Rendezvous with Rama is a science fiction novel by British writer Arthur C. Clarke first published in 1973. Set in the 2130s, the story involves a 50-by-20-kilometre cylindrical alien starship that enters the Solar System; the story is told from the point of view of a group of human explorers who intercept the ship in an attempt to unlock its mysteries. The novel won both the Hugo and Nebula awards upon its release, is regarded as one of the cornerstones in Clarke's bibliography; the concept was extended with several sequels, written by Gentry Lee. After an asteroid falls in Northeast Italy in 2077, creating a major disaster, the government of Earth sets up the Spaceguard system as an early warning of arrivals from deep space; the "Rama" of the title is an alien starship mistaken for an asteroid categorised as "31/439". It is detected by astronomers in the year 2131, its speed and the angle of its trajectory indicate it is not on a long orbit around the sun, but comes from interstellar space. The astronomers' interest is further piqued when they realise the asteroid has an rapid rotation period of four minutes and is exceptionally large.

It is named Rama after the Hindu god, an unmanned space probe dubbed Sita is launched from the Mars moon Phobos to intercept and photograph it. The resulting images reveal that Rama is a perfect cylinder, 20 kilometres in diameter and 50 kilometres long, completely featureless, making this humankind's first encounter with an alien spacecraft; the solar survey vessel Endeavour is sent to study Rama, as it is the only ship close enough to do so in the brief period Rama will spend in the solar system. Endeavour manages to rendezvous with Rama one month after it first comes to Earth's attention, when the alien ship is inside Venus's orbit; the crew, led by Commander Bill Norton, enters Rama through a dual safety system consisting of two sets of triple airlocks, explores the 16-km wide by 50-km long cylindrical world of its interior, but the nature and purpose of the starship and its creators remain enigmatic throughout the book. Rama's inner surfaces hold "cities" of geometric structures that resemble buildings and are separated by streets with shallow trenches.

A band of water, dubbed the Cylindrical Sea, stretches around Rama's central circumference. Massive cones, which are theorised as part of Rama's propulsion system, stand at its "southern" end, they find that Rama's atmosphere is breathable. One of the crew members, Jimmy Pak, who has experience with low gravity skybikes, rides a smuggled skybike along Rama's axis to the far end, otherwise inaccessible due to the cylindrical sea and the 500m high cliff on the opposite shore. Once at the massive metal cones on the southern end of Rama, Jimmy detects magnetic and electric fields coming from the cones, which increase, resulting in lightning. Due to his proximity to the spires, the concussion from a discharge damages his skybike causing him to crash on the isolated southern continent; when Pak wakes up, he sees a crab-like creature chopping it into pieces. He cannot decide whether it is a robot or a biological alien, keeps his distance while radioing for help; as Pak waits, Norton sends a rescue party across the cylindrical sea, using a small, improvised craft, constructed earlier for exploration of the sea's central island.

The creature dumps the remains of the skybike into a pit, but ignores Pak himself, who explores the surrounding fields while waiting for the rescue party to arrive. Amongst the strange geometric structures, he sees an alien flower growing through a cracked tile in the otherwise sterile environment, decides to take it as both a curiosity and for scientific research. Pak jumps off the 500m cliff, his descent slowed by the low gravity and using his shirt as a drogue parachute, is rescued by the waiting boat; as they ride back, tidal waves form in the cylindrical sea, created by the movements of Rama itself as it makes course corrections. When the crew arrives at base, they see a variety of odd creatures inspecting their camp; when one is found damaged and lifeless, the team's doctor/biologist Surgeon-Commander Laura Ernst inspects it, discovers it to be a hybrid biological entity and robot—eventually termed a "biot". It, by assumption the others, are powered by internal batteries and possess some intelligence.

They are believed to be the drones of Rama's still-absent builders. The members of the Rama Committee and the United Planets, both based on the Moon, have been monitoring events inside Rama and giving feedback; the Hermian colonists have concluded that Rama is a potential threat and send a rocket-mounted nuclear bomb to destroy it should it prove to pose a threat. Lt. Boris Rodrigo takes advantage of the five minute transmission delay and uses a pair of wire cutters to defuse the bomb and its control; as Rama approaches perihelion, on their final expedition, the crew decide to visit the city closest to their point of entry, christened "London", use a laser to cut open one of the "buildings" to see what it houses. They discover transparent pedestals containing holograms of various artefacts, which they theorise are used by the Ramans as templates for creating tools and other objects. One hologram appears to be a uniform with bandoliers and pockets that suggests the size and shape of the Ramans.

As the crew photographs some of the holograms, the biots begin returning to the cylindrical sea, where they are recycled by aquatic biots and the six striplights that illuminate Rama's interior start to dim, prompting the explorers to leave Rama and to re-board Endeavour. With Endea

Thomas DeCoud is a former American football free safety. He played college football for the University of Berkeley, he was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft. DeCoud coaches football at Monte Vista High School. DeCoud attended Glencove Elementary School and Hogan Senior High School in Vallejo, California attended Pinole Valley High School in Pinole and was a letterman in football and basketball. In football, as a senior, he was an All-ACCAL selection. In basketball, he was an All-ACCAL selection. DeCoud graduated from Pinole High School in 2003. DeCoud was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft. Playing on special teams in 10 games as a rookie, DeCoud recorded 6 tackles, he had a breakout season the next year as he started all 16 games at free safety and compiled 68 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 7 pass deflections and 3 interceptions. After the season, DeCoud received recognition from USA Today, which listed him on its annual "All-Joe" team.

In a SportsCenter interview on September 27, 2012, Decoud played the "Meow Game" from the movie Super Troopers. Decoud was released from the Falcons on March 11, 2014; the Carolina Panthers signed DeCoud to a two-year deal on April 10, 2014. DeCoud made his first start for the Panthers in a 20-14 victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in week 1. During the home opener in a 24-7 win against the Detroit Lions in week 2, DeCoud recorded 3 tackles and was responsible for a pass deflection deep downfield against Calvin Johnson which led to an interception by Melvin White. During the Panthers week 5 victory over the Chicago Bears, DeCoud recorded his first interception for the Panthers against Jay Cutler to go along with 4 tackles and a pass deflection, he was released on February 17, 2015. Thomas DeCoud at NFL.com California Golden Bears bio Atlanta Falcons bio Carolina Panthers bio

Annamari Dancs is a Romanian-Hungarian singer. She was born in Romania, her father, Árpád, was a music teacher and manager of Dancs Market Records. Her mother, Anna-Mária, was a teacher and her older brother Zsolt is her concert manager and drummer of her band. After completing school in the music conservatory, Gheoghe Dima Academy of Music, in Cluj-Napoca, Dancs graduated as an opera singer. Over the past 10 years, she held multiple concerts as pop singer, not only in Romania and Hungary, but a guest in Sweden, the United States, the Netherlands and Slovakia. So far, she released nine record albums, seven maxi-albums, three DVDs, she has fifteen video clips shot in different parts of the world, she appeared this spring in a musical program on TVR 1, the Hungarian-language broadcast, Zenedoboz. In 2011, she acquired the Hungarian citizenship. Felhőkön is túl Szívemben élsz Erdélyi nosztalgia Te vagy az egyetlen Dancs Annamari 5 Szerelem kell Delicios Best Of Egy a szívem, egy a párom Live your life feat.

DJ Robert Georgescu Aha feat. DJ Robert Georgescu Feel – Entry to the Hungarian National Final for the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 Official site

Jorge Iacobellis is an Argentine drummer, tour promoter and producer known as the drummer of the thrash metal band Hirax and former drummer of Todos Tus Muertos. He promoted and produced international bands on tour such as Kreator, Sick of It All, Ratos de Porão and Testament and assisted in the tour productions with Kiss, Iron Maiden, Machine Head, Jerry Lee Lewis, Motörhead, Sepultura, Poison, REO Speedwagon, Slayer and L. A. Guns. Jorge began his musical education in the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires. In 1981 he became a member of the band Taxi, they recorded the album Como Me Gusta la Nait. In 1984 he founded the band Klhasch and in 1985 recorded their debut album Como Hago Para Desprenderme de la Envidia. In 1987 Manal's drummer Javier Martínez returned from France and founded Manal Javí with himself as singer and Jorge as drummer. In 1991 he joined Todos Tus Muertos and was the artistic and executive producer and drummer of their second album, Nena de Hiroshima, they opened shows for Steve Jones, Mano Negra and The Ramones.

He was chosen as one of the best heavy drummers in 1992 through a national contest, promoted by the magazine Drums & Percussion. In 1993 he toured Brazil as guest drummer for Metal Blade's speed metal band Garcia Garcia. In 1995 he opened two shows for Testament. Impressed by his performance, Testament invited him to play in the United States. In August 2002, Jorge became a member of California horror punk and heavy metal band Rosemary's Billygoat, he toured twice with the band throughout the United States and Canada presenting their album Evilution. Part of this tour was included in footage of the documentary video Propstar. In July 2003 he became a member of Hirax; the band played two shows in Bang Your Head Festival in Germany, amongst other bands like Dio, Twisted Sister, Overkill and others. In September, he did a drum clinic for the Drummers Club. In 2004 after the release of The New Age of Terror the band tour Europe and played in Sweden Rock Festival, Headbangers Open Air Festival and Metal Bash Open Air Festival.

Hirax released the DVD Thrash'Til Death that includes the latest concerts with Jorge in Germany, Sweden and USA from The New Age of Terror tour. The re-release of the album includes bonus DVD footage of Jorge's performance. In April 2004, Jorge recorded for Silversteel. In May 2008, Hirax singer Katon W. De Pena invited him to tour France. Upon their return from France, Jorge was recruited to the band and they toured the US, they played in The Tidal Metal Fest 13 together with Exodus. They toured Norway and South America. In 2010 Hirax released El Rostro de la Muerte. In January 2011 he played at the NAMM Como Me Gusta la Nait Como Hago Para Desprenderme de la Envidia Manal Javi Aldo Giacomino Nena de Hiroshima The New Age of Terror Thrash'Til Death El Rostro de la Muerte True Thrash Fest Rise The Writer Official Website Hirax Website

Colonial American military history is the military record of the Thirteen Colonies from their founding to the American Revolution in 1775. Rangers in North America served in the 17th and 18th-century wars between colonists and Native American tribes; the British regulars were not accustomed to frontier warfare and so Ranger companies were developed. Rangers were full-time soldiers employed by colonial governments to patrol between fixed frontier fortifications in reconnaissance, providing early warning of raids. In offensive operations, they were scouts and guides, locating villages and other targets for task forces drawn from the militia or other colonial troops; the father of American ranging is Colonel Benjamin Church. He was the captain of the first Ranger force in America. Church was commissioned by Plymouth Colony Governor Josiah Winslow to form the first ranger company for King Philip's War, he employed the company to raid Acadia during King William's War and Queen Anne's War. Benjamin Church designed his force to emulate Native American patterns of war.

Toward this end, he endeavored to learn from Native Americans. Americans became rangers under the tutelage of the Indian allies. Church developed a special full-time unit mixing white colonists, selected for frontier skills, with friendly Native Americans to carry out offensive strikes against hostile Native Americans in terrain where normal militia units were ineffective. Under Church served the father and grandfather of two famous rangers of the eighteenth century: John Lovewell and John Gorham, respectively. Rogers' Rangers was established in 1751 by Major Robert Rogers, who organized nine Ranger companies in the American colonies; these early American light infantry units organized during the French and Indian War were called "Rangers" and are considered to be the spiritual birthplace of the modern Army Rangers. Provincial troops were raised by the colonial governors and legislatures for extended operations during the French and Indian Wars; the provincial troops differed from the militia, in that they were a full-time military organization conducting extended operations.

They differed from the regular British Army, in that they were recruited only for one campaign season at the time. These forces were recruited through a quota system applied to the militia. Officers were appointed by the provincial governments. During the eighteenth century militia service was seen as a prerogative of the social and economic well-established, while provincial troops came to be recruited from different and less deep-rooted members of the community; the first provincial forces in British North America were organized in the 1670s, when several colonial governments raised ranger companies for one year's paid service to protect their borders. The major operations during King William's War were conducted by provincial troops from Massachusetts Bay. During Queen Anne's War provincial troops from Massachusetts Bay and New Hampshire made up the bulk of the English forces. During King George's War the land forces that took Louisbourg were supplied by Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island.

During the French and Indian War the imperial government in London took an more leading part, relegating the provincial troops to a non-combat role as pioneers and transportation troops, while the bulk of the fighting was done by the regular British Army. However the contributions of Connecticut, Massachusetts Bay, New Hampshire, Rhode Island were essential; the beginning of the United States military lies in local governments which created militias that enrolled nearly all free white men. The British Army and Royal Navy handled international wars; the militia was not employed as a fighting force in major operations outside the local jurisdiction. Instead, the colony asked for volunteers serving in ranger and other provincial troops, many of whom were militia members; the local Indian threat ended by 1725 in most places, after which the militia system was little used except for local ceremonial roles. The militia system was revived at the end of the colonial era, as the American Revolution approached.

The militia played a major fighting role in the Revolution in expelling the British from Boston in 1776 and capturing the invading British Army at Saratoga in 1777. However most of the fighting was handled by the Continental Army. Military actions in the colonies were the result of conflicts with Native Americans in the early years of the British colonization of North America, such as in the Anglo-Powhatan Wars between 1610 and 1646, the Pequot War of 1637, King Philip's War in 1675, the Susquehannock war in 1675–77, the Yamasee War in 1715. Father Rale's War happened in Nova Scotia. There occurred slave uprisings, such as the Stono Rebellion in 1739. There was Father Le Loutre's War, which involved Acadians, in the lead-up to the French and Indian War. Kieft's War was a conflict between Dutch settlers and Indians in the colony of New Netherland from 1643 to 1645; the fighting involved counter-raids. It was bloody in proportion to the population; the British fought the Spanish in the War of Jenkins' Ear, 1739–1748.

After 1742, the war merged into the larger War of the Austrian Succession involving most of the powers of Europe. Georgia beat back a Spanish invasion of Georgia in 1742, some spor

Henry of Anhalt-Köthen was a German prince of the House of Ascania, ruler of the non-sovereign principality of Anhalt-Pless and the last ruler of the duchy of Anhalt-Köthen. He was the fourth son of Frederick Erdmann, Prince of Anhalt-Pless, by his wife, Louise Ferdinande, daughter of Henry Ernest, Count of Stolberg-Wernigerode. In 1796, he joined the Prussian army. During the campaign of 1806, he attained the rank of major. Before his retirement from active service, Henry was elevated to the rank of Generalmajor. After his elder brother Frederick Ferdinand inherited Anhalt-Köthen in 1818, Henry assumed the government over the state country of Pless; when Frederick Ferdinand died in 1830, Henry succeeded him in Köthen, whereas he left Pless to his younger brother Louis, who died in 1841 without heirs. Henry reassumed his rulership over Pless until his death. In Trebschen on 18 May 1819 Henry married Auguste Fredericka Espérance, daughter of Henry XLIV, Prince Reuss of Köstritz, sister of Prince Henry LXIII.

The union was childless. Since his youth, Henry was a strong advocate of homeopathy. In 1821 he took under his protection its creator, Samuel Hahnemann, who remained with his large family in Köthen for the next fourteen years as Henry's personal physician. In 1830 Henry was made a knight of the Order of the Black Eagle. From 1841, he resumed service in the Prussian army, by the time of his death, he was a General of Infantry. With him, the line of Anhalt-Köthen became extinct. On his death, the duchy was inherited by his kinsmen Alexander Karl of Anhalt-Bernburg and Leopold IV of Anhalt-Dessau, however Alexander renounced his rights over Köthen on behalf of Leopold IV, since it was clear that his eventual assumption of all the Anhalt lands was inevitable; the principality of Pless, governed by Semi-Salic Law, passed to Henry's nephew Hans Henry X, Count of Hochberg-Fürstenstein, son of his sister Anna Emilie, the only one of his siblings who had children