1.
Retail
–
Retail markets and shops have a very ancient history, dating back to antiquity. Retailing involves the process of selling goods or services to customers through multiple channels of distribution to earn a profit. Retailers satisfy demand is identified through a supply chain, Once the strategic retail plan is in place, retailers devise the retail mix which includes product, price, place, promotion, personnel and presentation. In the digital age, a number of retailers are seeking to reach broader markets by selling through multiple channels. Digital technologies are changing the way that consumers pay for goods. Retailing support services may include the provision of credit, delivery services. Shopping generally refers to the act of buying products, sometimes this is done to obtain final goods, including necessities such as food and clothing, sometimes it takes place as a recreational activity. Recreational shopping often involves window shopping and browsing, it not always result in a purchase. Retail shops occur in a range of types and in many different contexts - from strip shopping centres in residential streets through to large. Shopping streets may restrict traffic to pedestrians only, forms of non-shop retailing include online retailing and mail order. Retail comes from the Old French word tailler, which means to cut off, clip, pare and it was first recorded as a noun with the meaning of a sale in small quantities in 1433. Like in French, the retail in both Dutch and German also refers to the sale of small quantities of items. Also see History of merchants, History of the market place, open air, public markets were known in ancient Babylonia and Assyria. These markets typically occupied a place in the towns centre, surrounding the market, skilled artisans, such as metal-workers and leather workers, occupied premises in alley ways that led to the open market-place. These artisans may have sold wares directly from their premises, in ancient Greece markets operated within the agora, and in ancient Rome the forum. In antiquity, exchange involved direct selling, merchants or peddlers, the Phoenicians, noted for their seafaring skills, plied their ships across the Mediterranean, becoming a major trading power by 9th century BCE. The Phoenicians imported and exported wood, textiles, glass and produce such as wine, oil, dried fruit, the Phoenicians extensive trade networks necessitated considerable book-keeping and correspondence. In around 1500 BCE, the Phoenicians developed an alphabet which was much easier to learn that the complex scripts used in ancient Egypt
Retail
–
Macy's Herald Square,
New York City.
Retail
–
Fruit shop in
Naggar,
Himachal Pradesh,
India
Retail
–
San Juan de Dios Market in
Guadalajara, Jalisco
Retail
–
Inside a supermarket in
Russia
2.
Bankruptcy
–
Bankruptcy is a legal status of a person or other entity that cannot repay the debts it owes to creditors. In most jurisdictions, bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, Bankruptcy is not the only legal status that an insolvent person may have, and the term bankruptcy is therefore not a synonym for insolvency. In some countries, including the United Kingdom, bankruptcy is limited to individuals, in the United States, bankruptcy is applied more broadly to formal insolvency proceedings. In France, the cognate French word banqueroute is used solely for cases of fraudulent bankruptcy, in Ancient Greece, bankruptcy did not exist. If a man owed and he could not pay, he and his wife, children or servants were forced into debt slavery, until the creditor recouped losses through their physical labour. Many city-states in ancient Greece limited debt slavery to a period of five years, debt slaves had protection of life and limb, which regular slaves did not enjoy. However, servants of the debtor could be retained beyond that deadline by the creditor and were forced to serve their new lord for a lifetime. An exception to rule was Athens, which by the laws of Solon forbade enslavement for debt, as a consequence. The Statute of Bankrupts of 1542 was the first statute under English law dealing with bankruptcy or insolvency, Bankruptcy is also documented in East Asia. According to al-Maqrizi, the Yassa of Genghis Khan contained a provision that mandated the death penalty for anyone who became bankrupt three times, a failure of a nation to meet bond repayments has been seen on many occasions. Philip II of Spain had to declare four state bankruptcies in 1557,1560,1575 and 1596, at the edge of Europe, Egypt, Russia, and Turkey have histories of chronic default as well. For private households, it is argued to be insufficient to merely dismiss debts after a certain period and it is important to assess the underlying problems and to minimize the risk of financial distress to re-occur. In most EU Member States, debt discharge is conditioned by a partial payment obligation, in the United States, discharge is conditioned to a lesser extent. The spectrum is broad in the EU, with the UK coming closest to the US system, the Other Member States do not provide the option of a debt discharge. It is almost impossible to discharge student loan debt by filing bankruptcy, unlike most other debtors, the individual with student debt must give a series of reasons and tests to prove that the debtor could not pay the debt. If the person were to file bankruptcy, he or she is encouraged to do so under Chapter 13. In order to avoid bankruptcy, one could negotiate with the lender to lower monthly payments, student loan bankruptcy is considered a last resort. However, some find themselves being forced to file bankruptcy, as the lender refused to lower payments
Bankruptcy
–
Notice of closure attached to the door of a Computer Shop outlet the day after its parent company declared "bankruptcy" (strictly, put into administration) in the
United Kingdom
Bankruptcy
–
Insolvency
Bankruptcy
–
Bankruptcy according to
Salvation Army,
Switzerland.
Bankruptcy
–
In 2013, Detroit filed the
largest municipal bankruptcy case in U.S. history.
3.
Ann Arbor, Michigan
–
Ann Arbor is a city in the U. S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census recorded its population to be 113,934, the citys population was estimated at 117,070 as of July 2015 by the U. S. Census Bureau. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Washtenaw County, the city is also part of the larger Detroit–Ann Arbor–Flint, MI Combined Statistical Area with a population of 5,318,744. Ann Arbor was founded in 1824, named for wives of the villages founders, the University of Michigan moved from Detroit to Ann Arbor in 1837, and the city grew at a rapid rate in the early to mid-20th century. During the 1960s and 1970s, the city gained a reputation as a center for left-wing politics, Ann Arbor became a focal point for political activism and anti-Vietnam War movement, as well as various student movements. Ann Arbor is home to the University of Michigan, one of the foremost research universities in the United States, the university shapes Ann Arbors economy significantly as it employs about 30,000 workers, including about 12,000 in the medical center. The citys economy is centered on high technology, with several companies drawn to the area by the universitys research and development infrastructure. In about 1774, the Potawatomi founded two villages in the area of what is now Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor was founded in 1824 by land speculators John Allen and Elisha Walker Rumsey. On 25 May 1824, the plat was registered with Wayne County as Annarbour. Allen and Rumsey decided to name it for their wives, both named Ann, and for the stands of Bur Oak in the 640 acres of land purchased for $800 from the federal government at $1.25 per acre. The local Ojibwa named the settlement kaw-goosh-kaw-nick, after the sound of Allens sawmill, Ann Arbor became the seat of Washtenaw County in 1827, and was incorporated as a village in 1833. The Ann Arbor Land Company, a group of speculators, set aside 40 acres of undeveloped land and offered it to the state of Michigan as the site of the state capital, but lost the bid to Lansing. In 1837, the property was accepted instead as the site of the University of Michigan, since the universitys establishment in the city in 1837, the histories of the University of Michigan and Ann Arbor have been closely linked. Throughout the 1840s and the 1850s settlers continued to come to Ann Arbor, while the earlier settlers were primarily of British ancestry, the newer settlers also consisted of Germans, Irish, and African-Americans. In 1851, Ann Arbor was chartered as a city, though the city showed a drop in population during the Depression of 1873. It was not until the early 1880s that Ann Arbor again saw robust growth, with new immigrants coming from Greece, Italy, Russia, Ann Arbor saw increased growth in manufacturing, particularly in milling. Ann Arbors Jewish community also grew after the turn of the 20th century, during the 1960s and 1970s, the city gained a reputation as an important center for liberal politics. Ann Arbor also became a locus for left-wing activism and anti-Vietnam War movement, during the ensuing 15 years, many countercultural and New Left enterprises sprang up and developed large constituencies within the city
Ann Arbor, Michigan
–
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
–
A view of Ann Arbor looking east toward Liberty and State streets, showing the
Burton Memorial Tower,
Michigan Theater, the former
Borders bookstore No. 1, and several buildings of the University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
–
South University Avenue caters to young people.
4.
Michigan
–
Michigan /ˈmɪʃᵻɡən/ is a state in the Great Lakes and Midwestern regions of the United States. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, Michigan is the tenth most populous of the 50 United States, with the 11th most extensive total area. Its capital is Lansing, and its largest city is Detroit, Michigan is the only state to consist of two peninsulas. The Lower Peninsula, to which the name Michigan was originally applied, is noted to be shaped like a mitten. The Upper Peninsula is separated from the Lower Peninsula by the Straits of Mackinac, the two peninsulas are connected by the Mackinac Bridge. The state has the longest freshwater coastline of any political subdivision in the world, being bounded by four of the five Great Lakes, as a result, it is one of the leading U. S. states for recreational boating. Michigan also has 64,980 inland lakes and ponds, a person in the state is never more than six miles from a natural water source or more than 85 miles from a Great Lakes shoreline. What is now the state of Michigan was first settled by Native American tribes before being colonized by French explorers in the 17th century, the area was organized as part of the larger Northwest Territory until 1800, when western Michigan became part of the Indiana Territory. Eventually, in 1805, the Michigan Territory was formed, which lasted until it was admitted into the Union on January 26,1837, the state of Michigan soon became an important center of industry and trade in the Great Lakes region and a popular immigrant destination. Though Michigan has come to develop an economy, it is widely known as the center of the U. S. automotive industry. When the first European explorers arrived, the most populous tribes were Algonquian peoples, which include the Anishinaabe groups of Ojibwe, Odaawaa/Odawa, the three nations co-existed peacefully as part of a loose confederation called the Council of Three Fires. The Ojibwe, whose numbers are estimated to have been between 25,000 and 35,000, were the largest, French voyageurs and coureurs des bois explored and settled in Michigan in the 17th century. The first Europeans to reach what became Michigan were those of Étienne Brûlés expedition in 1622, the first permanent European settlement was founded in 1668 on the site where Père Jacques Marquette established Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan as a base for Catholic missions, missionaries in 1671–75 founded outlying stations at Saint Ignace and Marquette. Jesuit missionaries were received by the areas Indian populations, with relatively few difficulties or hostilities. In 1679, Robert Cavelier, Sieur de la Salle built Fort Miami at present-day St. Joseph, in 1691, the French established a trading post and Fort St. Joseph along the St. Joseph River at the present day city of Niles. The hundred soldiers and workers who accompanied Cadillac built a fort enclosing one arpent, cadillacs wife, Marie Thérèse Guyon, soon moved to Detroit, becoming one of the first European women to settle in the Michigan wilderness. The town quickly became a major fur-trading and shipping post, the Église de Saint-Anne was founded the same year
Michigan
–
Père Marquette and the Indians (1869), Wilhelm Lamprecht
Michigan
–
Flag
Michigan
–
Approximate area of Michigan highlighted in
Guillaume de L'Isle 's 1718 map
Michigan
–
Lumbering pines in the late 1800s
5.
United States
–
Forty-eight of the fifty states and the federal district are contiguous and located in North America between Canada and Mexico. The state of Alaska is in the northwest corner of North America, bordered by Canada to the east, the state of Hawaii is an archipelago in the mid-Pacific Ocean. The U. S. territories are scattered about the Pacific Ocean, the geography, climate and wildlife of the country are extremely diverse. At 3.8 million square miles and with over 324 million people, the United States is the worlds third- or fourth-largest country by area, third-largest by land area. It is one of the worlds most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations, paleo-Indians migrated from Asia to the North American mainland at least 15,000 years ago. European colonization began in the 16th century, the United States emerged from 13 British colonies along the East Coast. Numerous disputes between Great Britain and the following the Seven Years War led to the American Revolution. On July 4,1776, during the course of the American Revolutionary War, the war ended in 1783 with recognition of the independence of the United States by Great Britain, representing the first successful war of independence against a European power. The current constitution was adopted in 1788, after the Articles of Confederation, the first ten amendments, collectively named the Bill of Rights, were ratified in 1791 and designed to guarantee many fundamental civil liberties. During the second half of the 19th century, the American Civil War led to the end of slavery in the country. By the end of century, the United States extended into the Pacific Ocean. The Spanish–American War and World War I confirmed the status as a global military power. The end of the Cold War and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 left the United States as the sole superpower. The U. S. is a member of the United Nations, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Organization of American States. The United States is a developed country, with the worlds largest economy by nominal GDP. It ranks highly in several measures of performance, including average wage, human development, per capita GDP. While the U. S. economy is considered post-industrial, characterized by the dominance of services and knowledge economy, the United States is a prominent political and cultural force internationally, and a leader in scientific research and technological innovations. In 1507, the German cartographer Martin Waldseemüller produced a map on which he named the lands of the Western Hemisphere America after the Italian explorer and cartographer Amerigo Vespucci
United States
–
Native Americans meeting with Europeans, 1764
United States
–
Flag
United States
–
The signing of the
Mayflower Compact, 1620.
United States
–
The
Declaration of Independence: the
Committee of Five presenting their draft to the
Second Continental Congress in 1776
6.
Chairman
–
The chairman is the highest officer of an organized group such as a board, a committee, or a deliberative assembly. The person holding the office is elected or appointed by the members of the group. The chair presides over meetings of the group and conducts its business in an orderly fashion. When the group is not in session, the officers duties include acting as its head, its representative to the outside world. In some organizations, this position is called president, in others, where a board appoints a president. Other terms sometimes used for the office and its holder include chair, chairperson, chairwoman, presiding officer, president, moderator, facilitator, the chairman of a parliamentary chamber is often called the speaker. The term chair is used in lieu of chairman, in response to criticisms that using chairman is sexist. In his 1992 State of the Union address, then-U. S, president George H. W. Bush used chairman for men and chair for women. A1994 Canadian study found the Toronto Star newspaper referring to most presiding men as chairman, the Chronicle of Higher Education uses chairman for men and chairperson for women. An analysis of the British National Corpus found chairman used 1,142 times, chairperson 130 times, the National Association of Parliamentarians does not approve using chairperson. In World Schools Style debating, male chairs are called Mr. Chairman, the FranklinCovey Style Guide for Business and Technical Communication, as well as the American Psychological Association style guide, advocate using chair or chairperson, rather than chairman. The Oxford Dictionary of American Usage and Style suggests that the forms are gaining ground. It advocates using chair to refer both to men and to women, the word chair can refer to the place from which the holder of the office presides, whether on a chair, at a lectern, or elsewhere. During meetings, the person presiding is said to be in the chair and is referred to as the chair. Major dictionaries state that the word derives from chair and man, some authorities, however, including Riddicks Rules of Procedure, suggest that the second part of chairman derives from the Latin manus, and thus claim gender-neutrality for the word. Vladimir Lenin, for example, officially functioned as the head of Soviet Russia not as tsar or as president, note in particular the popular standard method for referring to Mao Zedong, Chairman Mao. In the absence of the chairman and vice chairman, groups sometimes elect a chairman pro tempore to fill the role for a single meeting. In some organizations that have titles, deputy chairman ranks higher than vice chairman, as there are often multiple vice chairs
Chairman
–
Chairman of a Swedish and American society of relatives of over 5000 members, in
Stockholm in 2015 with the society's banner flying
7.
Books
–
A book is a set of written, printed, illustrated, or blank sheets, made of paper, parchment, or other materials, fastened together to hinge at one side, with text and/or images printed in ink. A single sheet within a book is a leaf, and each side of a leaf is a page, a set of text-filled or illustrated pages produced in electronic format for reading on a computer screen, smartphone or e-reader device is known as an electronic book, or e-book. The term books may refer the body of works of literature. In library and information science, a book is called a monograph, to distinguish it from serial periodicals such as magazines, journals, in novels and sometimes other types of books, a book may be divided into several large sections, also called books. An avid reader or collector of books or a lover is a bibliophile or colloquially. A shop where books are bought and sold is a bookshop or bookstore, Books are also sold in some department stores, drugstores and newspaper vendors. Books can also be borrowed from libraries, google has estimated that as of 2010, approximately 130,000,000 distinct titles had been published. In some wealthier nations, printed books are giving way to the usage of electronic or e-books, the word book comes from Old English bōc, which in turn comes from the Germanic root *bōk-, cognate to beech. Similarly, in Slavic languages буква is cognate with beech, in Russian and in Serbian and Macedonian, the word букварь or буквар refers specifically to a primary school textbook that helps young children master the techniques of reading and writing. It is thus conjectured that the earliest Indo-European writings may have been carved on beech wood, similarly, the Latin word codex, meaning a book in the modern sense, originally meant block of wood. When writing systems were created in ancient civilizations, a variety of objects, such as stone, clay, tree bark, metal sheets, the study of such inscriptions forms a major part of history. The study of inscriptions is known as epigraphy, the Ancient Egyptians would often write on papyrus, a plant grown along the Nile River. At first the words were not separated from other and there was no punctuation. Texts were written right to left, left to right. The technical term for that last type of writing is boustrophedon, a tablet might be defined as a physically robust writing medium, suitable for casual transport and writing. See also stylus, the instrument used to write on a tablet, clay tablets were flattened and mostly dry pieces of clay that could be easily carried, and impressed with a stylus. They were used as a medium, especially for writing in cuneiform, throughout the Bronze Age. Tablets were used by traders to record sales of such as bushels of grain
Books
–
Books
Books
–
Sumerian language cuneiform script
clay tablet, 2400–2200 BC
Books
–
Egyptian papyrus showing the god
Osiris and the weighing of the heart.
Books
–
A Chinese
bamboo book meets the modern definition of Codex
8.
Maps
–
A map is a symbolic depiction emphasizing relationships between elements of some space, such as objects, regions, or themes. Many maps are static, fixed to paper or some other durable medium, although the earliest maps known are of the heavens, geographic maps of territory have a very long tradition and exist from ancient times. The word map comes from the medieval Latin Mappa mundi, wherein mappa meant napkin or cloth, thus, map became the shortened term referring to a two-dimensional representation of the surface of the world. Cartography or map-making is the study and practice of crafting representations of the Earth upon a flat surface, in addition to location information maps may also be used to portray contour lines indicating constant values of elevation, temperature, rainfall, etc. The orientation of a map is the relationship between the directions on the map and the compass directions in reality. The word orient is derived from Latin oriens, meaning East, in the Middle Ages many maps, including the T and O maps, were drawn with East at the top. Today, the most common – but far from universal – cartographic convention is that North is at the top of a map, several kinds of maps are often traditionally not oriented with North at the top, Maps from non-Western traditions are oriented a variety of ways. Old maps of Edo show the Japanese imperial palace as the top, labels on the map are oriented in such a way that you cannot read them properly unless you put the imperial palace above your head. Medieval European T and O maps such as the Hereford Mappa Mundi were centred on Jerusalem with East at the top, indeed, prior to the reintroduction of Ptolemys Geography to Europe around 1400, there was no single convention in the West. Portolan charts, for example, are oriented to the shores they describe, Maps of cities bordering a sea are often conventionally oriented with the sea at the top. Route and channel maps have traditionally been oriented to the road or waterway they describe, polar maps of the Arctic or Antarctic regions are conventionally centred on the pole, the direction North would be towards or away from the centre of the map, respectively. Typical maps of the Arctic have 0° meridian towards the bottom of the page, reversed maps, also known as Upside-Down maps or South-Up maps, reverse the North is up convention and have south at the top. Buckminster Fullers Dymaxion maps are based on a projection of the Earths sphere onto an icosahedron, the resulting triangular pieces may be arranged in any order or orientation. Modern digital GIS maps such as ArcMap typically project north at the top of the map, compass decimal degrees can be converted to math degrees by subtracting them from 450, if the answer is greater than 360, subtract 360. The scale statement may be taken as exact when the region mapped is small enough for the curvature of the Earth to be neglected, over larger regions where the curvature cannot be ignored we must use map projections from the curved surface of the Earth to the plane. Thus for map projections we must introduce the concept of point scale, which is a function of position, although the scale statement is nominal it is usually accurate enough for all but the most precise of measurements. Large scale maps, say 1,10,000, cover relatively small regions in detail and small scale maps, say 1,10,000,000, cover large regions such as nations, continents. The large/small terminology arose from the practice of writing scales as numerical fractions, there is no exact dividing line between large and small but 1/100,000 might well be considered as a medium scale
Maps
–
World map (2004,
CIA World Factbook)
Maps
–
World map (1689,
Amsterdam)
Maps
–
A celestial map from the 17th century, by the cartographer
Frederik de Wit
Maps
–
The
Hereford Mappa Mundi from about 1300,
Hereford Cathedral, England, is a classic "T-O" map with Jerusalem at centre, east toward the top, Europe the bottom left and Africa on the right.
9.
CDs
–
Compact disc is a digital optical disc data storage format released in 1982 and co-developed by Philips and Sony. The format was developed to store and play only sound recordings but was later adapted for storage of data. The first commercially available Audio CD player, the Sony CDP-101, was released October 1982 in Japan, standard CDs have a diameter of 120 millimetres and can hold up to about 80 minutes of uncompressed audio or about 700 MiB of data. The Mini CD has various diameters ranging from 60 to 80 millimetres, they are used for CD singles, storing up to 24 minutes of audio. At the time of the introduction in 1982, a CD could store much more data than a personal computer hard drive. By 2010, hard drives commonly offered as much space as a thousand CDs. In 2004, worldwide sales of audio CDs, CD-ROMs and CD-Rs reached about 30 billion discs, by 2007,200 billion CDs had been sold worldwide. In 2014, revenues from digital music services matched those from physical format sales for the first time. American inventor James T. Russell has been credited with inventing the first system to record information on an optical transparent foil that is lit from behind by a high-power halogen lamp. Russells patent application was first filed in 1966, and he was granted a patent in 1970, following litigation, Sony and Philips licensed Russells patents in the 1980s. The compact disc is an evolution of LaserDisc technology, where a laser beam is used that enables the high information density required for high-quality digital audio signals. Prototypes were developed by Philips and Sony independently in the late 1970s, although originally dismissed by Philips Research management as a trivial pursuit, the CD became the primary focus for Philips as the LaserDisc format struggled. In 1979, Sony and Philips set up a joint task force of engineers to design a new audio disc. After a year of experimentation and discussion, the Red Book CD-DA standard was published in 1980, after their commercial release in 1982, compact discs and their players were extremely popular. Despite costing up to $1,000, over 400,000 CD players were sold in the United States between 1983 and 1984, by 1988 CD sales in the United States surpassed those of vinyl LPs, and by 1992 CD sales surpassed those of prerecorded music cassette tapes. The success of the disc has been credited to the cooperation between Philips and Sony, who came together to agree upon and develop compatible hardware. The unified design of the disc allowed consumers to purchase any disc or player from any company. In 1974, L. However, due to the performance of the analog format
CDs
–
The pits in a CD are 500
nm wide, between 830 nm and 3,000 nm long and 150 nm deep
CDs
–
Compact disc
CDs
–
700
MiB CD-R next to a
mechanical pencil
10.
DVDs
–
DVD is a digital optical disc storage format invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. The medium can store any kind of data and is widely used for software. DVDs offer higher capacity than compact discs while having the same dimensions. Pre-recorded DVDs are mass-produced using molding machines that physically stamp data onto the DVD, such discs are a form of DVD-ROM because data can only be read and not written or erased. Blank recordable DVD discs can be recorded using a DVD recorder. Rewritable DVDs can be recorded and erased many times, DVDs containing other types of information may be referred to as DVD data discs. The OED also states that in 1995, The companies said the name of the format will simply be DVD. Toshiba had been using the name ‘digital video disk’, but that was switched to ‘digital versatile disk’ after computer companies complained that it left out their applications, Digital versatile disc is the explanation provided in a DVD Forum Primer from 2000 and in the DVD Forums mission statement. There were several formats developed for recording video on optical discs before the DVD, Optical recording technology was invented by David Paul Gregg and James Russell in 1958 and first patented in 1961. A consumer optical disc data format known as LaserDisc was developed in the United States and it used much larger discs than the later formats. CD Video used analog video encoding on optical discs matching the established standard 120 mm size of audio CDs, Video CD became one of the first formats for distributing digitally encoded films in this format, in 1993. In the same year, two new optical disc formats were being developed. By the time of the launches for both formats in January 1995, the MMCD nomenclature had been dropped, and Philips and Sony were referring to their format as Digital Video Disc. Representatives from the SD camp asked IBM for advice on the system to use for their disc. Alan E. Bell, a researcher from IBMs Almaden Research Center, got that request and this group was referred to as the Technical Working Group, or TWG. On August 14,1995, an ad hoc group formed from five computer companies issued a release stating that they would only accept a single format. The TWG voted to both formats unless the two camps agreed on a single, converged standard. They recruited Lou Gerstner, president of IBM, to pressure the executives of the warring factions, as a result, the DVD specification provided a storage capacity of 4.7 GB for a single-layered, single-sided disc and 8.5 GB for a dual-layered, single-sided disc
DVDs
DVDs
–
Backside of a
Sony DADC -manufactured DVD
DVDs
–
A DVD burner drive for a PC
DVDs
–
Sony Rewritable DVD
11.
Calendars
–
A calendar is a system of organizing days for social, religious, commercial or administrative purposes. This is done by giving names to periods of time, typically days, weeks, months, a date is the designation of a single, specific day within such a system. A calendar is also a record of such a system. A calendar can also mean a list of planned events, such as a calendar or a partly or fully chronological list of documents. Periods in a calendar are usually, though not necessarily, synchronized with the cycle of the sun or the moon. The most common type of calendar was the lunisolar calendar. Latin calendarium meant account book, register, the Latin term was adopted in Old French as calendier and from there in Middle English as calender by the 13th century. The course of the Sun and the Moon are the most evident forms of timekeeping, nevertheless, the Roman calendar contained very ancient remnants of a pre-Etruscan 10-month solar year. The first recorded calendars date to the Bronze Age, dependent on the development of writing in the Ancient Near East, a larger number of calendar systems of the Ancient Near East becomes accessible in the Iron Age, based on the Babylonian calendar. This includes the calendar of the Persian Empire, which in turn gave rise to the Zoroastrian calendar as well as the Hebrew calendar, calendars in antiquity were lunisolar, depending on the introduction of intercalary months to align the solar and the lunar years. This was mostly based on observation, but there may have been attempts to model the pattern of intercalation algorithmically. The Roman calendar was reformed by Julius Caesar in 45 BC, the Julian calendar was no longer dependent on the observation of the new moon but simply followed an algorithm of introducing a leap day every four years. This created a dissociation of the month from the lunation. The Islamic calendar is based on the prohibition of intercalation by Muhammad and this resulted in an observationally based lunar calendar that shifts relative to the seasons of the solar year. The first calendar reform of the modern era was the Gregorian calendar. Such ideas are mooted from time to time but have failed to gain traction because of the loss of continuity, massive upheaval in implementation, a full calendar system has a different calendar date for every day. Thus the week cycle is by not a full calendar system. The simplest calendar system just counts time periods from a reference date and this applies for the Julian day or Unix Time
Calendars
–
Sun and
Moon, Schedel's Nuremberg Chronicle, 1493
Calendars
–
Calendar of the
Qahal, 5591 (1831)
Calendars
–
A Hindu
almanac (pancanga) for the year 1871/2 from
Rajasthan (Library of Congress, Asian Division)
Calendars
–
The Payment of the Tithes (The tax-collector), also known as Village Lawyer. Signed
.P.BREVGHEL
12.
Magazines
–
A magazine is a publication, usually a periodical publication, which is printed or electronically published. Magazines are generally published on a schedule and contain a variety of content. They are generally financed by advertising, by a price, by prepaid subscriptions. At its root, the magazine refers to a collection or storage location. In the case of written publication, it is a collection of written articles and this explains why magazine publications share the word root with gunpowder magazines, artillery magazines, firearms magazines, and, in French, retail stores such as department stores. By definition, a magazine paginates with each issue starting at three, with the standard sizing being 8 3/8 ×10 7/8 inches. However, in the sense a journal has continuous pagination throughout a volume. Some professional or trade publications are also peer-reviewed, an example being the Journal of Accountancy, academic or professional publications that are not peer-reviewed are generally professional magazines. That a publication calls itself a journal does not make it a journal in the technical sense, magazines can be distributed through the mail, through sales by newsstands, bookstores, or other vendors, or through free distribution at selected pick-up locations. The subscription business models for distribution fall into three main categories. In this model, the magazine is sold to readers for a price, either on a basis or by subscription. Paid circulation allows for defined readership statistics and this means that there is no cover price and issues are given away, for example in street dispensers, airline, or included with other products or publications. Because this model involves giving issues away to unspecific populations, the statistics only entail the number of issues distributed and this is the model used by many trade magazines distributed only to qualifying readers, often for free and determined by some form of survey. This allows a level of certainty that advertisements will be received by the advertisers target audience. This latter model was used before the rise of the World Wide Web and is still employed by some titles. For example, in the United Kingdom, a number of computer-industry magazines use this model, including Computer Weekly and Computing, for the global media industry, an example would be VideoAge International. The earliest example of magazines was Erbauliche Monaths Unterredungen, a literary and philosophy magazine, the Gentlemans Magazine, first published in 1731, in London was the first general-interest magazine. Edward Cave, who edited The Gentlemans Magazine under the pen name Sylvanus Urban, was the first to use the term magazine, founded by Herbert Ingram in 1842, The Illustrated London News was the first illustrated magazine
Magazines
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Journalism
Magazines
–
German Printmagazines
Magazines
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Magazine stand, Sweden 1941
13.
Board game
–
A board game is a tabletop game that involves counters or pieces moved or placed on a pre-marked surface or board, according to a set of rules. Some games are based on strategy, but many contain an element of chance. Games usually have a goal that a player aims to achieve, early board games represented a battle between two armies, and most modern board games are still based on defeating opposing players in terms of counters, winning position, or accrual of points. There are many varieties of board games and their representation of real-life situations can range from having no inherent theme, like checkers, to having a specific theme and narrative, like Cluedo. Board games have been played in most cultures and societies throughout history, the Pilgrims and Puritans of New England frowned on game playing and viewed dice as instruments of the devil. In Thoughts on Lotteries Thomas Jefferson wrote, Almost all these pursuits of chance produce something useful to society, but there are some which produce nothing, and endanger the well-being of the individuals engaged in them or of others depending on them. Such are games with cards, dice, billiards, etc. and suppress the pursuit altogether, there are some other games of chance, useful on certain occasions, and injurious only when carried beyond their useful bounds. Such are insurances, lotteries, raffles, etc and these they do not suppress, but take their regulation under their own discretion. As the US shifted from agrarian to urban living in the century, greater leisure time. The American home, once the center of production, became the locus of entertainment, enlightenment. Children were encouraged to board games that developed literacy skills. The earliest board games published in the United States were based upon Christian morality, the Mansion of Happiness, for example, sent players along a path of virtues and vices that led to the Mansion of Happiness. The missionaries are cast in white as the symbol of innocence, temperance, and hope while the pope and pagan are cast in black, the color of gloom of error, and. grief at the daily loss of empire. Commercially produced board games in the century were monochrome prints laboriously hand-colored by teams of low-paid young factory women. Advances in paper making and printmaking during the period enabled the production of relatively inexpensive board games. The most significant advance was the development of chromolithography, an achievement that made bold. Games cost as little as US$.25 for a small boxed card game to $3.00 for more elaborate games, American Protestants believed a virtuous life led to success, but the belief was challenged mid-century when Americans embraced materialism and capitalism. The accumulation of material goods was viewed as a divine blessing, in 1860, The Checkered Game of Life rewarded players for mundane activities such as attending college, marrying, and getting rich
Board game
–
The modern American board game
Monopoly is licensed in 103 countries and printed in 37 languages.
Board game
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Men Playing Board Games, from The Sougandhika Parinaya Manuscript (1821)
Board game
–
Woman Playing Go,
Astana Cemetery,
Turpan (c. 744)
Board game
–
Senet is among the oldest known board games.
14.
Encyclopedias
–
An encyclopedia or encyclopaedia is a type of reference work or compendium holding a comprehensive summary of information from either all branches of knowledge or a particular branch of knowledge. Encyclopedias are divided into articles or entries, which are usually accessed alphabetically by article name, Encyclopedia entries are longer and more detailed than those in most dictionaries. Encyclopedias have existed for around 2,000 years, the oldest still in existence, AD77 by Pliny the Elder and was not fully revised at the time of his death in AD79. The modern encyclopedia evolved out of dictionaries around the 17th century, some modern encyclopedias, such as Wikipedia, are often electronic and freely available. Together, the phrase literally translates as complete instruction or complete knowledge, one of the oldest vernacular uses was by François Rabelais in his Pantagruel in 1532. Several encyclopedias have names that include the suffix -pedia, e. g. Banglapedia, in British usage, the spellings encyclopedia and encyclopaedia are both current. In American usage, only the former is commonly used, the spelling encyclopædia—with the æ ligature—was frequently used in the 19th century and is increasingly rare, although it is retained in product titles such as Encyclopædia Britannica and others. The Oxford English Dictionary records encyclopædia and encyclopaedia as equal alternatives, websters Third New International Dictionary features encyclopedia as the main headword and encyclopaedia as a minor variant. In addition, cyclopedia and cyclopaedia are now rarely used shortened forms of the word originating in the 17th century, the modern encyclopedia was developed from the dictionary in the 18th century. Historically, both encyclopedias and dictionaries have been researched and written by well-educated, well-informed content experts, a dictionary is a linguistic work which primarily focuses on alphabetical listing of words and their definitions. Synonymous words and those related by the matter are to be found scattered around the dictionary. Thus, a dictionary typically provides limited information, analysis or background for the word defined. While it may offer a definition, it may leave the reader lacking in understanding the meaning, significance or limitations of a term, and how the term relates to a broader field of knowledge. An encyclopedia is, allegedly, not written in order to convince, an encyclopedia article also often includes many maps and illustrations, as well as bibliography and statistics. General encyclopedias often contain guides on how to do a variety of things, as well as embedded dictionaries and gazetteers. There are also encyclopedias that cover a variety of topics but from a particular cultural, ethnic, or national perspective. Works of encyclopedic scope aim to convey the important accumulated knowledge for their domain, such as an encyclopedia of medicine, philosophy. Works vary in the breadth of material and the depth of discussion, some systematic method of organization is essential to making an encyclopedia usable as a work of reference
Encyclopedias
–
Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
Encyclopedias
–
Title page of " Lucubrationes..." 1541 edition, the first book to use the word encyclopedia in the title
Encyclopedias
–
Title page of
Skalich's Encyclopaedia, seu orbis disciplinarum, tam sacrarum quam prophanarum, epistemon from 1559, first to use the word encyclopaedia as a noun in the title
Encyclopedias
–
Naturalis Historiæ, 1669 edition, title page
15.
Waldenbooks
–
Waldenbooks, operated by the Walden Book Company, Inc. was an American shopping mall-based bookstore chain and a subsidiary of Borders Group. The chain also ran a game and software chain under the name Waldensoftware as well as a childrens educational toy chain under Walden Kids. In 2011 the chain was liquidated in bankruptcy, within fifteen years, it had grown to over 250 locations in leased locations within various department stores. With the increased availability of low cost paperbacks after the Second World War, in 1962, he opened his first stand-alone bookstore in Pittsburgh, by 1981, it had become the first bookstore chain to have stores in every state. In 1969, it was purchased by the Broadway Hale Stores, for the stand-alone bookstores, the company initially traded under the name Walden Books. During the 1970s, the company changed their trade name to Waldenbooks. Later in 1984, Waldenbooks itself was acquired by Kmart after Carter Hawley Hales needed to get cash to defend itself from a takeover attempt. At that time, Waldenbooks was the largest retail bookstore chain, under Kmarts ownership, Walden tried many things to expand and diversify its business. In 1985, it opened a discount book outlet chain called Readers Market by converting five existing stand-alone Waldenbooks stores, a year later, Walden discontinued the discount bookstores after determining that sales figures were not as great as first projected. In its place, Walden decided to try this concept within selected Kmart stores, in 1987, Waldenbooks acquired the U. S. Stores of the Canadian bookstore chain Coles. the book people, and gradually converted the stores to Waldenbooks. By 1990, Waldenbooks began to convert Waldenbooks & More into even larger Waldenbooks & More Books stores with a greatly expanded book selection, in 1992, Walden opened 9 book superstores under the Basset Book Shop name, ultimately these stores were converted to Borders after the merger. Kmart expanded its holdings by acquiring Borders in 1992. At that time, Kmart kept Borders and Waldenbooks separate, when Kmart decided to spin off its non-core subsidiaries in 1994, Kmart merged Waldenbooks, Brentanos and Borders to form the Borders-Walden Group. At that time, Waldenbooks had 1,216 stores in all 50 states, in 1995, the renamed Borders Group was able to buy back its stock and it was listed independently on the New York Stock Exchange. Beginning in 2004, many Waldenbooks locations were re-branded as Borders Express stores, in January 2010,200 stores, almost two thirds of the total, were closed. On July 18,2011, Borders Group filed for liquidation to close all of its remaining Waldenbooks, liquidation commenced on July 22,2011. List of defunct retailers of the United States Yahoo, Company Profile Walden Book Company Inc
Waldenbooks
–
Walden Book Company, Inc.
16.
New York Stock Exchange
–
The New York Stock Exchange, is an American stock exchange located at 11 Wall Street, Lower Manhattan, New York City, New York. It is by far the worlds largest stock exchange by market capitalization of its companies at US$19.3 trillion as of June 2016. The average daily trading value was approximately US$169 billion in 2013, the NYSE trading floor is located at 11 Wall Street and is composed of 21 rooms used for the facilitation of trading. A fifth trading room, located at 30 Broad Street, was closed in February 2007, the main building and the 11 Wall Street building were designated National Historic Landmarks in 1978. The NYSE is owned by Intercontinental Exchange, an American holding company that it also lists, previously, it was part of NYSE Euronext, which was formed by the NYSEs 2007 merger with Euronext. NYSE and Euronext now operate as divisions of Intercontinental Exchange, the NYSE has been the subject of several lawsuits regarding fraud or breach of duty and in 2004 was sued by its former CEO for breach of contract and defamation. The earliest recorded organization of securities trading in New York among brokers directly dealing with each other can be traced to the Buttonwood Agreement, previously securities exchange had been intermediated by the auctioneers who also conducted more mundane auctions of commodities such as wheat and tobacco. In 1817 the stockbrokers of New York operating under the Buttonwood Agreement instituted new reforms, after sending a delegation to Philadelphia to observe the organization of their board of brokers, restrictions on manipulative trading were adopted as well as formal organs of governance. Several locations were used between 1817 and 1865, when the present location was adopted, the invention of the electrical telegraph consolidated markets, and New Yorks market rose to dominance over Philadelphia after weathering some market panics better than other alternatives. The Civil War greatly stimulated speculative securities trading in New York, by 1869 membership had to be capped, and has been sporadically increased since. The latter half of the century saw rapid growth in securities trading. Securities trade in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries was prone to panics. The Stock Exchange Luncheon Club was situated on the floor from 1898 until its closure in 2006. The main building, located at 18 Broad Street, between the corners of Wall Street and Exchange Place, was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1978, as was the 11 Wall Street building. The NYSE announced its plans to merge with Archipelago on April 21,2005, NYSEs governing board voted to merge with rival Archipelago on December 6,2005, and became a for-profit, public company. It began trading under the name NYSE Group on March 8,2006, Wall Street is the leading US money center for international financial activities and the foremost US location for the conduct of wholesale financial services. It comprises a matrix of wholesale financial sectors, financial markets, financial institutions, the principal sectors are securities industry, commercial banking, asset management, and insurance. Prior to the acquisition of NYSE Euronext by the ICE in 2013, Marsh Carter was the Chairman of the NYSE, presently, the chairman is Jeffrey Sprecher
New York Stock Exchange
–
The New York Stock Exchange in 2012.
New York Stock Exchange
–
New York Stock Exchange
New York Stock Exchange
New York Stock Exchange
–
The Stock Exchange at 10–12 Broad Street, in 1882
17.
Australia
–
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and numerous smaller islands. It is the worlds sixth-largest country by total area, the neighbouring countries are Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and East Timor to the north, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu to the north-east, and New Zealand to the south-east. Australias capital is Canberra, and its largest urban area is Sydney, for about 50,000 years before the first British settlement in the late 18th century, Australia was inhabited by indigenous Australians, who spoke languages classifiable into roughly 250 groups. The population grew steadily in subsequent decades, and by the 1850s most of the continent had been explored, on 1 January 1901, the six colonies federated, forming the Commonwealth of Australia. Australia has since maintained a liberal democratic political system that functions as a federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy comprising six states. The population of 24 million is highly urbanised and heavily concentrated on the eastern seaboard, Australia has the worlds 13th-largest economy and ninth-highest per capita income. With the second-highest human development index globally, the country highly in quality of life, health, education, economic freedom. The name Australia is derived from the Latin Terra Australis a name used for putative lands in the southern hemisphere since ancient times, the Dutch adjectival form Australische was used in a Dutch book in Batavia in 1638, to refer to the newly discovered lands to the south. On 12 December 1817, Macquarie recommended to the Colonial Office that it be formally adopted, in 1824, the Admiralty agreed that the continent should be known officially as Australia. The first official published use of the term Australia came with the 1830 publication of The Australia Directory and these first inhabitants may have been ancestors of modern Indigenous Australians. The Torres Strait Islanders, ethnically Melanesian, were originally horticulturists, the northern coasts and waters of Australia were visited sporadically by fishermen from Maritime Southeast Asia. The first recorded European sighting of the Australian mainland, and the first recorded European landfall on the Australian continent, are attributed to the Dutch. The first ship and crew to chart the Australian coast and meet with Aboriginal people was the Duyfken captained by Dutch navigator, Willem Janszoon. He sighted the coast of Cape York Peninsula in early 1606, the Dutch charted the whole of the western and northern coastlines and named the island continent New Holland during the 17th century, but made no attempt at settlement. William Dampier, an English explorer and privateer, landed on the north-west coast of New Holland in 1688, in 1770, James Cook sailed along and mapped the east coast, which he named New South Wales and claimed for Great Britain. The first settlement led to the foundation of Sydney, and the exploration, a British settlement was established in Van Diemens Land, now known as Tasmania, in 1803, and it became a separate colony in 1825. The United Kingdom formally claimed the part of Western Australia in 1828. Separate colonies were carved from parts of New South Wales, South Australia in 1836, Victoria in 1851, the Northern Territory was founded in 1911 when it was excised from South Australia
Australia
–
Aboriginal rock art in the
Kimberley region of Western Australia
Australia
Australia
–
Portrait of Captain
James Cook, the first European to map the eastern coastline of Australia in 1770
Australia
–
Tasmania's
Port Arthur penal settlement is one of eleven UNESCO World Heritage-listed
Australian Convict Sites.
18.
New Zealand
–
New Zealand /njuːˈziːlənd/ is an island nation in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. The country geographically comprises two main landmasses—the North Island, or Te Ika-a-Māui, and the South Island, or Te Waipounamu—and around 600 smaller islands. New Zealand is situated some 1,500 kilometres east of Australia across the Tasman Sea and roughly 1,000 kilometres south of the Pacific island areas of New Caledonia, Fiji, because of its remoteness, it was one of the last lands to be settled by humans. During its long period of isolation, New Zealand developed a distinct biodiversity of animal, fungal, the countrys varied topography and its sharp mountain peaks, such as the Southern Alps, owe much to the tectonic uplift of land and volcanic eruptions. New Zealands capital city is Wellington, while its most populous city is Auckland, sometime between 1250 and 1300 CE, Polynesians settled in the islands that later were named New Zealand and developed a distinctive Māori culture. In 1642, Dutch explorer Abel Tasman became the first European to sight New Zealand, in 1840, representatives of Britain and Māori chiefs signed the Treaty of Waitangi, which declared British sovereignty over the islands. In 1841, New Zealand became a colony within the British Empire, today, the majority of New Zealands population of 4.7 million is of European descent, the indigenous Māori are the largest minority, followed by Asians and Pacific Islanders. Reflecting this, New Zealands culture is derived from Māori and early British settlers. The official languages are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language, New Zealand is a developed country and ranks highly in international comparisons of national performance, such as health, education, economic freedom and quality of life. Since the 1980s, New Zealand has transformed from an agrarian, Queen Elizabeth II is the countrys head of state and is represented by a governor-general. In addition, New Zealand is organised into 11 regional councils and 67 territorial authorities for local government purposes, the Realm of New Zealand also includes Tokelau, the Cook Islands and Niue, and the Ross Dependency, which is New Zealands territorial claim in Antarctica. New Zealand is a member of the United Nations, Commonwealth of Nations, ANZUS, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Pacific Islands Forum, and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. Dutch explorer Abel Tasman sighted New Zealand in 1642 and called it Staten Landt, in 1645, Dutch cartographers renamed the land Nova Zeelandia after the Dutch province of Zeeland. British explorer James Cook subsequently anglicised the name to New Zealand, Aotearoa is the current Māori name for New Zealand. It is unknown whether Māori had a name for the country before the arrival of Europeans. Māori had several names for the two main islands, including Te Ika-a-Māui for the North Island and Te Waipounamu or Te Waka o Aoraki for the South Island. Early European maps labelled the islands North, Middle and South, in 1830, maps began to use North and South to distinguish the two largest islands and by 1907, this was the accepted norm. The New Zealand Geographic Board discovered in 2009 that the names of the North Island and South Island had never been formalised and this set the names as North Island or Te Ika-a-Māui, and South Island or Te Waipounamu
New Zealand
–
The Waitangi sheet from the
Treaty of Waitangi
New Zealand
–
Flag
New Zealand
–
Painting of
Mount Earnslaw by John Turnbull Thomson, oil on canvas, 1888
New Zealand
–
John Key,
Prime Minister of New Zealand since 2008
19.
Singapore
–
Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, sometimes referred to as the Lion City or the Little Red Dot, is a sovereign city-state in Southeast Asia. It lies one degree north of the equator, at the tip of peninsular Malaysia. Singapores territory consists of one island along with 62 other islets. Since independence, extensive land reclamation has increased its size by 23%. During the Second World War, Singapore was occupied by Japan, after early years of turbulence, and despite lacking natural resources and a hinterland, the nation developed rapidly as an Asian Tiger economy, based on external trade and its workforce. Singapore is a global commerce, finance and transport hub, the country has also been identified as a tax haven. Singapore ranks 5th internationally and first in Asia on the UN Human Development Index and it is ranked highly in education, healthcare, life expectancy, quality of life, personal safety, and housing, but does not fare well on the Democracy index. Although income inequality is high, 90% of homes are owner-occupied, 38% of Singapores 5.6 million residents are permanent residents and other foreign nationals. There are four languages on the island, Malay, Mandarin, Tamil. English is its language, most Singaporeans are bilingual. Singapore is a multiparty parliamentary republic, with a Westminster system of unicameral parliamentary government. The Peoples Action Party has won every election since self-government in 1959, however, it is unlikely that lions ever lived on the island, Sang Nila Utama, the Srivijayan prince said to have founded and named the island Singapura, perhaps saw a Malayan tiger. There are however other suggestions for the origin of the name, the central island has also been called Pulau Ujong as far back as the third century CE, literally island at the end in Malay. In 1299, according to the Malay Annals, the Kingdom of Singapura was founded on the island by Sang Nila Utama and these Indianized Kingdoms, a term coined by George Cœdès were characterized by surprising resilience, political integrity and administrative stability. In 1613, Portuguese raiders burned down the settlement, which by then was part of the Johor Sultanate. The wider maritime region and much trade was under Dutch control for the following period, in 1824 the entire island, as well as the Temenggong, became a British possession after a further treaty with the Sultan. In 1826, Singapore became part of the Straits Settlements, under the jurisdiction of British India, prior to Raffles arrival, there were only about a thousand people living on the island, mostly indigenous Malays along with a handful of Chinese. By 1860 the population had swelled to over 80,000, many of these early immigrants came to work on the pepper and gambier plantations
Singapore
–
Raffles Square around 1900.
Singapore
–
Flag
Singapore
–
Victorious Japanese troops marching through Singapore City after the British capitulation at the
Battle of Singapore in 1942.
Singapore
–
A cheering crowd welcome the return of British forces, 1945
20.
Pacific Equity Partners
–
Pacific Equity Partners is an Australasian private equity investment firm focusing on leveraged buyout and growth capital transactions primarily in Australia and New Zealand. PEP invests across an array of industries and will invest in turnaround. PEP is based in Sydney, Australia and was founded in 1998 by Simon Pillar, Rickard Gardell, Paul McCullagh, the majority of the firms founders originally worked together at consulting firm Bain & Company. The firm has approximately AUD5.8 billion of capital under management and was among the 50 largest private equity firms, on 11 September 2015, PEP purchased New Zealand health company Manuka Health for a reported $110 million. Among the firms most notable investments are Hoyts, REDgroup Retail, Independent Liquor, Godfreys, Griffins Foods, Frucor, Peters Ice Cream and Tegel Foods
Pacific Equity Partners
–
3i Group
Pacific Equity Partners
–
Pacific Equity Partners
21.
Administration (law)
–
As a legal concept, administration is a procedure under the insolvency laws of a number of common law jurisdictions. It functions as a mechanism for insolvent entities and allows them to carry on running their business. The process – in the United Kingdom colloquially called under administration – is an alternative to liquidation, Administration is commenced by an administration order. A company in administrative receivership is operated by an administrator on behalf of its creditors, the administrator may recapitalize the business, sell the business to new owners, or demerge it into elements that can be sold and close the remainder. Most countries distinguish between voluntary and involuntary receivership, in voluntary administrative receivership, the administrator is appointed by the company directors. In involuntary administrative receivership, the administrator is appointed by a judicial court, the legal terms for these processes vary from country to country, and the processes may overlap. In Australia, an administrator, also called an insolvency practitioner, is an independent person that is formally appointed to control an insolvent companys affairs. Administrators are required to be registered liquidators since they have powers to deal with company property. The appointment of an administrator freezes any legal proceedings against the company, the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act provides mechanisms for consumer and general proposals in order to give time for an insolvent person to be able to reorganize his affairs. For insolvent companies owing more than $5 million, a more flexible regime is available under the Companies Creditors Arrangements Act, in UK law, the administration regime is governed by the Insolvency Act 1986, as amended by the Enterprise Act 2002. An administrator can be appointed without petitioning the court by the holder of a floating charge, other creditors must petition the court to appoint an administrator. The administrator must act in the interests of all the creditors, if this proves impossible he or she must work to maximise the recovery of the creditors as a whole. Only then may the administrator attempt to realise property in favour of one or more secured creditor, a firm is usually in Administration for no more than 12 months, after which an extension from the court can be produced at the courts discretion. The administrator is an officer of the court and an agent of the company and he has the power to do anything necessary or expedient for the management of the affairs, business and property of the company. This regime allowed the holder of a charge to appoint an administrative receiver to realise assets in his favour. This was felt to be too favourable to the charge holder at the expense of other creditors. A court order is issued that any form of legal or insolvency action without the courts permission. An application to the court for an order may be made by the company, the directors
Administration (law)
–
Insolvency
22.
James Pascoe Group
–
The James Pascoe Ltd Group of Companies is an Auckland-based, privately owned retail group with holdings across New Zealand and Australia. JPG owns and operates chains Pascoes the Jewellers, Stewart Dawsons and Goldmark, fashion department store Farmers, kitchen specialist Stevens, the groups three Australian businesses are jewellers Prouds the Jewellers, Angus & Coote and Goldmark, with over 460 stores across Australia in 2012. Goldmark is the brand in operation across both countries. Pascoes began as a small jeweller founded by James Pascoe in Auckland in 1906, the business has been under the direction of his granddaughter, Anne Norman and her husband David since the 1980s. Under their control, the family jeweller has turned into a retail empire encompassing eight iconic New Zealand. The Group specialises in turning around loss-making retailers, and has never sold a business, today James Pascoe Group is one of New Zealands largest businesses and employers. JPG likes to be seen as a New Zealand-focused and socially aware company, Farmers in particular raises money for charities including CanTeen and Leukaemia & Blood Cancer NZ. Siblings of both Anne & David Norman have died of leukaemia-related diseases, in response to the February 2011 Canterbury earthquake, JPG set up a 24-hour support line for all Christchurch JPG team members, and continued to pay 200 of them in full. The James Pascoe Group is larger than The Warehouse Group, with its five jewellery retailers and hundreds of stores, JPG has a large share of Australasian jewellery sales and is a global jewellery buying power. Retail leasing specialists RCG said It will make Westfield aware of their presence, Metro Commercial realty Director Nathan Male said Farmers are the anchor tenant to most shopping centres and now the Normans also control a mini-major in the form of Whitcoulls. As a group, they will have even greater negotiating power with all the major mall owners and they have been conducting collective negotiations for all their brands for some time. Pascoes the Jewellers was founded by James Pascoe at Three Lamps in Ponsonby, the company was incorporated in 1937. After the death of James Pascoe in 1966, the business was managed by a trust until Anne, while some growth throughout the North Island took place under the trust, it wasnt until Norman control that the group started expanding into the rest of the country. As of 2013 there are 37 Pascoes the Jewellers stores across New Zealand, offering the countrys largest range of jewellery, Pascoes is JPGs mid-range jeweller in New Zealand. Rivals for Pascoes the Jewellers in New Zealand include Michael Hill Jeweller, Stewart Dawsons began in 1871 as a jewellery manufacturer in Liverpool, England, founded by 22-year-old Scotsman David Stewart Dawson. Dawson opened his first retail outlet Stewart Dawson of Liverpool in 1876, due to his success in Australia, Dawson immigrated to Sydney in 1886 and founded Stewart Dawsons & Co. After opening stores in Sydney, followed by Melbourne, then Auckland in 1885 and Dunedin in 1886, the Wellington store on the corner of Lambton Quay and Willis Street is a New Zealand Historic Places Trust Category II listed building, built for Dawson in 1901. The building is known locally as Stewart Dawsons Corner, after making the company a limited liability company in 1907, Dawson sold it in 1931 to RHO Hills department store
James Pascoe Group
–
Stewart Dawsons, Farmers, and Pascoes at Westfield Queensgate
James Pascoe Group
James Pascoe Group
–
Whitcoulls Newmarket and Stevens Two Double Seven
James Pascoe Group
–
Pascoes
Riccarton
23.
Chapter 11
–
Chapter 11 is a chapter of Title 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code, which permits reorganization under the bankruptcy laws of the United States. In contrast, Chapter 7 governs the process of a liquidation bankruptcy, when a business is unable to service its debt or pay its creditors, the business or its creditors can file with a federal bankruptcy court for protection under either Chapter 7 or Chapter 11. In Chapter 7, the business operations, a trustee sells all of its assets. Any residual amount is returned to the owners of the company, in Chapter 11, in most instances the debtor remains in control of its business operations as a debtor in possession, and is subject to the oversight and jurisdiction of the court. Chapter 11 retains many of the present in all, or most. It provides additional tools for debtors as well, most importantly,11 U. S. C. §1108 empowers the trustee to operate the debtors business. In Chapter 11, unless a separate trustee is appointed for cause, Chapter 11 affords the debtor in possession a number of mechanisms to restructure its business. A debtor in possession can acquire financing and loans on favorable terms by giving new lenders first priority on the businesss earnings, the court may also permit the debtor in possession to reject and cancel contracts. Debtors are also protected from other litigation against the business through the imposition of an automatic stay, an example of proceedings that are not necessarily stayed automatically are family law proceedings against a spouse or parent. Further, creditors may file with the court seeking relief from the automatic stay, all creditors are entitled to be heard by the court. The court is responsible for determining whether the proposed plan of reorganization complies with the bankruptcy law. Chapter 11 usually results in reorganization of the business or personal assets and debts. Debtors may emerge from a chapter 11 bankruptcy within a few months or within several years, depending on the size, the Bankruptcy Code accomplishes this objective through the use of a bankruptcy plan. The debtor in possession typically has the first opportunity to propose a plan during the period of exclusivity and this period allows the debtor 120 days from the date of filing for chapter 11, to propose a plan of reorganization before any other party in interest may propose a plan. With some exceptions, the plan may be proposed by any party in interest, interested creditors then vote for a plan. If the judge approves the plan and if the creditors all agree the plan can be confirmed. If at least one class of creditors votes against the plan and thus objects, in order to be confirmed over their objection the plan must not discriminate against that class of creditors, and the plan must be found fair and equitable to that class. Upon its confirmation, the plan becomes binding and identifies the treatment of debts, if the case is dismissed, creditors will look to non-bankruptcy law in order to satisfy their claims
Chapter 11
–
Bankruptcy in the
United States
24.
Chapter 7, Title 11, United States Code
–
Chapter 7 of the Title 11 of the United States Code governs the process of liquidation under the bankruptcy laws of the United States. Chapter 7 is the most common form of bankruptcy in the United States, when a troubled business is unable to pay its creditors, it may file for bankruptcy in a federal court under Chapter 7. A Chapter 7 filing means that the business ceases operations unless those operations are continued by the Chapter 7 Trustee, a Chapter 7 trustee is appointed almost immediately, with broad powers to examine the businesss financial affairs. The Trustee generally liquidates the assets and distributes the proceeds to the creditors and this may or may not mean that all employees will lose their jobs. When a large company enters Chapter 7 bankruptcy, entire divisions of the company may be sold intact to other companies during the liquidation, the investors who took the least amount of risk prior to the bankruptcy are generally paid first. For example, secured creditors will have less risk, because the credit that they will have extended is usually backed by collateral. Secured creditors often know they will get paid first if the company declares bankruptcy, a creditor is fully secured if the value of the collateral for its loan to the debtor equals or exceeds the amount of the debt. For this reason, however, fully secured creditors are not entitled to participate in any distribution of liquidated assets that the bankruptcy trustee might make, in a Chapter 7 case, a corporation or partnership does not receive a bankruptcy discharge. An individual can receive a Chapter 7 discharge, once all assets of the corporate or partnership debtor have been fully administered, the case is closed. The debts of the corporation or partnership theoretically continue to exist until applicable statutory periods of limitations expire, individuals who reside, have a place of business, or own property in the United States may file for bankruptcy in a federal court under Chapter 7. Chapter 7, as other bankruptcy chapters, is not available to individuals who have had bankruptcy cases dismissed within the prior 180 days under specified circumstances. In a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the individual is allowed to keep certain exempt property, the value of property that can be claimed as exempt varies from state to state. Other assets, if any, are sold by the trustee to repay creditors, many types of unsecured debt are legally discharged by the bankruptcy proceeding, but there are various types of debt that are not discharged in a Chapter 7. Spousal support is not covered by a bankruptcy filing, nor are property settlements through divorce. Despite their potential non-dischargeability, all debts must be listed on bankruptcy schedules, a chapter 7 bankruptcy stays on an individuals credit report for 10 years from the date of filing the chapter 7 petition. This contrasts with a chapter 13 bankruptcy, which stays on a credit report for 7 years from the date of filing the chapter 13 petition. This may make credit less available or may make lending terms less favorable and that must be balanced against the removal of actual debt from the filers record by the bankruptcy, which tends to improve creditworthiness. Consumer credit and creditworthiness is a subject, however
Chapter 7, Title 11, United States Code
–
Bankruptcy in the
United States
25.
University of Michigan
–
The University of Michigan, frequently referred to simply as Michigan, is a public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1817 in Detroit as the Catholepistemiad, or University of Michigania,20 years before the Michigan Territory became a state, in 1821, the university was officially renamed the University of Michigan. It moved to Ann Arbor in 1837 onto 40 acres of what is now known as Central Campus, the University was a founding member of the Association of American Universities. Considered one of the foremost research universities in the United States, Michigans body of living alumni comprises more than 540,000 people, one of the largest alumni bases of any university in the world. Besides academic life, Michigans athletic teams compete in Division I of the NCAA and are known as the Wolverines. They are members of the Big Ten Conference, the University of Michigan was established in Detroit on August 26,1817 as the Catholepistemiad, or University of Michigania, by the governor and judges of Michigan Territory. Judge Augustus B. Woodward specifically invited The Rev. John Monteith and Father Gabriel Richard, Monteith became its first President and held seven of the professorships, and Richard was Vice President and held the other six professorships. Concurrently, Ann Arbor had set aside 40 acres in the hopes of being selected as the state capital, but when Lansing was chosen as the state capital, the city offered the land for a university. What would become the university moved to Ann Arbor in 1837 thanks to Governor Stevens T. Mason, the original 40 acres was the basis of the present Central Campus. The first classes in Ann Arbor were held in 1841, with six freshmen, eleven students graduated in the first commencement in 1845. By 1866, enrollment increased to 1,205 students, many of whom were Civil War veterans, Women were first admitted in 1870. U-M also became the first American university to use the method of study. Among the early students in the School of Medicine was Jose Celso Barbosa, who in 1880 graduated as valedictorian and he returned to Puerto Rico to practice medicine and also served in high-ranking posts in the government. In 1920 the university reorganized the College of Engineering and formed a committee of 100 industrialists to guide academic research initiatives. The university became a choice for bright Jewish students from New York in the 1920s and 1930s. Because of its standards, U-M gained the nickname Harvard of the West. During World War II, U-Ms research supported military efforts, such as U. S. Navy projects in proximity fuzes, PT boats, and radar jamming. After the war, enrollment expanded rapidly and by 1950, it reached 21,000, as the Cold War and the Space Race took hold, U-M received numerous government grants for strategic research and helped to develop peacetime uses for nuclear energy
University of Michigan
–
University of Michigan (1855)
Jasper Francis Cropsey
University of Michigan
–
Seal of the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
–
The Central Campus Diag, viewed from the Graduate Library, looking North
University of Michigan
–
Law Library Interior
26.
Independent bookstore
–
An independent bookstore is a retail bookstore which is independently owned. Usually, independent stores consist of only an actual store. They may be structured as sole proprietorships, closely held corporations or partnerships, cooperatives, Independent stores can be contrasted with chain bookstores, which have many locations and are owned by large corporations which often have other divisions besides bookselling. Author events at independent bookstores sometimes take the role of literary salons and independents historically supported new authors, since the rise of big chains and online booksellers, independent bookstores have been under considerable financial pressure and many have closed due to their inability to compete. Closures in the United States include Krochs and Brentanos in Chicago, Gotham Book Mart in New York, Codys Books in Berkeley, Keplers Books, Printers Inc. Two documentary films, Indies Under Fire and Paperback Dreams, explore the difficulties faced by U. S. independent bookstores in the new economy, american Booksellers Association Independent Online Booksellers Association
Independent bookstore
–
An independent bookshop in
Stoke Newington, London
Independent bookstore
–
City Lights Bookstore in San Francisco, 2010
Independent bookstore
–
Shakespeare and Company in Paris 2004
27.
Hickory Farms
–
Hickory Farms, LLC. is an American specialty foods company based in Toledo, Ohio. The company was established in 1951 when founder Richard Ransom began selling hand cut cheese at local fairs, by 1959, the company added summer sausage and opened their first retail store outside Toledo, Ohio. Today they specialize in food gift boxes and baskets of summer sausage, cheese, fruit, nuts and its owner is Modjule, LLC, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, and its private co-investors. During the holiday season, they operate shopping mall kiosks as well, in 2008, the company redesigned its packaging, logo and retails kiosks. The company also entered into a partnership with Share Our Strength, list of food companies Hickory Farms Hickory Farms Canada
Hickory Farms
–
Hickory Farms
28.
Kmart
–
Kmart Corporation is a chain of big box department stores headquartered in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, United States. The chain purchased Sears for $11 billion in 2005, forming a new corporation under the name Sears Holdings Corporation, the Kmart name was incorporated in 1916 while the first store didnt open its doors until 1962. At its peak in 2000, Kmart operated 2,171 stores including 105 Super Center locations, for the 2005 fiscal year under the new company, the Kmart store count was at 1,416 with only 55 Super Center locations. Currently, the chain is operating 734 stores with only 1 Super Center location remaining and this number will decrease further due to the previously announced closings that will take place in Q12017. It operates stores in 49 states, Puerto Rico, the U. S. Virgin Islands and it also used to operate stores in Canada, Mexico, and Eastern Europe. At the height of Kmarts popularity, the phrase Attention Kmart shoppers. Entered into the American pop psyche, appearing in films and other such as Troop Beverly Hills, Six Days Seven Nights, Rain Man, Beetlejuice, Madea Goes to Jail. Kmarts world headquarters were located in Troy, Michigan, in Metro Detroit, but since the purchase of Sears, it has relocated to Hoffman Estates, Illinois. Kmart also exists in Australia and New Zealand, although it now has no relation to the American stores except in name, in 1912, Kresge incorporated the S. S. Kresge Corporation with eighty-five stores. The company was first listed on the New York Stock Exchange on May 23,1918, during World War I, Kresge experimented with raising the limit on prices in his stores to $1. By 1924, Kresge was worth approximately $375 million and owned real estate of the value of $100 million. Early century growth remained brisk, with 257 stores in 1924 growing to 597 stores operating in 1929, Kresge retired as president in 1925. The Great Depression reduced profitability and resulted in store closings, with the reduced to 682 in 1940. After the war shopping patterns changed and many moved out of the cities into the suburbs. The Kresge company followed them and closed and merged many urban stores so that by 1954 the total number of stores in the US had declined to 616. Under the leadership of executive Harry Cunningham, S. S. Kresge Corp. opened the first Kmart store on March 1,1962, in Garden City, Michigan, just four months before the first Walmart opened. This store is still in operation as a Big Kmart store but will be closed in March 2017, eighteen Kmart stores opened that year. Kmart Foods, a chain of Kmart supermarkets, opened in that decade
Kmart
–
The exterior of the first Super Kmart Center store in
Medina, Ohio as it appears after its closure.
Kmart
–
Kmart
Kmart
–
The KDollar logo (November 2012–present)
Kmart
–
The Kresge Corporation headquarters from 1914 to 1930 (currently named the
Kales Building) in
downtown Detroit.
29.
Borders (UK)
–
Borders Ltd. aka Borders & Books etc. was established as a Borders Group subsidiary in 1998 and in 2007 became independent of the US company. In 2008 and 2009 the store numbers were reduced before the collapse of the chain and they also operated one single branch in Ireland, but closed this early in 2009. On 26 November 2009 it was announced that Borders had gone into administration, all stores closed on 24 December 2009. A typical Borders shop in the UK contained both a Paperchase stationery and Starbucks cafe concession, in addition, some branches also contained a RED5 gadget concession and GAME video games concession. The logo contained both the Books etc. logo and the Borders logo to reflect the fact that Borders UK operated two different brands, in September 2007, Borders Ltd. was acquired by Luke Johnsons London-based private equity investor Risk Capital Partners in a deal purportedly worth £20 million. Under the deal, Borders would receive an equity interest of about 17% in Bookshop Acquisitions, in January 2008, David Roche stepped down as C. E. O. of Borders and was replaced by the chains former managing director, Philip Downer. Upon his appointment, Downer called for a review of the entire company although he made it clear there were no immediate plans to further change the structure of the business. In July 2008, Borders launched an e-commerce website, in a bid to try to take back a share of internet sales of books, the beta testing of their new transactional website commenced, due for full completion before the end of the month. Borders sold eight London Books Etc shops to competitor Waterstones in August 2008 for an undisclosed sum, five Borders shops in Oxford Street, Llantrisant, Blanchardstown, Swindon and London Colney were closed in July 2009 and replaced by New Look. After July 2009, Borders was owned by Valco Capital Partners, part of Hilco, who specialise in distressed retailers. At the end of September 2009, it was announced that the majority of the remaining Books Etc. the company announced in November 2009 that it was looking for a buyer for the business following concerns that it would run out of money. The following day the Borders website stopped taking orders for books, on 26 November 2009, Reuters announced that Borders UK had entered administration, after reportedly having difficulties raising enough cash to trade through the key Christmas period. This article was withdrawn, and replaced with a corrected item reporting that the company was mulling administration. Later that day, Borders Ltd officially went into administration, initially the intention was to appoint BDO as administrators, but it developed that a conflict of interest existed. Instead, MCR were appointed by Borders owners—Valco Capital Partners, part of Hilco—as administrators, the BBC adds that MCR hired specialist liquidators Hilco to advise. A parallel strategy was applied of seeking a buyer for the chain as a going interest, on the evening of 27 November 2009, it was announced that a closing down sale would commence in all stores on the following day. During the sales, sale stock included Denby China, a separate concern bought out by Valco Capital Partners earlier in 2009, MCR, the administrators for the chain, stated an intention of seeking a buyer. However, it is reported that an attempt by Richard Joseph, co-founder of the Books Etc. chain
Borders (UK)
–
Borders on
Briggate in
Leeds,
West Yorkshire
Borders (UK)
–
Borders in
Southampton
30.
Borders (Asia Pacific)
–
It had stores internationally in New Zealand and Australia. Like its U. S. parent, it sold books, CDs, DVDs, all of the stores also had Gloria Jeans Coffee shop concessions in them. The second outlet in Singapore was opened at Parkway Parade in 2007, to pay off debt, Borders Group sold all of its Australian, New Zealand and Singaporean stores to Pacific Equity Partners in 2008. A new company called REDgroup Retail was formed, after this transaction, the Borders stores in the USA, the UK and the Asia/Pacific region were owned by three wholly independent entities. In late July 2012, Pearson Australia Group had decided to re-brand the former Borders Web site as Bookworld, chief Executive James Webber had told The Australian The Borders brand had lost its former sheen. We just believe the Borders brand has had its day, there are no stores left and globally its been in demise so we believe theres an opportunity to revitalise and move it forward. All of its customer base was migrated over to the new Bookworld Web site. On 17 February 2011, REDgroup Retail were placed into administration with Ferrier Hodgson appointed as administrators. The immediate aftermath of the announcement saw the closure of 48 Angus & Robertson stores, the day after the announcement, customers of the surviving stores were informed that gift vouchers could only be redeemed if they also spent an equivalent amount in cash. After 3 April, unused vouchers became void, on 6 April, RedGroup Retail announced that 16 of the 25 remaining Borders stores in Australia were to close within two months. The handling of the administration prompted 25 franchised Angus & Robertson stores to sever ties with RedGroup, on 2 June 2011, the administrator announced the closure of the remaining nine Borders stores, as no buyer could be found. All stores in Australia were closed by July 2011, the flagship Borders store at Wheelock Place in Singapore was suddenly closed on 16 August 2011, and was forced to clear out by 23 August 2011. Vouchers and gift cards from Borders Singapore bookstore were no longer accepted, after hearing that the Borders store at Wheelock Place is shutting down, some people tried to use their vouchers on Saturday at its other outlet at Parkway Parade. But they were not allowed to do so, the books were cleared at a sale held at Singapore Expo Hall 4B, from 10am to 10pm, from 2 September 2011 to 6 September 2011. On the last hours of its business in Singapore, shelves, signs, baskets, in total Borders had 33 stores located across Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. All have now closed due to the demise of the parent company REDgroup Retail, REDgroup Retail Borders Australia - Website
Borders (Asia Pacific)
–
Borders (Asia Pacific)
Borders (Asia Pacific)
–
The flagship Borders
Singapore store in
Wheelock Place, now closed.
Borders (Asia Pacific)
–
The remaining Borders signage at the back of Lygon Court,
Carlton in
Melbourne. This picture was taken during renovations in October 2012, preparing for iconic Carlton pasticceria, Brunetti Café, to relocate there. Borders Lygon Court operated from 2002 until 2011.
Borders (Asia Pacific)
–
Borders store in
Sydney suburb
Bondi Junction on Level 4 of
Westfield Bondi Junction, now closed.
31.
Wheelock Place
–
Wheelock Place, is a 21-floor office tower and shopping mall on Singapores Orchard Road. The building was designed by Kisho Kurokawa and completed in 1994 as Lane Crawford Place and it is now owned by Wheelock Properties, a division of Hong Kongs The Wharf. The mall has an underpass to Shaw House and ION Orchard and it was the site of Borders flagship Singapore store until its closure in 2011. List of shopping malls in Singapore Official website
Wheelock Place
–
Wheelock Place's
Orchard Road entrance with its distinctive conical glass structure.
32.
Orchard Road
–
Orchard Road, a 2.2 kilometre-long boulevard, is the retail and entertainment hub of Singapore. Often known colloquially as Orchard, the area is a major tourist attraction and it is also known as Tang Leng Pa Sat Koi and Vaira Kimadam by the Singaporean Chinese and Singaporean Tamils respectively. The Orchard Planning Area is an area as specified by the Urban Redevelopment Authority. It is part of the Central Area located within the Central Region, Orchard is bordered by Newton in the east and north, Tanglin in the west, River Valley in the south and Museum to the southeast. Orchard Road underwent a $40 million revamp in 2009, with the addition of new street lamps, planter boxes, urban green rooms, street tiling and flower totem poles, which have since been removed. Orchard Road got its name from the nutmeg, pepper and fruit orchards or the plantations that the road led to. Such plantations were common in the area in the 19th century, other sources attribute the name to Mr Orchard, a gardener and the owner of plantations which were located at the corner of present-day Scotts Road and Orchard Road. The Orchard Road area was known to Chinese Singaporeans as Tang Leng Pa Sat Koi or Tanglin Market Street. The Tamil people in Singapore gave the area the name Vaira Kimadam or Fakirs Place and they also called the area Muttu Than, in a reference to the areas hilly terrain. After more than a century as a thoroughfare, Orchard Road became a one-way street in 1974. The ever-lively street starts at the junction with Orange Grove Road which is the location of the Orchard Hotel and it has an extensive underground infrastructure, including underground pedestrian walkways between the malls running underneath the street and other streets in the vicinity. The numbers begin at Handy Road and end at Orange Grove Road, Orchard Road was already cut in the 1830s, though the new road was not named in George Colemans 1836 Map of Singapore. In the 1830s the Orchard Road area was the scene of gambier and pepper plantations, later, nutmeg plantations and fruit orchards predominated, hence its name. By 1846, the spread of houses had reached up to Tank Road, there were none on the left side and only three or four houses went past Tank Road on the right side of Orchard Road. One major sight during this period was a Dr Jun tending his garden and he had a garden and plantation at the corner of what is now Scotts Road and Orchard Road. Towards the later part of the 1840s, graveyards began to appear along the road, later a Jewish cemetery was established, it was located where Dhoby Ghaut MRT Station is now and was demolished in 1984. In the 1860s, Orchard Road had a number of private houses. Early in the 1890s, King Chulalongkorn, the then King of Siam, acquired Hurricane House in the vicinity of Orchard Road through Tan Kim Ching, the Thai Consul in Singapore
Orchard Road
–
Orchard Road
Orchard Road
–
Orchard Road was named for the orchards or plantations that the road formerly led to.
Orchard Road
–
Orchard Road, c. 1900
Orchard Road
–
The junction of Orchard Road and Scotts Road
33.
Republic of Ireland
–
Ireland, also known as the Republic of Ireland, is a sovereign state in north-western Europe occupying about five-sixths of the island of Ireland. The capital and largest city is Dublin, which is located on the part of the island. The state shares its land border with Northern Ireland, a part of the United Kingdom. It is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, with the Celtic Sea to the south, Saint Georges Channel to the south-east, and it is a unitary, parliamentary republic. The head of government is the Taoiseach, who is elected by the Dáil and appointed by the President, the state was created as the Irish Free State in 1922 as a result of the Anglo-Irish Treaty. It was officially declared a republic in 1949, following the Republic of Ireland Act 1948, Ireland became a member of the United Nations in December 1955. It joined the European Economic Community, the predecessor of the European Union, after joining the EEC, Ireland enacted a series of liberal economic policies that resulted in rapid economic growth. The country achieved considerable prosperity between the years of 1995 and 2007, which known as the Celtic Tiger period. This was halted by a financial crisis that began in 2008. However, as the Irish economy was the fastest growing in the EU in 2015, Ireland is again quickly ascending league tables comparing wealth and prosperity internationally. For example, in 2015, Ireland was ranked as the joint sixth most developed country in the world by the United Nations Human Development Index and it also performs well in several national performance metrics, including freedom of the press, economic freedom and civil liberties. Ireland is a member of the European Union and is a member of the Council of Europe. The 1922 state, comprising 26 of the 32 counties of Ireland, was styled, the Constitution of Ireland, adopted in 1937, provides that the name of the State is Éire, or, in the English language, Ireland. Section 2 of the Republic of Ireland Act 1948 states, It is hereby declared that the description of the State shall be the Republic of Ireland. The 1948 Act does not name the state as Republic of Ireland, because to have done so would have put it in conflict with the Constitution. The government of the United Kingdom used the name Eire, and, from 1949, Republic of Ireland, for the state, as well as Ireland, Éire or the Republic of Ireland, the state is also referred to as the Republic, Southern Ireland or the South. In an Irish republican context it is referred to as the Free State or the 26 Counties. From the Act of Union on 1 January 1801, until 6 December 1922, during the Great Famine, from 1845 to 1849, the islands population of over 8 million fell by 30%
Republic of Ireland
–
The
Irish Parliamentary Party was formed in 1882 by
Charles Stewart Parnell (1846–1891).
Republic of Ireland
–
Flag
Republic of Ireland
–
In 1922 a new parliament called the
Oireachtas was established, of which
Dáil Éireann became the
lower house.
Republic of Ireland
–
Éamon de Valera (1882–1975)
34.
Borders (UK) Ltd.
–
Borders Ltd. aka Borders & Books etc. was established as a Borders Group subsidiary in 1998 and in 2007 became independent of the US company. In 2008 and 2009 the store numbers were reduced before the collapse of the chain and they also operated one single branch in Ireland, but closed this early in 2009. On 26 November 2009 it was announced that Borders had gone into administration, all stores closed on 24 December 2009. A typical Borders shop in the UK contained both a Paperchase stationery and Starbucks cafe concession, in addition, some branches also contained a RED5 gadget concession and GAME video games concession. The logo contained both the Books etc. logo and the Borders logo to reflect the fact that Borders UK operated two different brands, in September 2007, Borders Ltd. was acquired by Luke Johnsons London-based private equity investor Risk Capital Partners in a deal purportedly worth £20 million. Under the deal, Borders would receive an equity interest of about 17% in Bookshop Acquisitions, in January 2008, David Roche stepped down as C. E. O. of Borders and was replaced by the chains former managing director, Philip Downer. Upon his appointment, Downer called for a review of the entire company although he made it clear there were no immediate plans to further change the structure of the business. In July 2008, Borders launched an e-commerce website, in a bid to try to take back a share of internet sales of books, the beta testing of their new transactional website commenced, due for full completion before the end of the month. Borders sold eight London Books Etc shops to competitor Waterstones in August 2008 for an undisclosed sum, five Borders shops in Oxford Street, Llantrisant, Blanchardstown, Swindon and London Colney were closed in July 2009 and replaced by New Look. After July 2009, Borders was owned by Valco Capital Partners, part of Hilco, who specialise in distressed retailers. At the end of September 2009, it was announced that the majority of the remaining Books Etc. the company announced in November 2009 that it was looking for a buyer for the business following concerns that it would run out of money. The following day the Borders website stopped taking orders for books, on 26 November 2009, Reuters announced that Borders UK had entered administration, after reportedly having difficulties raising enough cash to trade through the key Christmas period. This article was withdrawn, and replaced with a corrected item reporting that the company was mulling administration. Later that day, Borders Ltd officially went into administration, initially the intention was to appoint BDO as administrators, but it developed that a conflict of interest existed. Instead, MCR were appointed by Borders owners—Valco Capital Partners, part of Hilco—as administrators, the BBC adds that MCR hired specialist liquidators Hilco to advise. A parallel strategy was applied of seeking a buyer for the chain as a going interest, on the evening of 27 November 2009, it was announced that a closing down sale would commence in all stores on the following day. During the sales, sale stock included Denby China, a separate concern bought out by Valco Capital Partners earlier in 2009, MCR, the administrators for the chain, stated an intention of seeking a buyer. However, it is reported that an attempt by Richard Joseph, co-founder of the Books Etc. chain
Borders (UK) Ltd.
–
Borders on
Briggate in
Leeds,
West Yorkshire
Borders (UK) Ltd.
–
Borders (UK) Ltd.
Borders (UK) Ltd.
–
Borders in
Southampton
35.
Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection
–
Chapter 11 is a chapter of Title 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code, which permits reorganization under the bankruptcy laws of the United States. In contrast, Chapter 7 governs the process of a liquidation bankruptcy, when a business is unable to service its debt or pay its creditors, the business or its creditors can file with a federal bankruptcy court for protection under either Chapter 7 or Chapter 11. In Chapter 7, the business operations, a trustee sells all of its assets. Any residual amount is returned to the owners of the company, in Chapter 11, in most instances the debtor remains in control of its business operations as a debtor in possession, and is subject to the oversight and jurisdiction of the court. Chapter 11 retains many of the present in all, or most. It provides additional tools for debtors as well, most importantly,11 U. S. C. §1108 empowers the trustee to operate the debtors business. In Chapter 11, unless a separate trustee is appointed for cause, Chapter 11 affords the debtor in possession a number of mechanisms to restructure its business. A debtor in possession can acquire financing and loans on favorable terms by giving new lenders first priority on the businesss earnings, the court may also permit the debtor in possession to reject and cancel contracts. Debtors are also protected from other litigation against the business through the imposition of an automatic stay, an example of proceedings that are not necessarily stayed automatically are family law proceedings against a spouse or parent. Further, creditors may file with the court seeking relief from the automatic stay, all creditors are entitled to be heard by the court. The court is responsible for determining whether the proposed plan of reorganization complies with the bankruptcy law. Chapter 11 usually results in reorganization of the business or personal assets and debts. Debtors may emerge from a chapter 11 bankruptcy within a few months or within several years, depending on the size, the Bankruptcy Code accomplishes this objective through the use of a bankruptcy plan. The debtor in possession typically has the first opportunity to propose a plan during the period of exclusivity and this period allows the debtor 120 days from the date of filing for chapter 11, to propose a plan of reorganization before any other party in interest may propose a plan. With some exceptions, the plan may be proposed by any party in interest, interested creditors then vote for a plan. If the judge approves the plan and if the creditors all agree the plan can be confirmed. If at least one class of creditors votes against the plan and thus objects, in order to be confirmed over their objection the plan must not discriminate against that class of creditors, and the plan must be found fair and equitable to that class. Upon its confirmation, the plan becomes binding and identifies the treatment of debts, if the case is dismissed, creditors will look to non-bankruptcy law in order to satisfy their claims
Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection
–
Bankruptcy in the
United States
36.
Puerto Rico
–
Puerto Rico, officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and briefly called Porto Rico, is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the northeast Caribbean Sea. It is an archipelago that includes the island of Puerto Rico and a number of smaller ones such as Mona, Culebra. The capital and most populous city is San Juan and its official languages are Spanish and English, though Spanish predominates. The islands population is approximately 3.4 million, Puerto Ricos rich history, tropical climate, diverse natural scenery, renowned traditional cuisine, and attractive tax incentives make it a popular destination for travelers from around the world. Four centuries of Spanish colonial government transformed the ethnic, cultural and physical landscapes primarily with waves of African captives, and Canarian. In the Spanish imperial imagination, Puerto Rico played a secondary, in 1898, following the Spanish–American War, the United States appropriated Puerto Rico together with most former Spanish colonies under the terms of the Treaty of Paris. Puerto Ricans are natural-born citizens of the United States, however, Puerto Rico does not have a vote in the United States Congress, which governs the territory with full jurisdiction under the Puerto Rico Federal Relations Act of 1950. As a U. S. territory, American citizens residing on the island are disenfranchised at the level and may not vote for president. However, Congress approved a constitution, allowing U. S. citizens on the territory to elect a governor. A fifth referendum will be held in June 2017, with only Statehood, in early 2017, the Puerto Rican government-debt crisis posed serious problems for the government. The outstanding bond debt that had climbed to $70 billion or $12,000 per capita at a time with 12. 4% unemployment, the debt had been increasing during a decade long recession. Puerto Ricans often call the island Borinquen – a derivation of Borikén, its indigenous Taíno name, the terms boricua and borincano derive from Borikén and Borinquen respectively, and are commonly used to identify someone of Puerto Rican heritage. The island is also known in Spanish as la isla del encanto. Columbus named the island San Juan Bautista, in honor of Saint John the Baptist, eventually traders and other maritime visitors came to refer to the entire island as Puerto Rico, while San Juan became the name used for the main trading/shipping port and the capital city. The islands name was changed to Porto Rico by the United States after the Treaty of Paris of 1898, the anglicized name was used by the US government and private enterprises. The name was changed back to Puerto Rico by a joint resolution in Congress introduced by Félix Córdova Dávila in 1931, the ancient history of the archipelago known today as Puerto Rico is not well known. The scarce archaeological findings and early Spanish scholarly accounts from the colonial era constitute the basis of knowledge about them. The first comprehensive book on the history of Puerto Rico was written by Fray Íñigo Abbad y Lasierra in 1786, the first settlers were the Ortoiroid people, an Archaic Period culture of Amerindian hunters and fishermen who migrated from the South American mainland
Puerto Rico
–
A Taíno Village at the
Tibes Ceremonial Center.
Puerto Rico
–
Flag
Puerto Rico
–
Juan Ponce de León (
Santervás de Campos,
Valladolid, Spain), was the first governor of Puerto Rico. His grandson
Juan Ponce de León II was the first criollo governor of Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico
–
The 16th century
Fort San Felipe del Morro in San Juan, Puerto Rico
37.
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
–
Chapel Hill is a city in Orange County, North Carolina, and the home of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and UNC Health Care. The population was 57,233 at the 2010 census, Chapel Hill is the 15th-largest city in North Carolina. Chapel Hill, Durham, and Raleigh make up the three corners of the Research Triangle, so named in 1959 with the creation of Research Triangle Park, a research park between Durham and Raleigh. Chapel Hill is one of the cities of the Durham-Chapel Hill MSA. Chapel Hill sits atop a hill which was occupied by a small Anglican chapel of ease, built in 1752. The Carolina Inn now occupies the site of the original chapel, in 1819, the town was founded to serve the University of North Carolina and grew up around it. The town was chartered in 1851, and its main street, in 1968, only a year after its schools became fully integrated, Chapel Hill became the first predominantly white municipality in the South to elect an African American mayor, Howard Lee. Lee served from 1969 until 1975 and, among other things, helped establish Chapel Hill Transit, several hybrid and articulated buses have been added recently. All buses carry GPS transmitters to report their location in time to a tracking web site. Buses can transport bicycles and have wheelchair lifts, in 1993, the town celebrated its bicentennial, which resulted in the establishment of the Chapel Hill Museum. On February 10,2015, three students were killed in their home, Finley Forest Condominiums, next to the Friday Center for Continuing Education. Their next-door neighbor, Craig Stephen Hicks, was arrested by police, Chapel Hill is located in the southeast corner of Orange County. It is bounded on the west by the town of Carrboro, however, most of Chapel Hills borders are adjacent to unincorporated portions of Orange and Durham Counties rather than shared with another municipality. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has an area of 21.3 square miles. Durham, North Carolina, is the core of the four-county Durham-Chapel Hill MSA, the US Office of Management and Budget also includes Chapel Hill as a part of the Raleigh-Durham-Cary Combined Statistical Area, which has a population of 1,749,525 as of Census 2010. According to the 2010 U. S. Census,57,233 people in 20,564 households resided in Chapel Hill, the population density was 2,687 people per square mile. The racial composition of the town was 72. 8% White,9. 7% African American,0. 3% Native American,11. 9% Asian,0. 02% Pacific Islander,2. 7% some other race, and 2. 7% of two or more races. About 6. 4% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race, about 30. 6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7. 7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
–
Franklin Street, Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
–
Confederate soldier
Silent Sam,
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill by
John Wilson
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
–
A mural at Amber Alley between
Franklin and Rosemary Street
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
–
Even the fire trucks in Chapel Hill show support for
UNC.
38.
Malaysia
–
Malaysia is a federal constitutional monarchy located in Southeast Asia. Peninsular Malaysia shares a land and maritime border with Thailand and maritime borders with Singapore, Vietnam, East Malaysia shares land and maritime borders with Brunei and Indonesia and a maritime border with the Philippines and Vietnam. The capital city is Kuala Lumpur, while Putrajaya is the seat of the federal government, with a population of over 30 million, Malaysia is the 44th most populous country. The southernmost point of continental Eurasia, Tanjung Piai, is in Malaysia, located in the tropics, Malaysia is one of 17 megadiverse countries on earth, with large numbers of endemic species. Malaysia has its origins in the Malay kingdoms present in the area which, from the 18th century, the first British territories were known as the Straits Settlements, whose establishment was followed by the Malay kingdoms becoming British protectorates. The territories on Peninsular Malaysia were first unified as the Malayan Union in 1946, Malaya was restructured as the Federation of Malaya in 1948, and achieved independence on 31 August 1957. Malaya united with North Borneo, Sarawak, and Singapore on 16 September 1963 to become Malaysia, less than two years later in 1965, Singapore was expelled from the federation. The country is multi-ethnic and multi-cultural, which plays a role in politics. About half the population is ethnically Malay, with minorities of Malaysian Chinese, Malaysian Indians. The constitution declares Islam the state religion while allowing freedom of religion for non-Muslims, the government system is closely modelled on the Westminster parliamentary system and the legal system is based on common law. The head of state is the king, known as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and he is an elected monarch chosen from the hereditary rulers of the nine Malay states every five years. The head of government is the prime minister, since its independence, Malaysia has had one of the best economic records in Asia, with its GDP growing at an average of 6. 5% per annum for almost 50 years. The economy has traditionally been fuelled by its resources, but is expanding in the sectors of science, tourism, commerce. Today, Malaysia has a newly industrialised market economy, ranked third largest in Southeast Asia, the name Malaysia is a combination of the word Malay and the Latin-Greek suffix -sia/-σία. The word melayu in Malay may derive from the Tamil words malai and ur meaning mountain and city, land, malayadvipa was the word used by ancient Indian traders when referring to the Malay Peninsula. Whether or not it originated from these roots, the word melayu or mlayu may have used in early Malay/Javanese to mean to steadily accelerate or run. This term was applied to describe the current of the river Melayu in Sumatra. The name was adopted by the Melayu Kingdom that existed in the seventh century on Sumatra
Malaysia
–
"Malaysia" used as a label for the
Malay Archipelago on a 1914 map from a United States atlas
Malaysia
–
Flag
Malaysia
–
The Dutch fleet battling with the Portuguese armada as part of the
Dutch–Portuguese War in 1606 to gain control of
Malacca.
Malaysia
–
Statue of
Francis Light in the
Fort Cornwallis of Penang, marking the first step of
British expansion in the 18th century over the Malay Archipelago.
39.
Berjaya Group
–
The Berjaya Corporation Berhad is a Malaysia-based corporation which controls a wide array of businesses, including resorts, gambling, f&b and property. The shareholding change also resulted in a change in the business, direction. In 1988, following a restructuring, Berjaya Group Berhad became the holding company of Reka Pacific Berhad. Inter-Pacific Industrial Group Berhad was founded in 1967 as a manufacturer of bicycles, in 1969, the organisation gained official listing on Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad. On 26 May 2010, the Berjaya Group Berhad was added to the Morgan Stanley Capital International Malaysia Index, on 23 February 2012, the companys chairman, Vincent Tan, decided to step down from his position, passing it to his son, Robin Tan. Some of the include, Vincent Tan Berjaya Times Square Berjaya University College of Hospitality Berjaya Air Berjaya Hills Resort
Berjaya Group
–
Berjaya Group
40.
Kuala Lumpur
–
Kuala Lumpur, officially the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, or more commonly called KL is the national capital of Malaysia as well as its largest city. Being rated as an Alpha world city, Kuala Lumpur is the global city in Malaysia which covers an area of 243 km2 and has an estimated population of 1.73 million as of 2016. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an agglomeration of 7.25 million people as of 2017. It is among the fastest growing regions in South-East Asia, in terms of population. Kuala Lumpur is the seat of the Parliament of Malaysia, the city was once home to the executive and judicial branches of the federal government, but they were moved to Putrajaya in early 1999. Some sections of the judiciary still remain in the city of Kuala Lumpur. The official residence of the Malaysian King, the Istana Negara, is situated in Kuala Lumpur. Kuala Lumpur is the cultural, financial and economic centre of Malaysia due to its position as the capital as well as being a key city. Kuala Lumpur is one of three Federal Territories of Malaysia, enclaved within the state of Selangor, on the central west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Since the 1990s, the city has played host to international sporting, political and cultural events including the 1998 Commonwealth Games. Kuala Lumpur has undergone rapid development in recent decades and it is home to the tallest twin buildings in the world, the Petronas Twin Towers, which have become an iconic symbol of Malaysias futuristic development. Kuala Lumpur means muddy confluence, kuala is the point where two rivers join together or an estuary, and lumpur means mud. One suggestion is that it was named after Sungai Lumpur, it was recorded in 1824 that Sungei Lumpoor was the most important tin-producing settlement up the Klang River. It has also proposed that Kuala Lumpur was originally named Pengkalan Lumpur in the same way that Klang was once called Pengkalan Batu. Another suggestion is that it was initially a Cantonese word lam-pa meaning flooded jungle or decayed jungle, there is however no firm contemporary evidence for these suggestions other than anecdotes. It is also possible that the name is a form of an earlier. It is unknown who founded or named the settlement called Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur was originally a small hamlet of just a few houses and shops at the confluence of Sungai Gombak and Sungai Klang before it grew into a town. The miners landed at Kuala Lumpur and continued their journey on foot to Ampang where the first mine was opened
Kuala Lumpur
–
Clockwise from top left:
Petronas Twin Towers,
Petaling Street, Masjid Jamek and
Gombak /
Klang river confluence,
National Monument,
National Mosque, skyline of KL. Centre:
KL Tower
Kuala Lumpur
–
Jamek Mosque at the confluence of
Gombak (left) and
Klang (right) rivers. The earliest settlement of Kuala Lumpur developed on the eastern side of the river bank (to the right in this picture).
Kuala Lumpur
–
Japanese troops advancing up High Street (now
Jalan Tun H S Lee) in Kuala Lumpur in December 1941 during
World War II.
Kuala Lumpur
–
The Majestic Theatre on Pudu Road was an early pioneer in Kuala Lumpur's cinema scene. It was converted into an amusement park in the 1990s and demolished in 2009.
41.
Berjaya Times Square
–
Berjaya Times Square is a 48-storey,203 m twin tower, hotel, condominium, indoor amusement park and shopping centre complex in Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It was opened in October 2003 by the 4th Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato Sri Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad. The development is currently the ninth largest building in the world and has also been tagged as the worlds largest building built in a single phase. In April 2005, Borders Group opened its first franchise store here which was the largest Borders store in the world at the time, however, due to the 2010 economic downturn it has since been downsized into a smaller operation called Borders Express. In 2016, this Borders Express store was closed, the Kuala Lumpur Monorails Imbi station is linked to the building by a footbridge. Originally, the land belonged to the millionaire and philanthropist Cheong Yoke Choy before World War II and his bungalow stood there until the entire parcel of land was purchased by Berjaya Group Tan Sri Vincent Tan for the development of the current Berjaya Times Square Kuala Lumpur
Berjaya Times Square
–
Berjaya Times Square Kuala Lumpur, as seen at the Jalan Pudu-Jalan Imbi junction.
Berjaya Times Square
–
Main atrium of Berjaya Times Square Kuala Lumpur shopping mall in Feb 2011.
Berjaya Times Square
42.
Penang
–
Penang is a Malaysian state located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia, by the Malacca Strait. It has two parts, Penang Island, where the city, George Town, is located. Penang is bordered by Kedah to the north and the east, known as the Silicon Valley of the East for its industries, Penang is also one of the most urbanised and economically-important states in the country. George Town, which was founded by the British in 1786, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Penang has the third highest Human Development Index in Malaysia, after the State of Selangor and the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur. Its heterogeneous population is diverse in ethnicity, culture, language. A resident of Penang is colloquially known as a Penangite, Penang Lang or Penangkaran, the name of Penang comes from the modern Malay name Pulau Pinang, which means the island of the areca nut palm. The name Penang may refer either to Penang Island or the state of Penang, Penang is also known as the Pearl of the Orient, 东方之珠 and Pulau Pinang Pulau Mutiara. Penang is shortened as PG in English, or PP in Malay, early Malays called Penang Island Pulau Ka-Satu, meaning The First Island, because it was the largest island encountered on the trading sea-route between Lingga and Kedah. The Siamese, then the overlord of the Kedah Sultanate, referred to the island as Koh Maak, in the 15th century, Penang Island was referred to as Bīnláng Yù in the navigational drawings used by Admiral Zheng He of Ming China in his expeditions to the South Seas. The 16th-century Portuguese historian Emanuel Godinho de Eredias map of the Malay Peninsula in his Description of Malacca in 1613 referred to the island as Pulo Pinaom, archaeological evidence shows that Penang was inhabited by the Semang-Pangan of the Juru and Yen lineage. Both of these are now considered extinct cultures and they were hunter-gatherers of the Negrito stock having short stature and dark complexion, and were dispersed by the Malays as far back as 900 years ago. The last recorded aboriginal settlement in Penang was in the 1920s in Kubang Semang, the first evidence of prehistoric human settlement in what is now Penang were found in Guar Kepah, a cave in Seberang Perai in 1860. Based on mounds of sea shells with human skeletons, stone implements, broken ceramics, and food leftovers inside, other stone tools found in various places on Penang Island pointed to the existence of Neolithic settlements dating to 5,000 years ago. One of the first Englishmen to reach Penang was the navigator, sailing from Plymouth for the East Indies, James reached Batu Ferringhi in June 1592, remaining on Penang Island until September of the same year and pillaging every vessel he encountered. In the early 18th century, ethnic Minangkabaus from Sumatra opened up a settlement on Penang Island, Haji Muhammad Salleh, known as Nakhoda Intan, anchored at Batu Uban and built a seaside settlement in 1734. Later, the Arabs arrived and settled mainly at Jelutong, the Arabs then intermarried with the Minangkabau, this gave rise to the Arab-Minangkabau admixture now described as Malay, as they have assimilated into the local Malay community. However, the history of Penang only began in 1786. On 17 July that year, Captain Francis Light, an English trader-adventurer of the British East India Company, landed on Penang Island, Fort Cornwallis was later built at the site where he first set foot
Penang
–
George Town, Penang as seen from
Penang Hill, the highest point on
Penang Island.
Penang
Penang
–
Aerial evening scene of Penang Island
Penang
–
Kapitan Keling Mosque built in 1801.
43.
Mall of the Emirates
–
Mall of the Emirates is a shopping mall in Dubai. Developed and owned by Majid al-Futtaim Properties, it opened in November 2005 and is located at four on Sheikh Zayed road. The multi-level shopping mall features more than 630 retail outlets,7900 parking spaces. It has a gross leasable area of 255,489 square meters. In November 2005, it was named the Worlds Leading New Shopping Mall at the World Travel Awards in London, forbes has also recognized Mall of the Emirates as one of the top five shopping malls in Dubai. The project was launched in October 2003 at an estimated cost of AED800 million, the architecture in the three-storey complex combines Arabic and Mediterranean elements, with each level connected to a car park. The mall was designed by the American architectural firm F+A Architects, the main building contract was handled by Khansaheb, while the Ski Dubai contract was given to Pomagalski. The chair lifts in the park and the structural steel works were handled by Emirates Building System. The mall opened for business on September 28,2005 with an inauguration in November. Shops at the mall include a Carrefour hypermarket, Centrepoint, Debenhams, Harvey Nichols, Home Centre, Jashanmal and Marks & Spencer. There are outlets for books, stationery, toys, gift, fashion, art, accessories, electronics, jewellery, watches, furniture, cosmetics, perfumes, the mall also hosts a number of family leisure offerings. These include the Magic Planet family entertainment area, a 14-screen VOX Cinema, Ski Dubai, Ski Dubai is a large indoor skiing facility at Mall of the Emirates, offering snowboarding, ski lessons, childrens play area and cafe. It opened in November 2005 and houses the world’s largest indoor snow park and it is operated by Majid Al Futtaim Leisure & Entertainment. Dubai Community Theatre and Arts Centre is a non-profit, cross-community creative centre that opened in November 2006 and it is spread over 7,424 square metres on the second floor of the Mall of the Emirates. There is a theatre and rehearsal spaces, along with an arts centre housing galleries, classrooms, studios, music school, library. VOX has a 14-screen multiplex cinema at Mall of the Emirates, VOX Cinemas is owned and operated by Majid Al Futtaim Cinemas. It is located in the new area at Mall of the Emirates level 2 and consists of 24- screens including an IMAX with Laser theatre, Vox Kids, 4DX Cinema. Magic Planet is a family entertainment centre with two entertainment zones for children and young adults
Mall of the Emirates
–
Ski slope in Ski Dubai
Mall of the Emirates
–
Mall of the Emirates
Mall of the Emirates
–
Ski Dubai seen from the Sheikh Zayed Road
Mall of the Emirates
–
Looking into Ski Dubai from inside the mall
44.
Oman
–
Oman, officially the Sultanate of Oman, is an Arab country on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula. The coast is formed by the Arabian Sea on the southeast, the Madha and Musandam exclaves are surrounded by the UAE on their land borders, with the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman forming Musandams coastal boundaries. From the late 17th century, the Omani Sultanate was an empire, vying with Portugal and Britain for influence in the Persian Gulf. At its peak in the 19th century, Omani influence or control extended across the Strait of Hormuz to modern-day Iran and Pakistan, as its power declined in the 20th century, the sultanate came under the influence of the United Kingdom. Historically, Muscat was the trading port of the Persian Gulf region. Muscat was also among the most important trading ports of the Indian Ocean, the Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said has been the hereditary leader of the country since 1970. Sultan Qaboos is the current ruler in the Middle East. Oman has modest oil reserves, ranking 25th globally, nevertheless, in 2010 the UNDP ranked Oman as the most improved nation in the world in terms of development during the preceding 40 years. A significant portion of its economy is tourism and trade of fish, dates and this sets it apart from its neighbors solely oil-dependent economies. Oman is categorized as an economy and ranks as the 74th most peaceful country in the world according to the Global Peace Index. Two optically stimulated luminescence age estimates place the Arabian Nubian Complex at 106,000 years old and this supports the proposition that early human populations moved from Africa into Arabia during the Late Pleistocene. Dereaze, located in the city of Ibri, is the oldest known settlement in the area. Archaeological remains have been discovered here from the Stone Age and the Bronze Age, findings have included stone implements, animal bones, shells and fire hearths, with the latter dating back to 7615 BC as the oldest signs of human settlement in the area. Other discoveries include hand-molded pottery bearing distinguishing pre-Bronze Age marks, heavy flint implements, pointed tools, sumerian tablets refer to a country called Magan or Makan, a name believed to refer to Omans ancient copper mines. Mazoon, another used for the region, is derived from the word muzn. The present-day name of the country, Oman, is believed to originate from the Arab tribes who migrated to its territory from the Uman region of Yemen. Many such tribes settled in Oman, making a living by fishing, herding or stock breeding, from the 6th century BC to the arrival of Islam in the 7th century AD, Oman was controlled and/or influenced by three Persian dynasties, the Achaemenids, Parthians and Sassanids. A few scholars believe that in the 6th century BC, the Achaemenids exerted a strong degree of control over the Omani peninsula, Central Oman has its own indigenous so-called Late Iron Age cultural assemblage, the Samad al-Shan
Oman
–
A grave at
Al Ayn, Oman, a World Heritage site.
Oman
–
Flag
Oman
–
The
Sultan's Palace in
Zanzibar, which was once Oman's capital and residence of its Sultans.
Oman
–
The coast of
Sur, Oman.
45.
Sharjah (emirate)
–
The Emirate of Sharjah is one of the emirates of the United Arab Emirates. The emirate covers 2,590 square kilometres and has a population of over 800,000, the emirate of Sharjah comprises the capital city of Sharjah, after which it is named, and other minor towns and exclaves such as Kalba, Dibba Al-Hisn and Khor Fakkan. The emirate is a constitutional monarchy and it has been ruled by Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi since 1972. Historically the emirate was one of the wealthiest towns in the region, around 1727, the Al Qasimi clan took control of Sharjah and declared the polity independent. The first in a series of maritime skirmishes between the Al Qasimi and British vessels took place in 1797, when the British-flagged Bassein Snow was seized and released two days later. The cruiser Viper was subsequently attacked off Bushire, on 8 January 1820, Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr Al Qasimi signed the General Maritime Treaty with Britain, accepting protectorate status in order to resist Ottoman domination. Like four of its neighbours, Ajman, Dubai, Ras al-Khaimah, throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, Sharjah was an important pearl fishing port. A British marine survey of 1830 found three to four hundred boats fishing in the season, earning the ruler 100,000 Maria Theresa Dollars, in 1932, Imperial Airways established a regular air service through Sharjah, which was an overnight stop on the Eastern British Empire route. Al Mahatta Fort was built to house the airlines guests, on 2 December 1971, Sheikh Khalid bin Muhammad Al Qasimi joined Sharjah to the United Arab Emirates. On 24 January 1972 the former ruler Sheikh Saqr staged a leftist coup, having previously deposed Saqr, Sheikh Khalid had ordered the demolition of Sharjah Fort to expiate Saqrs memory. Saqr took over Khalids palace, holding him inside and in the ensuing confusion Sheikh Khalid was killed, Saqr was arrested and Khalids brother, Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi, an author and historian, came to power. In 1987 Sultans brother Abdulaziz staged a coup while Sultan was abroad, huge state debt was stated as the reason. UAE President Zayed vehemently denounced the coup, and a deal was reached for Sultan to be restored, Sultan, however, dismissed Abdulaziz quite quickly. In 1999, the Crown Prince died while on vacation in their palace in England, Sultan made the decision to testify in front of a UK court. The new Crown Prince was appointed from a branch of the family. Sharjah is the third largest emirate in the United Arab Emirates, the emirate covers 2,590 square kilometres which is equivalent to 3.3 per cent of the UAEs total area, excluding the islands. It has a population of over 800,000, the emirate of Sharjah comprises the city of Sharjah, and other minor towns and enclaves. The city of Sharjah, which overlooks the Persian Gulf, has a population of 519,000, Sharjah City borders Dubai to the south and Ajmân to the north, and the three form a conurbation
Sharjah (emirate)
–
Older residential area of Sharjah, displaying the local architecture
Sharjah (emirate)
–
Flag
Sharjah (emirate)
–
The city of
Sharjah, the largest population center in the emirate
Sharjah (emirate)
46.
Starbucks
–
Starbucks Corporation is an American coffee company and coffeehouse chain. Starbucks was founded in Seattle, Washington in 1971. As of November 2016, it operates 23,768 locations worldwide, many stores sell pre-packaged food items, hot and cold sandwiches, and drinkware including mugs and tumblers, select Starbucks Evenings locations offer beer, wine, and appetizers. Starbucks-brand coffee, ice cream, and bottled cold coffee drinks are sold at grocery stores. Starbucks first became profitable in Seattle in the early 1980s, the first Starbucks location outside North America opened in Tokyo in 1996, overseas properties now constitute almost one-third of its stores. The company opened an average of two new locations daily between 1987 and 2007, on December 1,2016, Howard Schultz announced he would resign as CEO effective in April 2017 and will be replaced by Kevin Johnson. The company took the name of the mate in the book Moby-Dick, Starbuck, after considering Cargo House. Bowker recalls that Terry Heckler, with whom Bowker owned an advertising agency, the founders brainstormed a list of words beginning with st. Someone pulled out an old mining map of the Cascade Range and saw a mining town named Starbo, Bowker said, Moby-Dick didnt have anything to do with Starbucks directly, it was only coincidental that the sound seemed to make sense. The first Starbucks store was located in Seattle at 2000 Western Avenue from 1971–1976 and this cafe was later moved to 1912 Pike Place, never to be relocated again. During this time, the only sold roasted whole coffee beans. The only brewed coffee served in the store were free samples, during their first year of operation, they purchased green coffee beans from Peets, then began buying directly from growers. In 1984, the owners of Starbucks, led by Jerry Baldwin. During the 1980s, total sales of coffee in the US were falling, by 1986, the company operated six stores in Seattle and had only just begun to sell espresso coffee. In 1987, the owners sold the Starbucks chain to former manager Howard Schultz. In the same year, Starbucks opened its first locations outside Seattle at Waterfront Station in Vancouver, British Columbia, by 1989,46 stores existed across the Northwest and Midwest and annually, Starbucks was roasting over 2,000,000 pounds of coffee. At the time of its public offering on the stock market in June 1992, Starbucks had 140 outlets, with a revenue of US$73.5 million. The companys market value was US$271 million by this time, the 12% portion of the company that was sold raised around US$25 million for the company, which facilitated a doubling of the number of stores over the next two years
Starbucks
–
The
Starbucks Center,
Seattle. The company HQ, in the old
Sears, Roebuck and Co. catalog distribution center building
Starbucks
–
Starbucks Corporation
Starbucks
–
Interior of the
Pike Place Market location in 1977
Starbucks
–
The Starbucks store at 1912 Pike Place. This is the second location of the
original Starbucks, which was at 2000 Western Avenue from 1971 to 1976.
47.
Paperchase (company)
–
Paperchase is an international chain of stationery stores which were established in the United Kingdom but has since expanded into Europe, the USA and United Arab Emirates. As well as stand alone stores, in the UK there are concessions in selected Selfridges, Paperchase was founded by two art students, Judith Cash and Eddie Pond, around 1968. In 2004 Borders Group Inc. bought out Graphite Capital, in 2007 Borders sold a majority stake in the UK and Irish division of Borders book stores to Risk Capital for £10 million. With the administration and closure of Borders in late 2009, the company lost a large presence on the British high street as there was a Paperchase concession within every UK Borders. The UK division of Borders separated from its parent and the owner of Paperchase in 2007, to replace these lost UK retail sites, Paperchase concessions were formed in a number of HMV and Waterstones stores during 2010. In 2010, an MBO was completed and the company is now owned by Primary Capital, in September 2010, Paperchase launched an online store, built on the Venda ecommerce platform. As of January 2013, the company has over 130 retail points of sale, made of up a mix of concessions and these are primarily based in the UK, with several in Dubai and a few in Denmark, The Netherlands, France and Germany. Barratts closed the Jersey store just before it went into administration, in February 2010 the company was accused of stealing artwork created by an independent British artist. An artist working for the agency Gather No Moss eventually admitted tracing the artwork
Paperchase (company)
–
Paperchase
48.
Sony Reader
–
The Sony Reader was a line of e-book readers manufactured by Sony, who invented the first commercial E Ink e-reader with the Sony Librie in 2004. It used an electronic paper display developed by E Ink Corporation, was viewable in direct sunlight, required no power to maintain a static image, and was usable in portrait or landscape orientation. Sony sold e-books for the Reader from the Sony eBook Library in the US, UK, Japan, Germany, Austria, Canada and was reported to be coming to France, Italy and Spain starting in early 2012. The Reader also could display Adobe PDFs, ePub format, RSS newsfeeds, JPEGs, some Readers could play MP3 and unencrypted AAC audio files. Compatibility with Adobe digital rights management protected PDF and ePub files allowed Sony Reader owners to borrow ebooks from lending libraries in many countries. The DRM rules of the Reader allowed any purchased e-book to be read on up to six devices, although the owner could not share purchased eBooks on others devices and accounts, the ability to register five Readers to a single account and share books accordingly was a possible workaround. On August 1,2014, Sony announced that it would not make another consumer e-reader, in late 2014, Sony released the Sony Digital Paper DPTS1 that is only aimed at professional business users that only view PDFs and it has a stylus for making notes. The PRS-500 was made available in the United States in September 2006, on 1 November 2006, Readers went on display and for sale at Borders bookstores throughout the US. Borders had a contract for the Reader until the end of 2006. From April 2007, Sony Reader has been sold in the US by multiple merchants, including Frys Electronics, Costco, Borders, the eBook Store from Sony is only available to US or Canadian residents or to customers who purchased a US-model reader with bundled eBook Store credit. On July 24,2007, Sony announced that the PRS-505 Reader would be available in the UK with a date of September 3,2008. Waterstones is the retail partner and the Reader is available at selected stores such as Argos, Sony Centres and Dixons. On October 2,2008 the PRS-700, with touch screen, on August 5,2009 Sony announced two new readers, the budget PRS-300 Pocket Edition and the more advanced PRS-600 Touch Edition. On August 25,2009 Sony announced the Reader PRS-900 Daily Edition and this features a 7 diagonal screen to compete with the Amazon Kindle DX. Its also the first to feature free 3G wireless through AT&T to access the Sony eBookstore without the need of a computer, the launch of the new models also represented the introduction of the Sony Reader into the Australian and New Zealand markets for the first time. On August 31,2011, Sony announced a new reader replacing all of their previous models, on August 16,2012, Sony announced the PRS-T1 successor, the PRS-T2. On September 4,2013, Sony announced the PRS-T2 successor, unlike previous Sony reader models, the T3 is not sold in the US, and Sony has abandoned the North American market due to competition from Amazon, B&N and Kobo. On February 6,2014, Sony announced that it was closing its North American, Europe, on August 1,2014, Sony announced that it would not release another ereader but would keep selling its remaining stock
Sony Reader
–
PRS-T2
Sony Reader
–
PRS-350
Sony Reader
–
Sony Reader PRS-650
Sony Reader
–
Reader Touch Edition
