Sheldon Allan "Shel" Silverstein was an American writer known for his cartoons and children's books. He styled himself as Uncle Shelby in some works, his books have been translated into more than 30 languages and have sold more than 20 million copies. He was the recipient of two Grammy Awards, as well as Golden Globe Award and Academy Award nominations. Born into a Jewish family, Silverstein grew up in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago, attended Roosevelt High School and the University of Illinois, from which he was expelled, he enrolled in the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts which he was attending when he was drafted into the United States Army. He served in Korea. Silverstein began drawing at age seven by tracing the works of Al Capp, he told Publishers Weekly: "When I was a kid—12 to 14, I'd much rather have been a good baseball player or a hit with the girls, but I couldn't play ball. I couldn't dance. Luckily, the girls didn't want me. Not much I could do about that. So I started to write.

I was lucky that I didn't have anybody to copy, be impressed by. I had developed my own style. I never saw their work'til I was around 30. By the time I got to where I was attracting girls, I was into work, it was more important to me. Not that I wouldn't rather make love, but the work has become a habit."He was first published in the Roosevelt Torch, a student newspaper at Roosevelt University, where he studied English after leaving the Art Institute. During his time in the military, his cartoons were published in Pacific Stars and Stripes, where he had been assigned to do layouts and paste-up, his first book, Take Ten, a compilation of his military Take Ten cartoon series, was published by Pacific Stars and Stripes in 1955. He said his time in college was a waste and would have been better spent traveling around the world meeting people. After returning to Chicago, Silverstein began submitting cartoons to magazines while selling hot dogs at Chicago ballparks, his cartoons began appearing in Sports Illustrated and This Week.

Mass-market paperback readers across America were introduced to Silverstein in 1956 when Take Ten was reprinted by Ballantine Books as Grab Your Socks! The edition included a foreword by Bill Mauldin. In 1957, Silverstein became one of the leading cartoonists in Playboy, which sent him around the world to create an illustrated travel journal with reports from far-flung locales. During the 1950s and 1960s, he produced 23 installments called "Shel Silverstein Visits..." as a feature for Playboy. Employing a sketchbook format with typewriter-styled captions, he documented his own experiences at such locations as a New Jersey naturist community, the Chicago White Sox training camp, San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district, Fire Island, London, Paris and Africa. In a Swiss village, he drew himself complaining, "I'll give them 15 more minutes, if nobody yodels, I'm going back to the hotel." These illustrated travel essays were collected by the publisher Fireside in Playboy's Silverstein Around the World, published in 2007 with a foreword by Hugh Hefner and an introduction by music journalist Mitch Myers.

In a similar vein were his illustrations for John Sack's Report from Practically Nowhere, a collection of humorous travel vignettes appearing in Playboy and other magazines. His best-known cartoon of the 1950s was featured on the cover of his next cartoon collection, Now Here's My Plan: A Book of Futilities, published by Simon & Schuster in 1960. Silverstein biographer Lisa Rogak wrote: The cartoon on the cover that provides the book's title would turn out to be one of his most famous and often-cited cartoons. In the cartoon, two prisoners are chained to the wall of a prison cell. Both their hands and feet are shackled. One says to the other, "Now here's my plan." Silverstein was both fascinated and distressed by the amount of analysis and commentary that immediately began to swirl around the cartoon. "A lot of people said it was a pessimistic cartoon, which I don't think it is at all," he said. "There's a lot of hope in a hopeless situation. They question it. I did this cartoon because I had an idea about a funny situation about two guys."

Silverstein's cartoons appeared in issues of Playboy from 1957 through the mid-1970s, one of his Playboy features was expanded into Uncle Shelby's ABZ Book, his first book of new, original material for adults. Because it was unclear whether some of the material was intended for adults or children, the 1985 reprint had a conspicuous cover label. Silverstein's editor at Harper & Row, Ursula Nordstrom, encouraged Silverstein to write children's poetry. Silverstein said that he had never studied the poetry of others and had therefore developed his own quirky style, laid back and conversational employing profanity and slang. In a 1975 Publishers Weekly interview, he was asked how he came to do children's books: "I didn't," Shel said, "I never planned to write or draw for kids, it was Tomi Ungerer, a friend of mine, who insisted—practically dragged me, kicking and screaming, into Ursula Nordstrom's office. And she convinced me; the relationship between Ursula Nordstrom and Shel Silverstein is mutually rewarding.

He considers her a superb editor. Asked if he would change something he had produced on an editor's say-so, he answered with a flat "No." But he added: "Oh, I will take a suggestion for revision. I do eliminate certain things when I'm writing for children if I think only an adult will get the idea. I drop it

William Lewis Carpenter was a U. S. Army Officer, naturalist and a geologist who helped document the minerals and resources of the Black Hills of South Dakota which inadvertently led to the Great Sioux War of 1876. During the American Civil War he served as a Midshipman in the U. S. Navy from 1861–1864. Wanting to see more action, he joined the Army, he became a private in Battery "D" 2nd Artillery on July 29, 1864. He transferred to Battery "L" September 25, 1865, he served at the Siege of Petersburg and with the Army of the Potomac. He made Corporal on September 28, 1866 and Sergeant on January 29, 1867. After publication of several scientific articles, ranging in topic from naturalist to geological surveys, he was appointed a Second Lieutenant in the U. S. Army on April 5, 1867, he was assigned to the 9th Infantry Regiment and encouraged to continue his scientific research on the frontier. In 1872–1874 as part of the 9th Infantry Regiment, Second Lieutenant Carpenter documented in a series of reports information of minerals, including gold, being seized from illegal miners and trespassers who were being ejected from the Black Hills of South Dakota.

Carpenter was promoted to First Lieutenant for "exceptional duties" on December 31, 1873. His and other reports lead to Custer's 1874 Black Hills Expedition that set out on July 2, 1874 and returned on August, 30, 1874. Listed as "Bill Louis carpenter" he briefed naturalist George Bird Grinnell and others for that expedition. In 1875, Lt. Carpenter, under Colonel Richard Irving Dodge became part of the 1875 Newton-Jenney Party, a scientific expedition sponsored by the United States Geological Survey to map the Black Hills of South Dakota. Lt. W. Carpenter was commended for his "exceptional diligence and scientific assistance" and that he "contributed greatly" to the 1880 Black Hills Geological report. In 1876, Carpenter was recorded as a participant in the Battle of the Rosebud in Montana Territory on June 17, 1876 as First Lieutenant of Company G, 9th Infantry, in which 1,200 cavalrymen under General George Crook supported by 300 Crow and Shoshone warriors were attacked by about 1,500 Sioux and Cheyenne warriors under Chief Crazy Horse.

Carpenter was second in command of Company G, 9th Infantry Regiment, documented as "awaiting reinforcements after the Battle of the Rosebud" on June 20, 1876. In 1877, under orders from General Philip Sheridan, Lt. William Lewis Carpenter made his final report on the "Geology and Natural History of the Big Horn Mountains." This report provided the economic reasons of the land and gold rush into the Black Hills of South Dakota 1873–1877, was well received by the scientific community. Nominated by geologist W. P. Jenney, who encouraged him to go into academics, William L. Carpenter was elected a "Fellow" of the American Association for the Advancement of Science on September 4, 1877. In 1880 he was enumerated in the U. S. federal census as a soldier in the unorganized territory of Nebraska. In 1882 he was listed as an officer of the Department of the Platte: "First Lieut. W. L. Carpenter, Ninth Infantry, Company B, Fort Niobrara."His duties included scientific collections and observations. Carpenter was promoted to Captain in 1887.

In 1892, after 37 years of service in the Civil War and Indian Wars, the 9th Infantry Regiment was transferred to routine garrison duty in Madison Barracks, New York. In Feb 1894, Captain Carpenter was at Madison Barracks where he was appointed to serve on an Army court-martial: "A general court-martial is appointed to meet at Madison Barracks, New York, on Feb. 21, 1894. Detail... William L. Carpenter, Ninth Infantry..." The 9th Infantry's official 1909 history includes several mentions of his service. Carpenter was the son of Mamie Frances Bristol, he was the only son of three children. His immigrant ancestry is from the Rehoboth Carpenter family through William Carpenter. On March 12, 1878 Carpenter married Ann Curtis Steever, born ca. 1844 in New York. They had one child, a son, Marsh Steever Carpenter, born in 1883. In 1897 Carpenter joined the District of Columbia chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution. After his death from Bright's Disease on July 10, 1898 at Madison Barracks, his widow was appointed postmistress of Fort Myer, Arlington County, Virginia in 1899 as cited in The Washington Post, May 24, 1899: "Mrs. W. L. Carpenter, widow of the late Capt. Carpenter, Ninth United States Infantry, has been appointed postmistress at Fort Myer, Va.

The office was sought for by numerous candidates, but Fourth Assistant Postmaster General Bristow decided to give the plum to Mrs. Carpenter, her late husband died at Madison Barracks, N. Y. on July 10, 1898, after an illness of several months. He had a long record of honorable service, extending over more than thirty years." A detailed obituary issued as a military order is reproduced on pp. 848–849 in "The Carpenter Memorial". He and his wife are interred in Arlington National Cemetery

Niketas Scholares, was a Byzantine Greek aristocrat and one of the leading officials of the Empire of Trebizond becoming megas doux. Niketas was a leader of the Scholarioi faction in Trebizond during the civil wars of the mid-14th century. Niketas' parents are not recorded; because John Lazaropoulos named one of the factions that emerged after the death of Emperor Basil the Scholarioi, reminiscent of the former Byzantine military unit of the Scholai, George Finlay concluded that his family had its origins with the members of the imperial bodyguard in Constantinople at the time of its fall to the Fourth Crusade. While it is plausible that refugees from Constantinople relocated in Trebizond, where they restored their fortunes and had heirs, it is more a coincidence that Niketas Scholares bore the name of this unit, than that his immediate ancestors held a commission in it; the Scholarioi, who were led by Sebastos Tzaniches the megas stratopedarches, were opposed to the Amytzarantai, who supported the first wife of Emperor Basil, Empress Irene Palaiologina, who had seized the throne after her husband's death.

Following a pitched battle fought in the streets of Trebizond, ended when the megas doux John the Eunuch marched from Limnia and joined the faction supporting Irene and Gregory Meitzomates fled to Constantinople. There they convinced Michael Megas Komnenos to return to become Emperor. Escorted by two or three vessels manned with mercenaries and Michael Komnenos arrived in Trebizond on 30 July 1341. However, that night aristocratic backers of Anna separated Michael from his supporters while their armed followers slaughtered the sailors Niketas and Gregory brought with them to support Michael's candidacy; the next day Michael was sent to captivity at Oinaion, a few days the dethroned Irene was put on a Frankish ship bound for Constantinople. Niketas and Gregory escaped serious injury in the counter-coup, for Michael Panaretos states that both fled the city and sailed on a Venetian ship to Constantinople, accompanied by Constantine Doranites, his son John, Gregory Meitzomates' brother Michael, reaching that city on 10 September 1341.

There they recruited John Megas Komnenos to be Emperor. John agreed to their proposal, the group hired three Genoese galleys and with two of their own departed Constantinople on 17 August 1342 and took control of Trebizond on 4 September; the aristocrats who elevated John grew dissatisfied with him, for Niketas freed his father Michael from captivity at Limnia and put him on the throne on May 1344, had John banished to the monastery of St. Sabas. In return, Michael granted Niketas the title of megas doux, Gregory Meitzomates the title of stratopedarches, while Gregory's son was made epikernes, John Kabazites megas logothetes, Niketas Scholaris's son parakoimomenos, Michael Meitzomates amytzantarios, Stephan Tzanichites received the title of megas konostaulos, thus the Scholarioi achieved overwhelming control of the government. The power of the Scholarioi proved unpopular with the populace of Trebizond, who revolted against their oligarchy. In November 1345 Niketas was arrested and imprisoned, along with his associate Gregory Meitzomates and others of their party.

However, the Emperor Michael and sick, released Niketas from prison and restored to him his former office of megas doux on December 13, 1349. Niketas strengthened his position by marrying the daughter of Michael Sampson, the Intendent of the Palace. On December 22, Niketas led a coup that deposed Michael and place on the throne John, the son of Emperor Basil, who took the name of Alexios III of Trebizond; this was the moment of Niketas' greatest power in the Empire. From that moment, Niketas' power started to erode; the young age of the Emperor invited the restless aristocracy to attempt to overthrow him and replace him with one of their own. The first year and a half of Alexios' reign was wracked with civil strife, marked by Niketas being stripped of his rank and becoming the prisoner of Theodore Doranites, known as Pileles, but Pileles, his son, his son-in-law were strangled in the castle of Kenchrina in July 1352, allowing Niketas to return to power. By that time, young Alexios had strengthened his own position, no longer needed Niketas.

In June 1354 the megas doux fled to Kerasunt, where he and his supporters prepared to resist Alexios. For three months the rebels and Alexios negotiated hoping to avoid an open revolt. In March of the next year, his son the parakoimomenos, Basil Choupakes the protovestiarios, led a fleet against Trebizond which failed to accomplish anything. Niketas was, away at Kenchrina, the rebels' last stronghold, which Alexios promptly besieged. Niketas held out in Kenchrina until October, the surrender of that city ended the revolt. Although Niketas spent the rest of his life in confinement in Trebizond, Alexios showed his regard for the former megas doux by walking in white robes during Niketas' funeral procession, which were the garb of Imperial mourning. Vougiouklaki, Pinelopi, Νικήτας Σχολάρης, Encyclopaedia of the Hellenic World, Asia Minor

Ciaran O'Driscoll is an Irish poet and novelist born in Callan, County Kilkenny and living in Limerick. Ciaran O’Driscoll lives in Limerick, he worked as a lecturer for the School of Art and Design at the Limerick Institute of Technology before he retired. A member of Aosdána, he has published nine books of poetry, including Gog and Magog, Moving On, Still There, Surreal Man, his fourth collection, The Old Women of Magione, was translated into Italian in 2006, a Selected Poems in Slovene translation was published in 2013. A poetry chapbook, The Speaking Trees, is his most recent publication. Liverpool University Press published his childhood memoir, A Runner Among Falling Leaves, his novel, A Year’s Midnight, was published by Pighog Press. His work has featured in special Irish issues of European literary journals and anthologized on several occasions. Eamon Grennan, writing in The Irish Times, called him "a poet in confident possession and exercise of his craft. Poems do what good poems should do, widening and deepening the world for the rest of us."According to the critic Michael S. Begnal, reviewing O'Driscoll's The Speaking Trees, "his poems conjure dream-like or visionary states...

His language is clear and deliberate but describes a bizarre or surreal subject matter."O'Driscoll's poems have been translated into many languages, including French, Irish, Hungarian, Scots Gaelic, Serbo-Croat and Spanish. His awards for poetry include a Bursary in Literature from the Irish Arts Council, the James Joyce Literary Millennium Prize, the Patrick and Katherine Kavanagh Fellowship in Poetry, his poem ‘Please Hold’ has become a set text for A-Level English Literature. The Speaking Trees, SurVision Books, Dublin, 2018 Life Monitor Surreal Man, Brighton, 2006 Moving On, Still There: New and Selected Poems, Dedalus Press, Dublin, 2001 The Old Women of Magione Listening to Different Drummers The Myth of the South The Poet and His Shadow Gog and Magog Nadzorovanje Ziivljenja. Kud France Preseren, Ljubljana, 2013. Vecchie Donne di Magione. Volumnia Editrice, Perugia, 2006 A Year’s Midnight A Runner Among Falling Leaves, Liverpool University Press, 2001 Personal website

Bachtel Tower is a 60 m tall radio tower on 1,115 m high Bachtel mountain near Hinwil, overlooking the Zürcher Oberland. Bachtel Tower is a lattice tower whose observation deck, 30 m metres above the ground, is accessible by a stairway, it was built as replacement for a smaller observation tower on the site in 1986. On the observation deck of Bachtel Tower there is an illustration with the names of the mountains of the Swiss Alps visible; this illustration was designed by Paul Thalmann from Wernetshausen near Hinwil. In 1873, a wooden tower was built; this second tower was declared in 1979 by the government of the canton of Zürich as an object of historic preservation. Six years the tower was stored by the Swiss Post on technical reasons, in 1992, the tower was rebuilt on Pfannenstiel. List of towers Bachtel Tower on swisspanoramas.ch

Kim Yong-shik was a Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang, Japanese Korea lawyer and diplomat. Kim's younger brother was Korean author Kim Yong-ik, he graduated from the Law College of Chuo University in Tokyo in 1937. He twice served as Foreign Minister of South Korea and held the posts of National Unification Minister and Minister without Portfolio. Kim's diplomatic career began with posts as Consul in Hong Kong and Honolulu, progressed with assignments as Minister of the South Korean embassies to Japan and France, Minister with the Korean mission in Geneva, he became Ambassador to Great Britain, concurrently to the Scandinavian countries, to the Philippines, to the United Nations, concurrently Canada, to the United States. He was special assistant to the President of the Republic of Korea for Foreign Affairs. Upon his retirement from the foreign service, Kim took the posts of President of the Republic of Korea National Red Cross, Chairman of the Committee for Promotion of Home Visits by Overseas Koreans, Chairman of the Committee for Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of Korean US Relations