His great grandfather and father all played the game at different levels, he was born and raised in Baltimore, with his older brother and his younger sisters and Kelly. They all attended Dulaney High School in Maryland. Statistics at fpf.pt

Robert Klaus Freiherr von Weizsäcker is a German Economist and Honorary President of the German Chess Federation. Since 2003 he has held the Chair of Economics, Public Finance and Industrial Organization at Technical University of Munich, he is the eldest son of the late former German President Richard von Weizsäcker. Robert K. von Weizsäcker studied Mathematics and Economics at the University of Bonn, received a PhD at the London School of Economics / University of Bonn in 1985, attained the Habilitation at the University of Bonn in 1990. Since 2003 he has been Professor of Economics, Public Finance and Industrial Organization at Technical University of Munich, he had research and teaching positions at the University of Bonn, the Humboldt-University of Berlin, the University of Halle-Wittenberg, the University of Mannheim. He was a Visiting Scholar at Cambridge University, Université Catholique de Louvain, London School of Economics, Stanford University, Oxford University, the International Monetary Fund in Washington D.

C. Prof. von Weizsäcker is Research Fellow of the Centre for Economic Policy Research in London, the Ifo Institute for Economic Research in Munich, the Institute for the Study of Labor in Bonn. He was a Heisenberg Fellow of the German National Science Foundation and a Member of the German Scientific Council. In addition he held positions as Faculty Member of the Munich Intellectual Property Law Center at the Max Planck Institute for Intellectual Property and Tax Law, as Member of the Managing Board of the Institute for Mittelstand-Research in Mannheim, as Board Member of the Carl von Linde Academy in Munich, he has published numerous books and articles in the fields of public economics, population economics, the economics of education. Robert K. von Weizsäcker is an International Correspondence Chess Grandmaster. In the Correspondence Chess Olympiad in 2008 he won both the individual gold medal. From 2007 to 2011 he has been President of the German Chess Federation. Robert von Weizsäcker holds an international Amateur Radio license with the call sign DL1BOB.

Official website of Department of Economics at TUM Official Website of Technical University of Munich Max Planck Institute for Intellectual Property and Tax Law Ifo Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung Institute for the Study of Labor Centre for Economic Policy Research Website of German Chess Federation

The 2000 TCU Horned Frogs football team represented Texas Christian University in the 2000 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was led by head coach Dennis Franchione throughout the regular seasons. Gary Patterson took over as interim head coach in December. TCU played their home games in Amon G. Carter Stadium, located on campus in Fort Worth, Texas; the Horned Frogs finished the 10–2 and 7–1 in conference play to share the Western Athletic Conference championship with UTEP. LaDanian Tomlinson, Doak Walker Award